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Sneddon Sued For Civil Rights Violations

By TChris, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Sat Aug 13, 2005 at 08:39:30 AM EST
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by TChris

Tom Sneddon, whose vendetta against Michael Jackson led to a questionable prosecution and a well deserved acquittal, has been sued by a criminal defense lawyer who contends that Sneddon and other Santa Barbara prosecutors violated his civil rights.

[Gary] Dunlap maintains that prosecutors went to extraordinary and unconstitutional lengths to gather evidence against him.

"An injustice was done and the district attorney's office refuses to acknowledge, investigate, or refer it for investigation because their employees were involved in committing it," Dunlap said.

A jury found Dunlap not guilty of six felonies, including suborning perjury and intimidating a witness. Lawsuits stemming from failed prosecutions often get booted out of court before trial, but judicial criticism of Sneddon's office provides strong support for Dunlap's belief that his rights were violated by the government's outrageous behavior.

The labyrinthine efforts to gather evidence against Dunlap were noted by Judge Kenneth Andreen, who presided over the criminal case against the attorney. "The twists and turns of the prosecution's efforts... to gain evidence against Mr. Dunlap are worthy of a John Grisham novel," Andreen wrote in ruling that denied Dunlap's request to dismiss all charges. "Courts expect high ethical standards from prosecutors; they were lacking here."
...
"...The government engaged in misconduct," Andreen wrote.

The linked article describes the shocking behavior in Dunlap's case, including planting a client with Dunlap so that the client's mother could wear a wire to gather evidence against Dunlap. Ironically, the same prosecutors who accused Dunlap of tampering with a witness paid Dunlap's client's mother $11,000 to gather evidence against him. Why isn't it witness tampering to pay a witness to produce the results the government wants?

It's worth taking the time to read the linked article. The details of prosecution's interference with an attorney-client relationship are stunning.

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    Sneddon Sued For Civil Rights Violations | 1 comment (1 topical)
    Re: Sneddon Sued For Civil Rights Violations (none / 0) (#1)
    by cpinva on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:17 PM EST
    hmmmm, i think i'm a little confused here. the judge basically reamed the prosecution, for it's actions in the case, yet refused to dismiss the charges, which were ultimately dismissed by a jury (i assume). i am guessing, the prosecution follies notwithstanding, the judge found sufficient, legitimate evidence existed to continue?

    Sneddon Sued For Civil Rights Violations | 1 comment (1 topical)