Kelly Thomas death: Will feds prosecute Fullerton ex-cops?
"A former federal prosecutor says it’s not likely, unless new evidence comes to light."
The former Fullerton police officers who were charged but acquitted in the beating death of a homeless man are not likely to face federal charges despite an ongoing investigation into whether they violated the man’s civil rights, according to a legal expert.
“I would not expect – unless they get new evidence – that federal prosecutors will file this case,” said Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and a Loyola Law School professor. “The problems in the state prosecution will probably pop up again in a federal prosecution. So if they take it, it will be because they have different or additional evidence.”
* “I look at this like a prizefight. It’s not over,” Ron Thomas said then at a news conference in Los Angeles. “We still have several rounds to go.”
But Thomas is no longer as upbeat about potential federal charges and said he has “mixed feelings about the legal system” after the quick jury verdict in the state case.
“I wouldn’t be surprised” if no federal charges are brought, Thomas said in a recent telephone interview. “I don’t believe in the system. Again, how could the jury come back with not guilty, not even excessive force at a minimum? I don’t believe in anything right now.”
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/federal-615461-thomas-fullerton.html#
= new reply since forum marked as read
