Green Ranger
05-25-2005, 09:55 AM
What are peoples thoughts on whether or not she should be charged?
Charges against 'runaway bride'?
Grand jury meets; prosecutor to announce recommendation
The Associated Press
Updated: 10:09 a.m. ET May 25, 2005ATLANTA - A county district attorney said Wednesday he has no deal in the case of runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks and was presenting information to a grand jury to determine if she should be indicted.
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Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said he expected to announce the grand jury’s findings at a news conference later Wednesday morning. Speaking just before the grand jury session got under way, he declined to say what he was planning to recommend.
Wilbanks’ family has been in negotiations with Porter over a possible settlement, but Porter said no agreement had been reached.
Wilbanks, 32, disappeared from her Duluth home on April 26 after claiming that she was going for a jog.
While Georgia authorities looked for her, the woman traveled to Las Vegas by bus and then to Albuquerque, N.M. There, she called authorities with a story about having been abducted and sexually assaulted.
But under questioning, she recanted and said she fled Georgia because of unspecified personal issues. She returned to Georgia on April 30, the day she was to have been married in a lavish ceremony with 600 guests.
Possible charges
Porter has said Wilbanks could face a misdemeanor charge of filing a false report or a felony charge of making false statements for telling authorities she had been kidnapped. Wilbanks’ lawyer has said she doesn’t think her client should be charged with a crime.
Her disappearance prompted a massive search and nationwide publicity. City, county and state officials spent about $50,000 looking for her.
Several state and county agencies already said they will not ask her to reimburse them for a total of $10,000 spent in additional search costs. But the city of Duluth still is seeking repayment of about $40,000 and Mayor Shirley Lassetter said her city attorney has been in negotiations with Wilbanks’ attorney, Lydia Sartain.
Sartain has said she does not think Wilbanks committed a crime in Gwinnett County. Authorities in Albuquerque have already said they will not charge Wilbanks.
“The citizens of the county will be ill-served by an attempted prosecution,” Sartain said.
Sartain did not immediately return a phone call or e-mail seeking comment on Wednesday.
Charges against 'runaway bride'?
Grand jury meets; prosecutor to announce recommendation
The Associated Press
Updated: 10:09 a.m. ET May 25, 2005ATLANTA - A county district attorney said Wednesday he has no deal in the case of runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks and was presenting information to a grand jury to determine if she should be indicted.
advertisement
Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said he expected to announce the grand jury’s findings at a news conference later Wednesday morning. Speaking just before the grand jury session got under way, he declined to say what he was planning to recommend.
Wilbanks’ family has been in negotiations with Porter over a possible settlement, but Porter said no agreement had been reached.
Wilbanks, 32, disappeared from her Duluth home on April 26 after claiming that she was going for a jog.
While Georgia authorities looked for her, the woman traveled to Las Vegas by bus and then to Albuquerque, N.M. There, she called authorities with a story about having been abducted and sexually assaulted.
But under questioning, she recanted and said she fled Georgia because of unspecified personal issues. She returned to Georgia on April 30, the day she was to have been married in a lavish ceremony with 600 guests.
Possible charges
Porter has said Wilbanks could face a misdemeanor charge of filing a false report or a felony charge of making false statements for telling authorities she had been kidnapped. Wilbanks’ lawyer has said she doesn’t think her client should be charged with a crime.
Her disappearance prompted a massive search and nationwide publicity. City, county and state officials spent about $50,000 looking for her.
Several state and county agencies already said they will not ask her to reimburse them for a total of $10,000 spent in additional search costs. But the city of Duluth still is seeking repayment of about $40,000 and Mayor Shirley Lassetter said her city attorney has been in negotiations with Wilbanks’ attorney, Lydia Sartain.
Sartain has said she does not think Wilbanks committed a crime in Gwinnett County. Authorities in Albuquerque have already said they will not charge Wilbanks.
“The citizens of the county will be ill-served by an attempted prosecution,” Sartain said.
Sartain did not immediately return a phone call or e-mail seeking comment on Wednesday.