Pubdate: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 Source: Glasgow Daily Times (KY) Copyright: 2003 Glasgow Daily Times Contact: http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2078 Author: Associated Press TRIAL FOR NARCOTICS OFFICERS BEGINS TUESDAY LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Two former narcotics detectives will go on trial Tuesday in one of the largest and most publicized police-corruption cases ever in Jefferson County. Mark A. Watson and Christie Richardson, who have resigned from the county police, are charged with creating bogus search warrants with photocopied judges' signatures, with obtaining warrants through the use of fraudulent affidavits, and with obtaining payments for informants who say they never got the money. Watson faces 472 counts and Richardson 467. Because of the accusations against Watson and Richardson, the Metro Narcotics division has altered its policies, drug convictions have been overturned and dozens of drug charges have been dropped. "I've never been in the position where I'm walking around making motions to dismiss cases -- at this volume at least," Alex Dathorne, chief narcotics prosecutor in the commonwealth's attorney's office, said. Russell Weaver, a University of Louisville law professor, said the allegations in the case point to "a major breakdown" in the criminal justice system and involve one of the biggest police-corruption cases he's seen since coming to Louisville in 1982. If convicted, Watson and Richardson each could be sentenced to as long as 70 years in prison for burglary, possession of a forged instrument, tampering with public records, bribing a witness, theft, perjury and official misconduct. In addition, Watson faces one count of harassing a witness. Their alleged misdeeds occurred over 13 months, starting in January 2001, and the two are accused in connection with 133 separate incidents of wrongdoing, according to court records. Watson, 39, and Richardson, 36, have pleaded innocent and are free on bail. Neither could be reached for comment. Mary Sharp, an attorney for Watson, said he is employed but would not say what he is doing or where he is working. Steve Schroering, Richardson's attorney, would not comment on her status. Watson, a former Atlanta police officer, joined the Jefferson County department in 1992, moving to Metro Narcotics in 1995. Richardson, a former Georgetown, Ky., officer, joined the county force in 1994 and was teamed with Watson after joining the narcotics division in 1998. Schroering declined to discuss his client's defense, but said, "She absolutely maintains her innocence of any criminal conduct." He would not say whether Richardson will testify. Sharp said her client's statement to investigators reveals part of his defense. In the statement, Watson said money he was to pay confidential informants did go to them, and when he signed informants' names, he did so only with their permission. "I think that there are a lot of problems with the commonwealth's case -- specifically, counts of the indictment that we don't believe have sufficient evidence which support them -- certainly not beyond a reasonable doubt," Sharp said. Attorneys for both Watson and Richardson have asked Jefferson Circuit Judge Steve Mershon to move the trial outside Jefferson County because of pretrial publicity. But Mershon kept the trial in Jefferson County, adding that if enough potential jurors who haven't pre-judged the case can't be found Tuesday, he would move the trial to Bowling Green. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart