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Maryland State Attorney Faces Drunk Driving Charges
WTOP Radio, Wash DC ^ | 12-10-02 | AP

Posted on 12/10/2002 9:29:26 PM PST by nicollo

Maryland State Attorney Faces Drunk Driving Charges Updated: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002 - 6:45 PM EST.

(Rockville) -- A Montgomery County prosecutor is facing drunk driving charges.

Authorities say Deputy State's Attorney Katherine Winfree was stopped shortly before midnight Saturday night on Fernwood Road in Bethesda, about half-a-mile from her home. She was driving her county car at the time, which authorities say had a flat tire.

Winfree was charged with DUI and operating an unsafe vehicle.

The former federal prosecutor has handled some high-profile cases. Last year she won a conviction against Robert Paul Lucas in the murder of Monsignor Thomas Wells.

As for Winfree's case, it's been referred to the Frederick County prosecutor's office to avoid any conflict of interest. She remains on the job in Montgomery, where a spokesman for State's Attorney Douglas Gansler says Winfree is presumed innocent, just like any other defendant.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: butirepeatmyself; drunks; frauds; hypocrites; lawyers
I like these stories cuz they reinforce the fact that even lawyers are human. Hypocrites, but human.

This story is especially fun, as it happened down the street. How in the hell did anyone get pulled over on Fernwood, I can't imagine. You gotta try to get pulled over on that road.

She was driving on a flat. That's good effort.

1 posted on 12/10/2002 9:29:26 PM PST by nicollo
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To: nicollo
Interesting story. What I find curious is her career track--- federal prosecutor and then deputy state attorney?

Usually it's the other way around. People take the deputy state attorney (called assistant District Attorney in most states)and then after a few years try to get hired by the U.S. Attorney.

Federal prosecutors are a plum job. Pays well for the government, more resources, bigger cases and it's civil service--- you can't be fired. If you don't like your boss, it's possible to move to another federal district to work.

People usually only leave when they retire or they cash in at a high dollar law firm-- not the State Attorney's office.
I can't say I've ever heard of an assistant U.S. Attorney moving down like this.
2 posted on 12/10/2002 9:38:27 PM PST by Maximum Leader
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To: nicollo
Winfree is presumed innocent, just like any other defendant.

Good one.

3 posted on 12/10/2002 9:44:15 PM PST by thepitts
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To: nicollo
I'll drink to that...
4 posted on 12/10/2002 9:44:19 PM PST by Drango
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To: Maximum Leader
This explains things. Hard to move up when staring down the bottom of a bottle.

Hell, even I can change a tire drunk. I bet I could prosecute a few drunks drunk, too. But I'm just a drunk. She's a drunk empowered by the state.

But I'm being too picky. I'll buy her one next time. And a cab ride home.
5 posted on 12/10/2002 9:46:11 PM PST by nicollo
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To: nicollo
Principal Deputy State's Attorney, Katherine Winfree

Katherine Winfree was appointed Principal Deputy State's Attorney in January 1999. Ms. Winfree graduated from the College of William and Mary and the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Ms. Winfree served in the Appellate Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice from 1976 to 1980. In 1980, she was appointed as an Assistant United State's Attorney for the District of Columbia where she served in the Appellate, Misdemeanor and Felony Trial, Economic Crimes, Special Prosecution, Chronic Offender and Homicide Sections. She also served as Chief of the Misdemeanor Trial, Economic Crimes, and Public Corruption Section. During her tenure as a federal prosecutor, Ms. Winfree was the recipient of the Harold Sullivan Award honoring her as the top prosecutor from among 300 other Assistant United States Attorneys in the District of Columbia. Ms. Winfree has prosecuted many high profile cases during her illustrious career. Among her numerous successful prosecutions, Ms. Winfree is credited with obtaining 19 convictions and $3 million in forfeitures in the "Money Magic" investigation -- a case which involved a complex FBI undercover operation designed to thwart an illegal money laundering scheme involving automobile dealerships and drug kingpins. Recently, she successfully tried State v. Robert Lucas, who murdered Monsignor Thomas Wells, in the rectory of Mother Seton Catholic Church in Germantown.

6 posted on 12/10/2002 9:47:41 PM PST by freedom4ever
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To: Drango
Chin, chin
7 posted on 12/10/2002 9:49:32 PM PST by nicollo
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To: freedom4ever
You guys are great! One little press notice, and we've ruined a career.

Go FR!
8 posted on 12/10/2002 10:01:20 PM PST by nicollo
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To: nicollo
WOW! Now I really feel bad.
9 posted on 12/10/2002 10:09:00 PM PST by freedom4ever
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To: nicollo
One little press notice, and we've ruined a career.

From the way this sounds, it seems she ruined her own career.

10 posted on 12/10/2002 10:45:20 PM PST by altair
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To: altair; freedom4ever
Right you are, Altair, but not if no one notices. Dunno to what effect to see it here, but it can't help.

I'm not one to complain about this behavior. But I'm no State Attorney. We must hold our representatives to a higher standard. When they screw up, down they must go. They can fall into our laps, and we can forgive them the sun and the moon. But only after they surrender both.

The current standard that "everyone does it" is insipid and wrong. She can drink and drive on her own time.

Freedom4ever, I trust you'll sleep well tonight?
11 posted on 12/10/2002 10:58:47 PM PST by nicollo
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To: nicollo
If I wasn't working, I would sleep well.
12 posted on 12/10/2002 11:07:24 PM PST by freedom4ever
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To: freedom4ever
You mean people stay up this late because they have to?

Well, as long as you're there, get to work busting few careers and reputations. The night is young!

(Me, I'm about to crash. Flat tire and all.)

13 posted on 12/10/2002 11:15:18 PM PST by nicollo
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To: nicollo
I'm not one to complain about this behavior. But I'm no State Attorney.

Something like that. When you have been entrusted to a job that can destroy lives you must be judged by a different standard.

14 posted on 12/10/2002 11:32:16 PM PST by altair
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