Today Valerie Rovin had her day in court and was acquitted of the charges, based on a technicality in state law.
Did Valerie go to the Juror's place of business and intimidate the Juror, yes. One would think that based on the history of law, one thing you cannot do is tamper with a Juror, WRONG. In Maryland, that is.
Now, if this were a Federal case, Valerie Rovin would more than likely be sitting in a jail cell. However, under Maryland law, even though this particular Juror was asked to serve for a month, he was released as a Juror once this threat had happened and technically he was no longer a Juror.
The Judge actually made a legitimate judgment in this case based on the law at hand. Valerie Rovin's attorney certainly did a fine job finding and presenting this flaw in the law and today Valerie Rovin was acquitted of the charges.
All that being said, today, (on line) the Daily Times went after Sheriff Mike Lewis pretty much attacking him for the statement he made several months ago. Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis told The Daily Times in June that this case was probably the "most egregious" incident of juror intimidation that he's seen during his time in office.
This is the problem with LIBERAL YELLOW JOURNALISM. Their reporter was right there in the court room. WHY would the Daily Times make it sound as if Sheriff Mike Lewis was ever in the wrong for what he was quoted as saying and or arresting someone who absolutely threatened a Juror. It was the most egregious incident he had ever seen.
The paper goes on and on explaining, was what Valerie in the wrong for what she did, YES. Was she sorry for what she did, YES. It seems to be the Daily Times will say just about anything to sell papers. I'm sure their hope is to piss off Sheriff Lewis so he'll respond to their ridiculous statements.
One thing is for sure. States Attorney Matt Maciarello has been in high gear for about a month now working with state legislators making damn sure the flaw in this law protecting Jurors is covered and hopefully changed in this upcoming legislative session.
Matt and Mike are very passionate about making sure ALL Jurors are fully protected so this will never happen again. The Federal Law clearly protects Jurors to a much higher level and that is what they are shooting for.
The Daily Times, (in my honest opinion) did a horrible job in their article today. How can they act like they are journalists when they can't even tell the story right. People need to stop buying that rag because their reporters are crap.
Oh, that's right. Maciarello and Lewis are registered REPUBLICANS. What was I thinking.
Thanks for writing the truth.
ReplyDeleteFinding a juror and going to their place of business should be a CRIME. Good work Mike and Matt for trying to do the right thing for the citizens.
ReplyDeleteTruth is she was acquitted. Not guilt. Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteThat's not even close to the truth you freakin liberal moron
DeleteBy now everyone should realize that the DT is in the tank for the good ole boy liberals who have driven this county into the ground. They will try to destroy anyone, from Lewis to Maciarello to Culver, who stands up for the citizens or tries to pry loose the strangle hold the Shea/Creamer/Pollitt/Strasberg/Cannon system abusers have on county government. Thank goodness for SBYNEWS for speaking truth to the public and standing up for us.
ReplyDeleteI would think that jurors can refuse to serve since they are not protected by law from being stalked at work by unhappy losers.
ReplyDeleteThank you Matt and Mike. You both did and are doing the right thing to protect jurors.
ReplyDeleteElected officials - fix the d@mn loop hole!!!!
ReplyDeleteso you can go to a jury persons house or business after they decide a case? Threaten to have them killed. That is ridiculous. Thank you Mike Lewis for having common sense.
ReplyDeleteOh.... So this crazy ignorant person that's typing this comment was correct! All the cops.... And admitted that they were cops , who said I was wrong for saying the person was no longer a juror and there was no crime are morons! Keep listening to these idiot cops. They will tell you anything. I knew this person would be exonerated. Whether she was right or wrong in the eyes of folks. The law is the law. And if the cops knew the law they wouldn't have ever arrested her. That's the problem. Cops don't know the law and just arrest people causing alot of harm. This has to stop.
ReplyDeleteIt's exactly why their subscriptions is so low! Then they have the "nadds" to try and get people to scribe to the on version...LOL I think not!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat?
DeleteIn America we have the freedom to go to a jurors home or business and threaten them. We have the right to peacefully demonstrate by rioting and looting. It is the new world order. Get used to it!
ReplyDeleteOnce a criminal...always a criminal....She will commit a crime again.......
ReplyDeleteStupid lawyer she has. This MacDonald sounds like some kind of amateur or something. He should have kept his mouth shut about the Sheriff because that only proved to have opened his client up to more public scrutiny. When a client is acquitted it's best to say 'we thought she hadn't committed a crime all along and we are pleased the judge saw it our way'. Period end of story!
ReplyDeleteBut no, this lawyer had to show off by getting a last dig in which has proven to be not in the best interest of his client.
Next time he needs to take his own advice and think twice before HE make egregious comments!
I agree, stupid lawyer. Rovin said she was sorry an admission that she knows she did something wrong though not necessarily against the law. Instead of making what he assumed would be a clever soundbite to the media, he should have left well enough alone and bowed out gracefully. He can't say anything that is going to ever discredit Wic Co's very popular sheriff, no matter how hard he tries. If he would have kept his big mouth shut, chances are this post and the comments about his client wouldn't exist.
ReplyDeleteCannot believe the daily times is still around. Have not purchased in 12 years.
ReplyDeleteStories on all of these small things yet nothing on the home invasion, kidnapping and what surely would have been a murder, had the girl not caught a break, by some juice head Powerhouse Gym employee. Not a peep. That's a crazy story and not a word?
ReplyDelete8:33 Officials did issue a press release on that issued a few days ago.
ReplyDeletehow are they going to 'fix' it? if they are not a jurist, they are not a jurist. They want it so a defendant/plantiff has no contact the rest of their lives?
ReplyDeleteI think Mike Lewis and Matt M. lost credibility! Didn't they falsely charge her? Shouldn't they know what the law is before they charged an innocent person??
ReplyDeleteThat would be the reason why Matt fighting to change the law! Pie in his face it appears to me!
The only ones who have lost credibility are the judge some clown called Simpson and MacDonald the big mouthed defense attorney. Both have shown an egregious disregard for any and all future jurors and their safety.
ReplyDeleteThe MD state courts website states the court takes juror safety very seriously. Clearly Simpson and MacDonald have an opposite view.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteThat's not even close to the truth you freakin liberal moron
October 8, 2015 at 8:30 AM
Joe, will you please introduce another word on your blog? they have worn this one out and can't think of any words on their own
Too bad that Matt -- our best State's Attorney in recent years and memory -- will probably become the next Circuit Court judge when Jackson retires this year.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mike Lewis-it is egregious and its incidents like this one that make people try to avoid jury duty at all costs.Nobody wants to be stalked and she should have been punished more severely.
ReplyDeleteIt concerns me that Lewis arrested this woman and put her in jail, and the states attorney prosecuted her, knowing that she did not commit a crime. The judge wouldn't have thrown the case out if there had been any evidence against her. This is a scary abuse of power. If our sheriffs and prosecutors make their own laws then all of our liberty is at risk. All she did was yell at the juror after the case was over. What happened to sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me? We have freedom of speech in this country. A freedom this blog relies on to the extreme. How many times have politicians tried unsuccessfully to shut up Joe Albero for his scandalous words. It is hard for me to believe this little lady really scared a male martial arts instructor. I am thankful lawyer McDonald stood up for this woman and that the judge was brave enough to follow the law and protect our freedom of speech. People get mad. People yell at others. People say stupid things when they are angry. We shouldn't go to jail for this. Joe Albero should appreciate more than anyone that people need to have thicker skin and not be so sensitive when someone bitches at them. Thankfully, Lewis hasn't thrown Joe in jail, yet. I wonder what would happen if Joe was ever critical of Lewis? Maybe this is why Joe always has his back. Fear?
ReplyDeleteWho is this Pig? Did she used to hang out at the Royal Exchange Pub back in the day?
ReplyDelete10/8 8:45 pm - I've read critical comments by Joe toward Sheriff Lewis in the past. I guess you missed them. Joe tells it like he sees it.
ReplyDelete