Pubdate: Thu, 16 Dec 2004
Source: News-Enterprise, The (KY)
Copyright: 2004 News-Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1663
Author: Erica Walsh
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

PROSECUTOR'S MISTRESS CHARGED WITH VOYEURISM

A woman charged with drug crimes and her former attorney who
videotaped the defendant having sex with a former Hardin County
prosecutor were indicted on felony charges Wednesday.

A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Erica French and Elizabethtown
attorney Kenneth Daniels on one count each of video voyeurism, a Class
D felony. If convicted, each could face a sentence of up to five years
in prison.

The videotape, filmed in May and set up by French and Daniels, shows
French having sex with Bob Stevens, the former Hardin County first
assistant commonwealth's attorney, at her residence in Louisville.

Stevens was not indicted on felony charges as the grand jury passed
down a "no true bill," effectively clearing him. He instead was
indicted for official misconduct in the first degree, a Class A
misdemeanor. His case is scheduled to head back to Jefferson County
District Court, where he could face up to one year in jail if convicted.

Daniels had earlier admitted to setting up the tape to protect French,
who was then his client. The two wanted to prove French's claim that
Stevens offered to lessen charges against French in exchange for sex.

Daniels previously said that he never instructed French to have sex
with Stevens, but did ask her to engage in enough conversation to
prove Stevens made advances towards her.

Stevens, who is married with two children, was fired from his position
in June after being placed on paid administrative leave.

French was sentenced to five years of probation in June after agreeing
to testify against two other suspects in the drug case she had been
arrested for. She reportedly planned to move to Wyoming.

Hardin County Commonwealth's Attorney spokesman Brian Walker said the
office would not comment on the case.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin