Post by LadyBlue on Jun 24, 2007 12:48:27 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Ex-cop's links to trial witnesses puts convictions at risk[/glow]
Convictions against at least six people -- and possibly more -- are now in doubt due to sexual or personal relationships that King County Sheriff's Detective Dan Ring had with several prostitutes and escort workers who served as trial witnesses, a prosecutor's review has found.
After more than a year spent examining case files, the Prosecutor's Office mailed letters (PDF) late last month to six defendants, notifying them that their past prostitution-related convictions from the 1990s might be overturned.
The notices inform the defendants of prosecutors' "obligation to disclose even potentially exculpatory evidence" about Ring's relationships with case witnesses, which may have "bearing on the validity of your conviction."
"We felt it was in the interest of justice to do that," Kathy Van Olst, assistant chief criminal deputy prosecutor, said of the case review.
Spurred by a Seattle P-I investigation last year, prosecutors identified and reviewed 89 cases (PDF) linked to Ring, a former vice and intelligence cop who engaged in rampant, unchecked misconduct for much of his 26 years in the Sheriff's Office.
Prosecutors say there could be more potentially tainted cases than the six they've identified. Already, the P-I has found a seventh case (PDF) that involved one of the questionable witnesses linked to Ring.
Ring's potentially improper relationships with at least four witnesses -- undisclosed to the defendants at trial -- could open a Pandora's box of legal challenges, civil lawsuits and other actions. New trials or vacated convictions might result, Van Olst said. And at least one defendant said she plans to sue the county for prosecutorial misconduct.
"I ended up in jail for 20 days. That's why I want money," defendant Mary Ellen "Maxine" Doogan said recently. "I went to jail behind these women's lies."
Any legal challenges to the now dubious convictions -- mainly guilty pleas to prostitution-related charges garnered through plea bargaining -- might also result in Ring and a string of ex-prostitutes being forced to testify in open court.
Such challenges also might give prosecutors another chance at Ring, who was investigated for more than three years and charged with four crimes. On the eve of trial last year, Ring avoided prosecution after reaching a settlement with King County Sheriff Sue Rahr.
As part of the settlement that provided him cash and an enhanced pension, Ring agreed to retire. Rahr has said the agreement was the only way to ensure Ring would no longer be a cop. Had she fired him, Rahr said, the deputy's guild could have won Ring his job back.
Ring's tangled relationships now could cost him: Should any challenge to past convictions show Ring lied in court -- or got a witness to lie in court -- he could face criminal charges.
"If there was proof of it, we would file charges and prosecute," Van Olst said, speaking hypothetically.
Ring did not respond to a reporter's request for comment.
seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/288531_ringrevu13.asp
Convictions against at least six people -- and possibly more -- are now in doubt due to sexual or personal relationships that King County Sheriff's Detective Dan Ring had with several prostitutes and escort workers who served as trial witnesses, a prosecutor's review has found.
After more than a year spent examining case files, the Prosecutor's Office mailed letters (PDF) late last month to six defendants, notifying them that their past prostitution-related convictions from the 1990s might be overturned.
The notices inform the defendants of prosecutors' "obligation to disclose even potentially exculpatory evidence" about Ring's relationships with case witnesses, which may have "bearing on the validity of your conviction."
"We felt it was in the interest of justice to do that," Kathy Van Olst, assistant chief criminal deputy prosecutor, said of the case review.
Spurred by a Seattle P-I investigation last year, prosecutors identified and reviewed 89 cases (PDF) linked to Ring, a former vice and intelligence cop who engaged in rampant, unchecked misconduct for much of his 26 years in the Sheriff's Office.
Prosecutors say there could be more potentially tainted cases than the six they've identified. Already, the P-I has found a seventh case (PDF) that involved one of the questionable witnesses linked to Ring.
Ring's potentially improper relationships with at least four witnesses -- undisclosed to the defendants at trial -- could open a Pandora's box of legal challenges, civil lawsuits and other actions. New trials or vacated convictions might result, Van Olst said. And at least one defendant said she plans to sue the county for prosecutorial misconduct.
"I ended up in jail for 20 days. That's why I want money," defendant Mary Ellen "Maxine" Doogan said recently. "I went to jail behind these women's lies."
Any legal challenges to the now dubious convictions -- mainly guilty pleas to prostitution-related charges garnered through plea bargaining -- might also result in Ring and a string of ex-prostitutes being forced to testify in open court.
Such challenges also might give prosecutors another chance at Ring, who was investigated for more than three years and charged with four crimes. On the eve of trial last year, Ring avoided prosecution after reaching a settlement with King County Sheriff Sue Rahr.
As part of the settlement that provided him cash and an enhanced pension, Ring agreed to retire. Rahr has said the agreement was the only way to ensure Ring would no longer be a cop. Had she fired him, Rahr said, the deputy's guild could have won Ring his job back.
Ring's tangled relationships now could cost him: Should any challenge to past convictions show Ring lied in court -- or got a witness to lie in court -- he could face criminal charges.
"If there was proof of it, we would file charges and prosecute," Van Olst said, speaking hypothetically.
Ring did not respond to a reporter's request for comment.
seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/288531_ringrevu13.asp