Interesting story of political clout, relationship between Judge and District Attorney.

Charge dropped in Orleans Judge Laurie White's home invasion case

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Updated on August 25, 2017 at 11:05 AM Posted on August 25, 2017 at 8:04 AM
NOPD 8th District Trespassing Incident 700 Blk of Gov Nicholls Item# I-24292-15
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By Ken Daley kdaley@nola.com,
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry's office has dismissed the home invasion case against an Alabama man accused in September 2015 of intruding upon the French Quarter residence of Criminal District Judge Laurie A. White, court records show.

Assistant attorney general Jeff Traylor on Thursday (Aug 24) filed the motion to dismiss the charge against Joshua Stemle. Traylor did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision to toss the case, but Landry's press secretary Ruth Wisher said, "This case was dropped per the request of the victim's family."

White said she had been notified of the decision.

"We were aware of the dismissal," White said. "We were very pleased with the assistant attorney general's handling of the matter and my husband agreed to this result. This unfortunate event could have been avoided if Mr. Stemle was not impaired. Our choice was for treatment rather than possible incarceration."

Stemle's defense attorney Patrick Fanning did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Stemle, a 34-year-old attorney, had pleaded not guilty, saying he was disoriented after being the victim of an early morning mugging in the French Quarter following a night of drinking. Authorities said Stemle was missing his phone and wallet when arrested.

Stemle had faced five to 20 years in prison and the probable loss of his law license had he been convicted of the felony. New Orleans police arrested him on Sept. 20, 2015, on misdemeanor allegations of trespassing and simple battery. Video surveillance cameras had captured Stemle, at about 6:20 a.m., walking into a courtyard driveway past White's husband, Thomas Wilson III, then scuffling briefly with Wilson after being confronted.

White, who said she came to her husband's defense armed with a gun before Stemle ran away, later complained to NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison, District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro and local news media that police had undercharged the intruder. Cannizzaro's office screened the case and filed a bill of information charging Stemle with the more serious felony home invasion 11 days after the incident.

Judge's intruder now facing felony home invasion charge
Judge's intruder now facing felony home invasion charge

Fanning challenged that decision, alleging that his client was being unfairly prosecuted by a district attorney eager to keep the judge happy. He filed a motion to recuse Cannizzaro's office from the case, and during a memorable June 2016 hearing that followed before ad hoc Judge Walter Rothschild, White testified under oath that she also did not trust Cannizzaro to fairly prosecute the case.

"I've always made it clear I do not like the district attorney," White testified. "He is not always truthful. He is always concerned with the political outcome of decisions and I am concerned about him handling my case. ... I don't think I can get a fair trial."

LINK

http://www.nola.com/crime/inde...ncart_river_home_pop

Messy little town...

But aren't they all?