Thursday, June 30, 2005

DESPITE ETHICAL CONCERN, BERRIEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR REFUSED TO STEP

A Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor will remain as prosecutor of a case in which he obtained and read the strategy paper the defendant and his lawyer had prepared. Assistant prosecutor Jeff Taylor will be allowed to continue to prosecute the case.

Concerns arose when Taylor disclosed he had obtained a copy of the entire legal strategy Dr. Renney and his lawyer, Frank Stanley of Grand Rapids, had planned on using. Taylor admitted to Stanley he had read the strategy and discussed it with two office workers.

Dr. Renney of Stevensville consulted with another attorney, Phil Stoffan, at the request of Judge Wiley, because prosecutor Taylor will not be removed from this case. Dr. Renney and Phil Stoffan came to the conclusion that terminating Stanley at this point would be of no benefit.

Dr. Renney stated he agreed because "my defense and strategy is base on the truth and facts. If I was guilty I could just fire my lawyer and get a new one and work out a different strategy, but the truth is the truth. There is no way to create something different out of it."

Dr. Renney and his lawyers have not yet reached a decision regarding charging the false witnesses who are supposed to testify against him with violation of mcl 750,411a false report of a crime. The law states that if the report is a false report of a felony, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both. The law became effective May 20 2004.

This is how Berrien County courthouse does business.