An assistant district attorney from a neighboring county notoriously killed himself when police and cameras showed up at his door. In response, Williamson County DA John Bradley, usually not one to celebrate dismissed cases against alleged child molesters, declared:
Tonight, I watched the Collin County DA on a 20/20 TV espisode, explain why he dismissed some 20 cases against child molesters. He pointed out the weaknesses created by a too-close relationship between local police, a vigilante group (Perverted Justice) and the media (Dateline's "To Catch a Predator"). With remarkable clarity, the DA defined the correct role of law enforcement (to investigate), media (to report) and the district attorney (to make sure the law was followed). If you missed the report, find a way to watch it. I was proud to see a Texas DA stand tall.For once I agree with Bradley and Co. that the decision to dismiss the cases was a courageous and correct one. Their discussion of the case is well worth reading, and Shannon Edmonds linked on the string to related MSM coverage that I'll post here for interested readers:
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13 comments:
This is a problem in all of justice, not just sex crimes. Since convictred sex criminals, even juveniles, have to register for ten years after the conclusion of their sentence, care should be taken to insure that all of the evidence is accurate and that the individual brought before the court is convicted "without a shadow of a doubt".
The world is a safer place without ADA William Conradt in it. Now his sister wants to sue NBC. She blames them for her brother being a pervert? Roach is a coward for not prosecuting these animals. Maybe more DA's computers need to be searched.
What would have been cowardly is to succumb to pressure to prosecute corrupted cases. It takes courage to choose justice over public opinion.
...and that the individual brought before the court is convicted "without a shadow of a doubt".
This is not the legal standard.
Given all the recent innocence cases, maybe it should be in these high-stakes cases.
What's cowardly is to post anonymously.
Here I go being cynical again. Williamson County's DA only agrees that Dateline's catch should not be prosecuted because "his" Police and/or Sheriff didn't catch them.
He is worried that he might be out of a job. His Tough on Crime policies got him where he is and he is not about to let anyone else take credit for what is rightfully his.
He should be worried, not because of Dateline but because he cannot see the value of a Smart on Crime policy.
Ok, your name is Michael -------? Makes you anonymous as well.
There is no such concept in Texas Jurisprudence as "without a shadow of a doubt". I defy anyone to even attempt to define that term. I have heard that term on TV, where nothing is real.
The correct standard in Texas is "Beyond a reasonable doubt".
John Bradley rocks, usually.
Mr. Cowardly Anonymous.
Well, Michael did give you the link to his blog, which I suppose authorizes you to go make anonymous comments commending suicide over there. God help you, you're a good man, Michael, to assume such a burden.
As far as I know, nobody has suggested Conradt ever molested anyone, unless you have evidence otherwise. He'd chatted online with one of these Perverting Justice people, but didn't show up at the house they'd set up - that's why they had to come to HIS door, cameras in tow. I think it will be very interesting to see how the courts assign liability, if any.
The media shouldn't be doing this. As one prosecutor put it, "Could you imagine trying to use as star witnesses people that create dramatic television for a living, do not go by their own names, and lie according to whatever the producer says....oh, yeah, and will make big money if the show is successful? Even if their stories didn't conflict, they have bias flowing out their ears! That sounds way harder than my usual star witnesses--officers who are better at doing their jobs than at explaining the hows and whys!"
You're right Grits, he did.
Michael M. 'Mike' Simpson
Bar Card Number*: 18413400
Work Address 316 W. 12th Street
Suite 310
Austin, TX, 78701
Work Phone Number (512) 480-9929
Primary Practice Location AUSTIN , Texas
Current Member Status
Eligible To Practice In Texas
License Information
State Bar Card Number*: 18413400
Texas Licensed*: 11/01/1991
Practice Information
Firm: Attorney at Law
Firm Size: Solo
Occupation: Private Law Practice
Primary Practice Areas: Business, Consumer, Criminal, Family, Litigation: Commercial, Litigation: Personal Injury, School Law
Courts of Admittance:
Federal Courts of Admittance:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
Texas Western District Court
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Law Schools:
Law School Graduation Date Degree Earned
University Of Texas 05/1991 Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)
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Good for Dateline. Root out the perverts.
Mr. Anonymous who posted Michael's personal info must be good at follow-up at PJ. Shows that if you criticize Perverted-Justice and Dateline you get exposed only for your opinion.
Thanks for making my case.
Heidi
CJ Black Widow
www.corrupted-justice.com
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