Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jan 2003
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2003 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Author: Gregory A. Hall

TRIAL OF EX-NARCOTICS DETECTIVES TO STAY IN JEFFERSON

Two former narcotics detectives accused of wrongdoing in their jobs will be 
tried in Jefferson County because enough potential jurors were deemed 
qualified yesterday.

Jefferson Circuit Judge Steve Mershon last year denied requests to move the 
trial by attorneys for Mark Watson and Christie Richardson, citing 
publicity about the case. But he had set up Bowling Green as a backup 
location for the trial if enough impartial jurors couldn't be found in 
Jefferson County.

Mershon and the attorneys in the case interviewed jurors individually 
Wednesday and yesterday on the issues of whether they had formed opinions 
from the pretrial publicity or whether anything would prevent them from 
participating in the entire trial, which is expected to last about a month.

''The jury-selection process substantiated our argument that we could get a 
fair jury here in Jefferson County,'' said prosecutor Scott Davis, who 
opposed moving the trial.

This morning attorneys are scheduled to strike names from the 49 potential 
jurors. Opening arguments would be Tuesday, when court reconvenes after the 
Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Steve Schroering, an attorney for Richardson, declined to comment. An 
attempt to contact Mary Sharp, an attorney for Watson, was unsuccessful 
after yesterday's proceedings.

Watson and Richardson, who resigned from the county police last year, are 
accused of 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.

The former detectives each face counts of burglary, possession of a forged 
instrument, tampering with public records, bribing a witness, theft, 
perjury and official misconduct. In addition, Watson faces a count of 
harassing a witness.

Both Watson, 39, and Richardson, 36, have pleaded innocent to all charges. 
If convicted, each could be sentenced to up to 70 years in prison.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens