CAMERAMAN ACQUITTED JURY DEADLOCKS ON 2 CHARGES RELATED TO FIRE.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer A Palmdale freelance news cameraman was released from custody Thursday after a jury acquitted him of five charges related to a 5,000-acre brush fire in September 2002 that destroyed four Bouquet bouquet a structure resembling a cluster of flowers. Canyon homes. The jury deadlocked dead·lock n. 1. A standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces or factions. 2. Sports A tied score. 3. on two charges against Joshua Harville, 23, but the judge agreed to release him on his promise to appear in court on April 6. The District Attorney's Office is expected to decide by then whether to seek a retrial retrial n. a new trial granted upon the motion of the losing party, based on obvious error, bias or newly-discovered evidence. (See: newly-discovered evidence) . Harville's wife, Nicole Harville, who is due to give birth to their daughter today, on the couple's wedding anniversary, said she and her husband had been living by their faith in God during his nearly seven months in jail. ``He called me from jail and said, 'The baby's name is going to be Faith Marie because we are going by faith,''' she said. ``I'm very excited. I'm just happy he's going to be coming home.'' Deputy District Attorney Jean Daly declined to comment. Harville drew investigators' suspicion because he shot early footage of the fire and because his wife had a car that resembles one seen parked next to Bouquet Canyon Road when the fire broke out. Harville has acknowledged driving to the fire, but said he went there to shoot videotape videotape Magnetic tape used to record visual images and sound, or the recording itself. There are two types of videotape recorders, the transverse (or quad) and the helical. to sell to Los Angeles television stations Los Angeles is served by several local television stations including: Call letters Channel Network KCBS 2 CBS KNBC 4 NBC KTLA 5 The CW (Formerly WB) KSFV-LP 6 Almavision KABC 7 ABC KCAL 9 CBS2 (Formerly Independent) KTTV 11 Fox only after he heard over a police scanner the radio call reporting the fire. Friends and co-workers said he was miles away in Palmdale when the fire broke out. Harville was arrested July 31 outside the Palmdale courthouse after he discovered an electronic tracking device attached to his car and, thinking it might be a bomb, alerted authorities. The device had been placed by arson arson, at common law, the malicious and willful burning of the house of another. Originally, it was an offense against the security of habitation rather than against property rights. investigators. ``Needless to say, it's the end of the nightmare,'' said Alan Baum, Harville's Woodland Hills attorney. ``Josh has been in jail for 6 1/2 months and he's of course thrilled thrill v. thrilled, thrill·ing, thrills v.tr. 1. To cause to feel a sudden intense sensation; excite greatly. 2. To give great pleasure to; delight. See Synonyms at enrapture. to be able to go home now and to be present during the birth of his child.'' Harville's mother, Caren, said the not guilty verdicts didn't surprise her at all. ``He's never even had a parking ticket or anything before,'' she said. ``When he goes to the scene, he puts his camera down and gives CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Definition Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a procedure to support and maintain breathing and circulation for a person who has stopped breathing (respiratory arrest) and/or whose heart has stopped (cardiac or first aid to people. He's saved people's lives before. A couple of times he's picked up a garden hose and put out fires and loses his video as a result.'' Staff Writer Karen Maeshiro contributed to this report. Troy Anderson, (213) 974-8985 troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com |
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