SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the if-at-first-you-don't-succeed dept.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who will be resigning soon prior to joining Congress as a U.S. Senator, has filed new "pimping" charges against the CEO and other executives of Backpage. The previous set of charges were dismissed by a judge less than two weeks ago. Backpage is an online classified advertising website known for its listings of escort services:
Harris said the new charges were based on new evidence. A Sacramento County judge threw out pimping charges against the men on 9 December, citing federal free-speech laws. In the latest case, filed in Sacramento County superior court, Harris claims Backpage illegally funnelled money through multiple companies and created various websites to get around banks that refused to process transactions. She also alleged that the company used photos of women from Backpage on other sites without their permission in order to increase revenue and knowingly profited from the proceeds of prostitution.
"By creating an online brothel – a hotbed of illicit and exploitative activity – Carl Ferrer, Michael Lacey, and James Larkin preyed on vulnerable victims, including children, and profited from their exploitation," Harris said in a statement.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by jelizondo on Tuesday December 27 2016, @12:01AM
There is a similar, unrelated case [latimes.com], of a man wrongly convicted; quoting from the LA TIMES, the guy was indicted in 1998 and released until 2013 thanks to Kamala Harris, AG for California, who appealed his motions to keep him in jail:
"[...] A federal magistrate reviewed those facts and determined that Larsen deserved to have his conviction overturned because his lawyer was inadequate.[...] 'Had the jury heard the exculpatory testimony,' the magistrate wrote, 'no reasonable juror would have found [Larsen] guilty.' The magistrate's recommendations were reviewed and upheld by a second federal judge in 2009. [...] Yet the California attorney general's office objected to releasing Larsen, and he remains behind bars while the fight over his release is appealed. [...] it is exceptionally rare for a federal judge to conclude that an inmate is 'actually innocent.' Under these circumstances, Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris would be wise to back off and let Larsen go. "
Apparently when she decides you're guilty, you are, regardless of judges or juries.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday December 27 2016, @01:05AM
Although it doesn't reflect well on her character, that seems to be the norm for AGs. And if they are shuffling into higher political offices, it's no surprise that they want to be seen as tough on crime.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 27 2016, @02:00AM
(Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Tuesday December 27 2016, @02:17AM
"Tough on crime" also means incarcerating drug users, putting everyone on the sex offender list, and 3 strikes laws. It doesn't have to make sense. It just has to be tough. There can be no sign of weakness, compromise, or remorse.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 27 2016, @04:22PM
guy pulls away his down comforter looks around and realizes prosecuters and politicians are scum bags. welcome to reality!
(Score: 3, Interesting) by TheRaven on Tuesday December 27 2016, @07:54AM
sudo mod me up
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday December 27 2016, @08:55AM
We get bang up Senators and maybe even US Presidents out of them!
Harris-Chafee 2020!
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1) by Frosty Piss on Tuesday December 27 2016, @06:29AM
DAs don't care about guilt or innocence, just convictions. Any body will do.