So going forward the BatBlog believes if anybody is charged it may the fired ex-administrator Ms. Knoebel who has publicly said she is being made a "scapegoat." The BatBlog agrees with her it , she is either unintentionally or intentionally being thrown under the bus. Judge Jacobi has conveniently fired just one employee making it a more or less a he said she said situation and of course the judge has immunity. Unless another employee breaks ranks and backs up Ms. Knoebel's story she could be carrying the brunt of the blame and punishment as the case moves forward. We just don't see anyone else jeopardizing their employment by coming forward to back up Ms. Knoebel's contention. Hopefully if Ms. Knoebel's allegations are true, someone will do the honorable thing and come forward and verify her story, but don't hold your breath on that one. Honorable doesn't always show their face in these type of situations.
One has to realize that Clark Co. officials are in a damage control mode now. We wouldn't be surprised if no charges are filed and that the County moves forward to settle the recently filed civil suits as quickly as possible out of court . As matter of fact we would be utterly shocked if these civil cases ever make it to court. The bad publicity and embarrassment of this story which has made headlines all over the country, is incentive to bring this story to a close quickly if possible...Will it happen ?? Only time will tell and how deep is Clark Co. willing to go into their already depleted pockets.... Like Bikerdude says "pull up a chair"
One problem for the plaintiffs, all were subject to harsher, longer sentences. The end result for these people is their drug court time was cut, their cases dismissed. Example, if the underlying fact is that Destiny Hoffman did violate the terms of drug court, then she rightfully was due to serve years in prison. As it happened, she did 5 months and is out from under the Drug Court obligations. So, how, exactly, was she actually damaged?
ReplyDeleteSecond, Jacobi (according to the reports) is the one who actually started the ball rolling by asking Chief Judge Carmichael to conduct the investigation that revealed the violations. One assumes that by having the findings come from another source than himself he removed any taint of bias that Knoebel might have leveled against him that he was scapegoating her or firing or disciplining her for some reason other than gross mismanagement of the program that was, after all, her direct responsibility. One might reasonably say that Jacobi's only failing was not acting sooner.
As for the 'false arrests'. First, what is the difference to the person arrested if they were arrested by a policeman or by a Court bailiff who, technically, does not have the authority to execute an arrest warrant? I am not sure.
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So, what is REALLY going on? Some jaded observers can't help but notice that this all is emerging in the POLITICAL season. Couple things here, why does the PROSECUTOR get a pass? Aren't they the "Ultimate Law Enforcement Authority" in the county? The Jail issues a population sheet every Monday. Did the Prosecutor's office simply not notice these 'uncharged detainees'? Isn't the purpose of issuing that sheet so that the people who need to know (ie the prosecutor for example) will be cognizant of who is in the clink?)
The way this has been played out in the Media, the prosecutor and some others who one might otherwise imagine SHOULD HAVE KNOWN much earlier are portrayed as "Heroes". How convenient...for them!?
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Lawsuit is interesting too.....interesting that all those named ....do not include the Drug Court Board. Yeah, the prosecutors and defense lawyers and others who were supposed to direct the activity of the Drug Court. Weren't they supposed to be overseeing the Drug Court? Why have they been given a pass from being sued in Federal Court? Why hasn't the media even told us WHO they are?
Definitely will be interesting to see as this moves forward. Lots of different scenarios, that I'm sure Clark County leaders would like to see just go away.
ReplyDeleteSomeone tell us who is on that damn board.
ReplyDeleteAnon.1 you make some very good points and bring up some very interesting questions. I will give a detailed response to your post later on today. Thanks for the well written comments
ReplyDeleteI too would be very interested in knowing who is on that board ??
ReplyDeleteAnyone out there have that answer ?
Is this a public record matter ???
It's interesting that the members haven't been named by the media...
While I agree with Anon for the most part, again I think people are confusing the two different issues in play here! (Albeit overlapping slightly under a larger umbrella of abuse.)
ReplyDeleteThe first issue is the alleged abuse of power Knoebel displayed. This is in fact where the board should be culpable as well. They should have more responsibility in their culpability of the treatment of the participants of drug court.
But the other issue is the lack of oversight by the courts which led to Hoffman's extended incarceration. This was not Knoeble's fault as far as I can tell and was therefore not uncovered by the PI. This was, based on news reports, uncovered by someone inside the jail.
When Jacobi ordered her to 48 hours "Until further notice of the courts" surely that means that there was a protocol that should have been followed and was not. Everyone in that path of protocol needs to be examined! Yes, even prosecutor!
HT, you need to add icon options to your comment box. I'd like to use the "eating popcorn" icon right about now. (the one bikerdude uses on chatter a lot lately) :)
ReplyDeleteProtocol , we don't need no stinking protocol, we are drug court. What I don't understand is why we're drug court people treated more severely that real criminals who who hurt people other than themselves?
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