Edison Acquitted In Maryland

Trevor Bothwell has posted on his blog that John Edison, Jr., was acquitted today of rape charges by a jury that deliberated for less than an hour. (The time of deliberation tells me that jurors had decided on acquittal even before Edison’s attorney presented the defense.)

Bothwell, who attended some of the proceedings, told me that it was obvious from the beginning that the state’s case was bogus. However, it also means that Edison is free for the first time since he was charged last July, as the government held him in jail without bond. Thus, he has served time for a crime he did not commit.

State’s Attorney Richard Fritz was responsible for this outrage, so perhaps I can award him with the Nifong Award, given to the worst prosecutor of the previous year. Last year, it was the Attorney General of Rhode Island, Patrick C. Lynch (appropriately named), who charged a man with rape from more than 30 years ago as a result of fraudulent “recovered memories” therapy given to a woman. (Those charges were dropped after the AG admitted there was no way in Hades he could justifiably continue the case.)

So, Mr. Fritz, congratulations! You are the proud winner of the Nifong!

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4:49 pm on December 19, 2008