PRESS RELEASE
ONE WEST MARKET STREET SUITE 208
SNOW HILL, MARYLAND 21863
410-632-2166
FAX: 410-632-3250
Michael W. Farlow Paul T. Haskell
Deputy State's Attorney Deputy State's Attorney
Circuit Court Division District Court Division
PRESS RELEASE
To: All Local News Media
From: Joel J. Todd
Re: Appointment of Special Prosecutor
Date: February 27, 2008
Worcester County State’s Attorney Joel J. Todd announced today his intention to have Thomas M. Degonia, II Esquire, of Venable LLP in Rockville, Maryland as special prosecutor for the case of State vs. Davis R. Ruark, State’s Attorney for Wicomico County. Degonia was formerly an assistant state’s attorney in Montgomery County.
A special prosecutor will be used due to the longstanding professional relationship between Todd and Ruark. Both the State Prosecutor’s Office and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office declined to provide a special prosecutor - the former because this is not an alleged case of public corruption and the latter because of a conflict of interest of their own.
It is essential that the public have confidence in the process, although we are all sometimes dismayed at the result. Some of what has been reported has been inaccurate. Todd has stated that he knew as soon as he received the call about Ruark’s arrest that he would seek a special prosecutor. He told police then to treat Mr. Ruark just like any other drunk driving suspect.
Other than to answer questions about the law, Todd’s office has kept itself out of this case. When contacted by Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino about the alleged handgun violation Todd was asked only what the appropriate law was. He did not direct her to charge or not charge for this crime nor did she ask for such advice. Todd made it clear to Chief DiPino that he was seeking a special prosecutor and could not advise her whether or not to charge.
In addition, it has been reported that Todd’s office prosecuted Ruark’s son’s case. This is also untrue. A special prosecutor from another county handled that case.
The justice system will handle this case objectively through the independent prosecutor. The public should be mindful that Mr. Ruark is, as is every other accused, innocent until proven guilty.
3 comments:
"A special prosecutor will be used due to the longstanding professional relationship between Todd and Ruark."
Do you mean Joel Todd might be accused of having a grudge because Davis Ruark supported Beau Oglesby for Worcester County States Attorney instead of supporting Todd??
Guilty
do you think they will show the video of Davis doing his field sobriety tests? There is such a video from the dashcam in the OC Police Car!
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