Post by aleamon98 on Jul 24, 2007 19:32:57 GMT -5
www.newschannel9.com/articles/chaffin_14133___article.html/says_gbi.html
Chaffin's Attorney Outraged At Treatment Of Former Officer
John Madewell
July 24, 2007 - 4:15PM
Ben Chaffin's attorney says the GBI trampled his liberties in his second arrest during the Theresa Parker disappearance investigation. Chaffin once worked for the LaFayette Police Department under the command of Sam Parker, Theresa's estranged husband and main person of interest. NewsChannel 9 was there last week as Chaffin appeared in court in Mobile, Ala. Attorney David Cunningham says Ben Chaffin has done nothing but cooperated and in return he's been treated like a violent criminal. Cunningham went on to say the GBI did this because it has found nothing new in Parker's disappearance and is becoming desperate.
Former LaFayette, Georgia police officer Ben Chaffin has spent the last seven nights in a Mobile, Alabama jail.
The GBI sent warrants last week for his arrest on charges he went into Theresa Parker's computer, clipped the top off an e-mail and violated his oath as an officer. But Chaffin's attorney David Cunningham says the GBI crossed the line in its second arrest of Chaffin.
Cunningham asked rhetorically, "To send eight to twelve people from a task force out to his house, surround his house with guns and arrest him like a fugitive from justice?"
Cunningham showed us this envelope with Chaffin's interview transcript with GBI agents. It is dated after the GBI first arrested him on charges he lied to agents. He has been living in Mobile, Alabama with his mother. His attorney points out however, that he came back to Georgia twice for more GBI and FBI interviews.
"They knew he was leaving to go home with his mother, then he became a fugitive from justice? That's distorted, unfair and untrue," Cunningham said.
Cunningham says this second arrest of Chaffin is nothing more than a tactic by the GBI, one he calls medieval in nature. He says the reason they have used it is because they are desperate in the Theresa Parker case.
Cunningham said, "They're no further along in the investigation of the disappearance of Theresa Parker than they were two weeks after she disappeared. They're no further along. That's a fact."
Special prosecutor Leigh Patterson says the GBI treated Chaffin fairly, calling the fugitive warrant standard procedure for an out of state person. Patterson added this case is too important to jeopardize anything in Chaffin's return to LaFayette. Prosecutor Patterson has been at a legal education seminar on St. Simon's Island this week. Chaffin's attorney says her absence is causing further delay.
"If you tell the mother that your son needs to stay in jail while the district attorney is on the coast in a seminar, it doesn't go over very well." Cunningham said.
Leigh Patterson says the seminar was scheduled more than a year ago and she must attend to keep certification. She says there was nothing sinister in the dates conflicting and is leaving a day early.
Meanwhile, we checked two branches of Walker County's court system....and there is no gag order on file. Patterson says there never has been a judicial gag order, but won't discuss this case.
Sheriff Steve Wilson advised his department not to talk.
Chaffin's Attorney Outraged At Treatment Of Former Officer
John Madewell
July 24, 2007 - 4:15PM
Ben Chaffin's attorney says the GBI trampled his liberties in his second arrest during the Theresa Parker disappearance investigation. Chaffin once worked for the LaFayette Police Department under the command of Sam Parker, Theresa's estranged husband and main person of interest. NewsChannel 9 was there last week as Chaffin appeared in court in Mobile, Ala. Attorney David Cunningham says Ben Chaffin has done nothing but cooperated and in return he's been treated like a violent criminal. Cunningham went on to say the GBI did this because it has found nothing new in Parker's disappearance and is becoming desperate.
Former LaFayette, Georgia police officer Ben Chaffin has spent the last seven nights in a Mobile, Alabama jail.
The GBI sent warrants last week for his arrest on charges he went into Theresa Parker's computer, clipped the top off an e-mail and violated his oath as an officer. But Chaffin's attorney David Cunningham says the GBI crossed the line in its second arrest of Chaffin.
Cunningham asked rhetorically, "To send eight to twelve people from a task force out to his house, surround his house with guns and arrest him like a fugitive from justice?"
Cunningham showed us this envelope with Chaffin's interview transcript with GBI agents. It is dated after the GBI first arrested him on charges he lied to agents. He has been living in Mobile, Alabama with his mother. His attorney points out however, that he came back to Georgia twice for more GBI and FBI interviews.
"They knew he was leaving to go home with his mother, then he became a fugitive from justice? That's distorted, unfair and untrue," Cunningham said.
Cunningham says this second arrest of Chaffin is nothing more than a tactic by the GBI, one he calls medieval in nature. He says the reason they have used it is because they are desperate in the Theresa Parker case.
Cunningham said, "They're no further along in the investigation of the disappearance of Theresa Parker than they were two weeks after she disappeared. They're no further along. That's a fact."
Special prosecutor Leigh Patterson says the GBI treated Chaffin fairly, calling the fugitive warrant standard procedure for an out of state person. Patterson added this case is too important to jeopardize anything in Chaffin's return to LaFayette. Prosecutor Patterson has been at a legal education seminar on St. Simon's Island this week. Chaffin's attorney says her absence is causing further delay.
"If you tell the mother that your son needs to stay in jail while the district attorney is on the coast in a seminar, it doesn't go over very well." Cunningham said.
Leigh Patterson says the seminar was scheduled more than a year ago and she must attend to keep certification. She says there was nothing sinister in the dates conflicting and is leaving a day early.
Meanwhile, we checked two branches of Walker County's court system....and there is no gag order on file. Patterson says there never has been a judicial gag order, but won't discuss this case.
Sheriff Steve Wilson advised his department not to talk.