http://wreg.com/2014/09/22/sheriff-confirms-panola-gang-disturbance/
It comes as Panola County has struggled to gain the upper hand against gangs after a series of deadly incidents over the last few years.
”It’s
obviously gang-related, you know. We’ve been going on three years working on gang relationships,” s
aid Panola County Sheriff Dennis Darby, who believes it’s a sign that gangs, which used to come from out of town, have begun to take root locally....
bbm sbm
On hearing ^this^ or similar pre-trial, esp pre-arrest LEO stmts, I shudder.
If for example, turns out that interstate trucker - or any non-gang perp - passing thru suddenly went psycho and is charged & tried,
imo, in c
ross-examination, defense atty, who plays video of interview reporter, strikes
Reasonable Doubt gold.
"Sheriff D, on Dec date, on recording just played, you stated this is obviously gang-related, right?"
Sheriff: acknowledges.
Def atty asks about general gang activity in county, arrests, convictions, other unsolved or unprosecuted crimes & deaths.
Sheriff: ack's.
Def atty asks about other ppl Sheriff & office interviewed, etc. and did not arrest.
Def atty asks about Tom-the-Trucker's life, job, family, hobbies, church, etc. (or whoever) with no gang ties, no gang-related arrests.
Sheriff ack's.
Ditto cross exam of other PCSO detectives.
For one or more jurors, that could be reasonable doubt, so
no conviction of non-gang def.
JM2cts.
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ETA:
Just read absentia's post re when Sheriff made ^above stmt^.
"
this is relating to the party shooting in Sept. NOT to JC's murder, just to prevent confusion."
Thx absentia. I was confused (sometimes it does not take much to do that). My error.
Nevertheless, concept holds true, when LE makes pre-arrest/pre-trial stmts, w. theories about perp turning out to be diff from def. arrested.