ATLANTA - An Augusta lawmaker intervened with prosecutors last month for a man who pleaded guilty to sexual battery of a child despite Governor Perdue's call for new ethics laws to prevent legislators from getting involved in criminal cases. <br>
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The Augusta Chronicle reports that after Republican Senator Don Cheeks asked authorities why Bobby Clark Brassell Junior had been required to register as a sex offender, the district attorney -- Danny Craig -- agreed to ask the judge to remove that requirement. <br>
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The sex offender list publicly identifies those convicted of sex crimes. <br>
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Brassell pleaded guilty to a single count of misdemeanor sexual battery on January tenth, some three years after he was charged with felony molestation. <br>
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Craig told The Associated Press the case was weak from the beginning and justice was served by the outcome. <br>
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Even though the child told a victim's advocate there was inappropriate touching, the child could not recall the incident when interviewed by prosecutors, Craig said. <br>
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Cheeks declined to comment when approached today in the Senate by the AP. <br>
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It is not illegal for legislators to contact state or local law enforcement officials about criminal cases or about inmates in the state system. But intense controversy last year led the governor to propose new laws to curb legislative contacts with state penal officials.
