Does Witness Protection actually protect the witness? Would YOU testify in a trial if it might place you in jeopardy of retaliation? Would you trust that all protections would be in place and adhered to?
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The documents were found in a restaurant, left there by the defense attorney. I did not know that sealed documents that could endanger the witness if read by the wrong person were allowed out of the safety of a court room or official secured location.
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Federal prosecutors are asking U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Koba*ya*shi to impose sanctions on criminal defense lawyer Marcus Sierra after a bystander found a binder of documents in the restaurant. Sierra acknowledges that the binder is his and says they contain grand jury testimony of two government witnesses.
The documents are from the racketeering trial of alleged USO Family prison gang member Tinei*malo Adkins and fired state prison guard Feso Malu*fau.
The documents are from the racketeering trial of alleged USO Family prison gang member Tinei*malo Adkins and fired state prison guard Feso Malu*fau.
Otake asked Koba*ya*shi to impose sanctions Thursday not just because of the protective order, but also because the documents could have been used to threaten and intimidate witnesses.
"This was an extraordinary case when it comes to witness protection," Otake said. "We've been trying very hard to protect our witnesses as best we could."
During the trial, prosecutors filed documents under seal asking the court for permission to admit evidence of Adkins intimidating witnesses, after authorities found in his possession a complete list of the government's proposed witnesses, including names that had been blacked out on the publicly available witness list.
"This was an extraordinary case when it comes to witness protection," Otake said. "We've been trying very hard to protect our witnesses as best we could."
During the trial, prosecutors filed documents under seal asking the court for permission to admit evidence of Adkins intimidating witnesses, after authorities found in his possession a complete list of the government's proposed witnesses, including names that had been blacked out on the publicly available witness list.
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