Ohio Secretary of State candidate Greg Hartmann (R) refused to prosecute a man for rape.
When Hartmann moved to dismiss the charge, the judge said "I'm worried he's going to kill her.". Hartmann showed no compassion, complaining that the victim hadn't shown
him "courtesy".
Hartmann later billed the county for a vacation day he didn't even have on the very day the trial was to haved started. What makes this even more troubling is what Hartmann was most likely busy doing: his other job, Hamilton County GOP chair. Soon after he was demoted to part-time assistant prosecutor so he could spend more time playing politics.
A year later the judge's intuition was right... the man Hartmann wouldn't charge killed his victim.
More after the jump.
Here are the facts:
A grand jury indicted Shelton on Feb. 21, 2002, for rape and aggravated burglary.
The case was set for trial on May 6, 2002 - just one day before the 2002 primary election. At the time, Hartmann was an assistant prosecutor - and Executive Director of the Hamilton County Republican Party. Weeks later, on June 26, he was demoted to part-time assistant prosecutor.
Did his politicking interfere with his crime-fighting?
On May 6, Hartmann asked for and received a continuance until May 13, then moved to dismiss the case. His stated reason: Walker refused to cooperate with the prosecutors and Shelton insisted the sex was consensual.
While it's common for abused women to shy away from helping law enforcement, committed crime-fighters look for other potential evidence and witnesses. Hartmann had some of both, including medical experts who said Walker's neck was swollen, evidence that points to strangulation, not consensual sex.
Among the evidence:
* Police who arrested Shelton took a five-page statement from Walker. "He choked her and she believes she passed out because everything went black,'' according to the statement. "He then placed a knife to her neck ... (He) had the knife at her neck and told her they were going to have sex.... He told he how much trouble he was in ... how much time he was going to spend in jail.'' He said he planned to kill himself after the rape.
* Emergency room officials from University Hospital who examined Walker discovered a "swollen neck area.''
* Lab tests showed the presence of Shelton's sperm, according to grand jury evidence.
* Walker was on the phone with Latasha Walker who told police she heard the victim's struggles during the call.
Tracey Walker died of multiple stab wounds on July 15, 2003, 14 months after Hartmann moved to dismiss the case.
Shelton was indicted for her murder but died of an apparent suicide before his trial.
Hartmann showed disdain, rather than sympathy, for Walker and sniped that she didn't give "the prosecutor the courtesy" of explaining her refusal to testify.
Can Hartmann give us the courtesy of explaining why he dismissed the charges, in the face of such evidence?