Judge defers ruling in case of Democratic operative [Ray Reggie]

AP ^ | 5-6-2005

[johnny7]

GRETNA, La. A judge will rule later on whether to toss out a charge of impersonating a police officer against the brother-in-law of U-S Senator Ted Kennedy.

New Orleans media consultant Raymond Reggie has asked state District Judge Robert Murphy to quash the charge, saying the prosecution had waited too long to bring him to trial. Reggie pleaded guilty last month to federal bank fraud charges.

Yesterday, Reggie's attorney, Michael Ellis, argued that his client should have gone to trial within two years of his arrest on June 14th, 2002. But prosecutor Kim McElwee argued that there are exceptions to the statute of limitations that apply to Reggie's case. She says she would have as late as October to bring the case to trial. Reggie was charged with false personation of a peace officer after three women identified him as the man who was driving a car with a blue light on its dashboard and pulled behind them in Metairie. He's accused of showing the women a badge and a nonpolice identification and ordering the driver to open her window. He has said he is innocent. Murphy did not indicate when he would rule.

Reggie is scheduled to be sentenced October 26th in connection with his April 21st guilty pleas to bank fraud and bank fraud conspiracy.

[jmaroneps37]

Now hear this rats: The ratmedia will try, but it won't be able to smother this one. Wearing a wire and taping phone calls within the evil donkey's barn will be devastating.

[Ellesu]

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=3323141
Impersonation Charge Against Reggie Thrown Out



GRETNA, La. (AP) - A state judge in Gretna has dismissed a police impersonation charge against media consultant and Democratic Party operative Raymond Reggie, ruling that prosecutors waited too long to bring him to trial.

Reggie, the brother-in-law of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, had been accused of stopping three women in Metairie by using a blue police light. The charge carried up to two years in prison.

State District Judge Robert Murphy ruled yesterday that Reggie's trial on the charge, filed in 2002, should have taken place by July 14th, 2004. Defense attorney Mike Ellis says justice was served by the ruling. Prosecutor Kim McElwee says an appeal is planned.

Under state law, noncapital felony cases must be brought to trial within two years after formal charges are filed. McElwee had argued that the law has exceptions that apply to Reggie's case, such as time caused by unresolved pretrial motions.

Reggie faces sentencing October 26th in New Orleans federal court to unrelated charges of bank fraud and bank fraud conspiracy. He pleaded guilty to those charges on April 21st.