|
|
| Former California corrections chief avoids court sanctions |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 11/22/2004 |
|
The former head of the California Department of Corrections should be fined for dismantling a prison-officer perjury probe, a federal judge ruled last Wednesday. But U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson spared Edward Alameida monetary sanctions because of "the dramatic deterioration" of his health and because the 32-year department veteran resigned from the prison system last year. Alameida stepped down amid accusations that he scuttled a probe into alleged perjury by prison officers in inmate abuse cases. In June, Alameida notified Henderson that his resignation created the onset of mental-health problems requiring treatment. Henderson is reviewing department practices as part of a civil rights lawsuit brought by inmates 13 years ago. If not for Alameida's health and resignation, the judge said non-criminal, monetary sanctions against the former director were warranted for "misleading" him to think that Alameida conducted the investigation and found no wrongdoing. Henderson wrote last Wednesday that Alameida "shut down investigations" to please the prison officers' union and "engaged in gross abuses of the public trust." An investigator Henderson appointed to assist him, John Hagar, had recommended that Henderson commence contempt-of-court proceedings against Alameida. Henderson said last Wednesday he would not hold Alameida in criminal contempt, which could have resulted in prison time, because Alameida did not violate a court order to commence an inquiry. The previous order demanded that the California Department of Corrections undertake the perjury investigation but did not specifically name Alameida, Henderson ruled. Henderson suggested that it might have been an oversight that his order, as written, could not hold Alameida "fully accountable." |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Hamilton is a sports lover, a demon at croquet, where his favorite team was the Dallas Fancypants. He worked as a general haberdasher for 30 years, but was forced to give up the career he loved due to his keen attention to detail. He spent his free time watching golf on TV; and he played uno, badmitton and basketball almost every weekend. He also enjoyed movies and reading during off-season. Hamilton Lindley was always there to help relatives and friends with household projects, coached different sports or whatever else people needed him for.