MOLESTATION COUNT DISMISSED GIRL RECANTS TESTIMONY AS KERN COUNTY JURORS DEADLOCK.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer A former Lancaster state prison corrections officer The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. acquitted of three of four charges in a child-molestation trial in Kern County will not face a second trial. A Kern County Superior Court judge on Wednesday granted a request by prosecutors to dismiss the remaining count against 55-year-old John Heinatz of Rosamond on which jurors deadlocked dead·lock n. 1. A standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces or factions. 2. Sports A tied score. 3. 8-4 in favor of not guilty. The move came after the 15-year-old victim recanted her allegations over the weekend after jury deliberations began Friday afternoon, saying, ``Let him go. He's innocent.'' ``When you consider that the jury found him not guilty of three counts and the vote was 8-4 in favor of not guilty on the remaining one, and after the jury began deliberating the girl called somebody and said, 'Let him go,' it would seem to me it would be difficult to try the case with any reasonable prospect of success,'' said Heinatz's attorney, Richard Monahan. Kern County Deputy District Attorney Carla Grabert could not be reached Wednesday for comment. Grabert had said Monday that the girl retracted re·tract v. re·tract·ed, re·tract·ing, re·tracts v.tr. 1. To take back; disavow: refused to retract the statement. 2. her recantation re·cant v. re·cant·ed, re·cant·ing, re·cants v.tr. To make a formal retraction or disavowal of (a statement or belief to which one has previously committed oneself). v.intr. and said her testimony was truthful. Heinatz, who resigned June 29 from his prison job, was acquitted Monday of continuous sexual abuse of a child and a lesser, included offense of a lewd act on a child under the age of 14 after the jury deliberated about a day. The jury also acquitted him of unlawful sexual intercourse sexual intercourse or coitus or copulation Act in which the male reproductive organ enters the female reproductive tract (see reproductive system). , and was deadlocked on the fourth count, of a lewd act on a child between the ages of 14 and 15. After the verdict, Heinatz's bail was reduced from more than $1 million to $7,500, and he bailed out late Monday, Monahan said. Heinatz had been in custody since his arrest in May, Monahan said. Prosecutors had said Heinatz 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. the girl over a three-year period, beginning in May 2002 when she was 12. Heinatz first started working for the state Department of Corrections in 1995, and worked at California State Prison, 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, since 1997. He was placed on administrative leave with pay in May pending the outcome of the case. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com |
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