CIVIL SUIT AGAINST CARNEY DISMISSED GIRL REQUESTS END TO LITIGATION AGAINST EX-COUNCILMAN.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer PALMDALE - A civil lawsuit against retired sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Carney in which a teenage girl claims he molested mo·lest tr.v. mo·lest·ed, mo·lest·ing, mo·lests 1. To disturb, interfere with, or annoy. 2. To subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity. her has been dismissed at the girl's request. If the girl had prevailed in court, the likelihood of her recovering any money was unlikely because Carney, a former Palmdale city councilman, had filed for bankruptcy and an appeals court ruled that Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County and the Sheriff's Department were not liable. ``It would have been a pyrrhic victory Pyrrhic victory a too costly victory; “Another such victory and we are lost.” [Rom. Hist.: “Asculum I” in Eggenburger, 30–31] See : Defeat ,'' said Carney's attorney, David Pillemer. Carney, who in late 2000 was acquitted of criminal molestation molestation n. the crime of sexual acts with children up to the age of 18, including touching of private parts, exposure of genitalia, taking of pornographic pictures, rape, inducement of sexual acts with the molester or with other children, and variations of these charges, filed for bankruptcy last December. His attorney said Carney incurred tremendous debts bailing himself out of jail and defending himself. Attorneys for the girl, who no longer resides in the Antelope Valley, said the appeals court ruled that there was no liability on the part of the county. ``The Court of Appeals made a ruling that there's no liability of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department This article is about the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, not to be confused with the smaller Los Angeles County Police The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a local law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. because Mr. Carney's relationship with (the girl) was in their view unrelated to his professional responsibilities. They basically ruled there was no employer liability,'' attorney Gary Gebler said. The county was dismissed from the lawsuit earlier this year, leaving Carney as the sole defendant, Gebler said. Gebler said Carney's insurance company policy did not cover damages resulting from intentional wrongdoing wrong·do·er n. One who does wrong, especially morally or ethically. wrong  do , and his bankruptcy filing would discharge liability for negligent acts. ``We were left with no place to turn,'' Gebler said. ``The client was unwilling to prosecute the case just on principle.'' Carney was acquitted Nov. 2, 2000, by a Los Angeles Superior Court jury of four criminal charges of child molestation Child molestation is a crime involving a range of indecent or sexual activities between an adult and a child, usually under the age of 14. In psychiatric terms, these acts are sometimes known as pedophilia. pertaining to two girls. The panel deadlocked 11-1 in favor of finding him not guilty on 12 charges involving two other girls, including the teenager who is suing him. A month later, a judge dismissed the remaining charges after prosecutors said they did not believe a second trial would result in a conviction. A former Antelope Valley Union High School District The Antelope Valley Union High School District (A.V.U.H.S.D.) is located in the Antelope Valley area of California, in northern Los Angeles County. The district includes eight public high schools, one trade school, and two continuation high schools in the cities of Palmdale trustee, Carney worked for the Sheriff's Department for 23 years before his arrest in November 1999. The election that put him onto the Palmdale City Council came four days after his arrest. Two months after his arrest, he resigned his council seat. He also retired from the Sheriff's Department. Carney was sued by the girl before the criminal trial concluded. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com |
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