officers - The Black Vault

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cal prosecutions f11;iled? ·
B A: Former California Highway
Patrol officer Michael
Gwalt11ey of Barstow was convicted
hr federal cou!t nearly a
decade ago on ch~ges that he
violated the civil \'rights of a
woman slain in January 1982.1
m Q:: Are such federal prose- TWo state court murder trials of
cutions difficult?
Gwaltney earlier had ended in
m A: Opinions differ o.n this. mistrials. After his conviction in
bec~use . of ambiguities over federal court., Gwaltney was.
proving .not just that civil rights sentenced to 9.9 years in prison.
violations occurred, . but th.~t.
the officers exhibited intent to .•. Q: What is the .expected
qeprive K;irig · of his;· 'lights. timetable of the proce~gings in
~
S 1 1
h this• case? v. · ••• •
ome ega · ex~e~¥.' ~ay t .,f!.~ · · · "f"' - ·
prosecutors .have. broad ad van- tif ·A: The defendants are.
tage in 1 prbVin~ 'that:if, c~mduct sC!{~_duled to be ·~~aigft~d. Mo~~ .
·occurre_!l, ther~ was- ii!tent. But day~. at whjch -time a pre-t~ia1'
~vidence the beating~ccurred·~':: h~aring will be set. U.S. Attar-· •
not·enough,:.to convicl·~ pr9se~- ney Baird has ·no~,announced a ,
cutors i must prove· the offlcel'S pJ;eferred trial date; but federal ..
specifically intended to vioiate. prosecutions· generally move ·
King's civil rights. . ·· quicker than state prosecutions,
.Ill Q: Have there been· other officials said. The King case
cases in which "federal prosecu: took about one year to. get to
tions of officers have succeeded trial in Simi Valley ~r the ,
in Southern .Cali(ornia after 1~- defe~e, won ~· ~~ge_ of venue. I
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