Deputy Conflict Counsel David Lee questioned Detective Jennifer Turner about logs, surveilance video to verify claims by inmates against Cory Fisher.
She was told video from specific dates was only available for a limited time. She was not allowed to interview Cory Fisher' partner, correctional officer Robinson since it would result in an internal investigation. Why were there no logs provided?
This came out in today's preliminary hearing testimony.
Mr. Lee's oral arguments before ruling is Mr. Lee doing his job as a defense attorney. That does not excuse some of his remarks.
Three young men bared their soul about graphic molestation by their father/stepfather in a small town. Calling the origins of their allegations "sketchy" is misrepresenting the evidence offered and victim blaming.
Just because inmates have pending litigation does not mean they made up claims about being sexually assaulted in jail. Not all inmates who made allegations against Fisher have pending litigation against the County.
If there isn't resistance, then the questions asked by Mr. Lee today should be answered by HCSO and the jail. The County and the Union need to stare clearly they are not cuffing the investigation in any way. It would help the District Attorney prosecute this case if they had access to all the information.
The comment by Judge Wilson about some "holes" in the evidence could be "filled" if other correctional officers were allowed to be interviewed and logs are provided to the DA.
HCSO and the County fought releasing the documents I requested and ultimately Judge Dale Reinholtsen ruled correctly they were not covered by the gag order. The rest of the media did nothing to assist in my effort to obtain those documents but benefitted once the documents could be released.
Despite knowing about the molestation allegations against him, HCSO allowed Cory Fisher to resign. Fisher then left Humboldt. What if he had not been arrested and had fled somewhere he could not be found or arrested.
I am curious if the Union representing HCSO correctional officers is a factor in what information can or cannot be released.
The defense's gag order is yet another hindrance.
These are serious charges. There could be more possible victims out there. Taxpayers will bear the brunt if any of those lawsuits are filed and are successful. Any videos, logs, interviews that could shed light on allegations by the inmates are crucial in either substantiating their claims or refuting those claims.
Three alleged victims are his own son/stepsons. Three other alleged victims are inmates. The son and stepsons do not know the inmates. No details were released before the preliminary.
Previous post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2018/09/cory-fisher-held-to-answer-on-12-counts.html?m=1
The county might have liability if their employee was sexually assaulting inmates. That knowledge might be driving that train. Rapes in correctional facilities are more common than anyone wants to admit. When the rapes and sexual assaults are committed by a CO, well “that is abhorrent and...different.”
ReplyDeleteEntrenched systems and lack of transparency exist in this small rural town because 1. there are costs of speaking up 2. Unions make it very hard to fire bad employees, especially in California 3. Those with money, both on the left and right do not fund independent journalism 4. The rest of the local media is too busy sucking up or looking the other way. 5. Average people need to support with their dollars, their readership, their votes those who soesk up for them. Like the Freshwater community and the Joshua Cooley hearing, change is possible
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