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| Judge seals Ariz. prison standoff report |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 08/30/2004 |
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A judge last Monday sealed a grand jury's report on its investigation into a 15-day prison standoff and said a special prosecutor who led the probe engaged in misconduct by creating a "media clamor" for the release of the document. Presiding Judge Colin Campbell ruled that releasing the report would undermine the purpose of secret grand juries. A separate grand jury charged the two inmates involved in the standoff, during which two officers were taken hostage and assaulted. One of the officers was raped. The second panel was convened at the request of Maricopa County (Ariz.) Attorney Rick Romley and GOP legislative leaders to investigate the evidence further. The panel, led by Special Prosecutor A. Melvin McDonald Jr., brought no charges but produced a 181-page report. Grand juries in Arizona are almost always used solely to produce criminal charges, but McDonald from the start wanted to produce a report to be released publicly. He said he wanted to use a grand jury primarily because witnesses' testimony is under oath and anonymity is allowed for reluctant witnesses. The judge said McDonald engaged in misconduct that "created a media clamor for release of the report." McDonald denied wrongdoing and said he believed he was allowed to release his request for the report to the media because it had been discussed in open court before another judge. A court spokeswoman said Campbell would not comment further. A Romley spokesman said the prosecutor was traveling and not immediately available. |
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