THIBODAUX, La. (AP) - Thibodaux Police and city officials are asking a judge to dismiss claims brought against them by a man once accused of slashing the tires on 11 police SUVs and his nephew, who pleaded guilty to acting as lookout.
Attorney Chris Riviere says he will ask a judge in New Orleans on Wednesday to dismiss the case because Glenn Watkins and his nephew Jonathan Watkins have not supported their claims of wrongful incarceration, coerced confessions and malicious prosecution, The Daily Comet (https://bit.ly/1IY5Fxl) reports.
Prosecutors have dropped all charges accusing Glenn Watkins of cutting the tires. And they dropped most of those against Jonathan Watkins, who allegedly acted as lookout and had pleaded guilty to 11 counts of simple criminal damage to property.
The two sued Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii, three police officers and the mayor in February.
The district attorney said a “compromised” investigation forced him to drop charges against Glenn Watkins.
Jonathan Watkins, originally sentenced to two years in prison, was re-sentenced to 6 months after prosecutors dropped seven charges and reduced the other two from felonies to misdemeanors.
The case is set for trial June 29.
“Our basic claim is that they picked on some poor people who had prior criminal histories,” he said. “The police knew it wasn’t true; they knew they were fabricating it. I don’t believe all police officers are bad, but police departments need to be held accountable,” said attorney Nelson Dan Taylor of the Baton Rouge-based J.K. Haynes Legal Defense Fund.
In a motion filed May 14, Riviere said Taylor has not provided depositions or conducted any discovery.
“Plaintiffs make only general allegations against all defendants and provide no factual support,” Riviere wrote.
___
Information from: Daily Comet, https://www.dailycomet.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.