Tuesday, May 04, 1999
Judge drops bribery charge in ex-officer Knight's case
Prosecution rests; defense starts today
BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Former Cincinnati Police Officer Patrick Knight faces one less felony charge today after a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to support a conviction.
But in his decision Monday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, Judge Robert Kraft also ruled that he would continue to hear evidence about nine other charges against the officer.
Mr. Knight, who was fired three years ago, is accused of using his badge to extort sex from women.
Prosecutors say Mr. Knight told four women on different occasions that he would not take them to jail if they agreed to have sex with him.
Mr. Knight's attorney, Merlyn Shiverdecker, argued that all of the charges should be thrown out because prosecutors had failed to show enough evidence to support them.
He said all four of the women gave conflicting testimony about their contact with Mr. Knight and all four had “serious credibility problems.” He said those problems include alcoholism, drug abuse and questionable motives.
“There is not one scintilla of corroborating evidence to support the testimony of these witnesses,” Mr. Shiverdecker said. “Each and every one of them has a good deal of baggage in regard to their believability.”
He noted that one of Mr. Knight's accusers could not identify the former officer in court. Instead, he said, she pointed to someone seated in the back of the courtroom.
Judge Kraft agreed there was not enough evidence in that case to support a conviction on a bribery charge.
The judge threw out the charge but agreed to hear more evidence on the remaining nine charges, which include five counts of bribery and four counts of sexual battery.
The judge will decide the case himself because Mr. Knight chose to have a trial without a jury.
Mr. Shiverdecker is expected to present evidence and several witnesses today. Assistant Prosecutor Chris McEvilley finished presenting her case Monday. She told the judge all of the charges against Mr. Knight should stand, arguing that Mr. Knight preyed upon women who he knew would have credibility problems.
“I would submit this is the reason the defendant picked them,” Ms. McEvilley said.
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