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Forum URL: http://www.webbsleuths.com/cgi-bin/dcf/dcboard.cgi
Forum Name: Ramsey evidence
Topic ID: 88
Message ID: 1
#1, letter to Thomas from the Whites
Posted by jameson on Apr-29-03 at 08:50 PM
In response to message #0

David J. Thomas
District Attorney
First Judicial District
500 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO 80401

Subject: The People of the State of Colorado, Plaintiff
Vs.
Craig Lewis, Defendant
District Court, Jefferson County, State of Colorado
Case No. 99 CR 3053

Dear Mr. Thomas:

On or about December 17, 1999 the Jefferson County grand jury indicted Craig A. Lewis, an
employee of the Globe supermarket tabloid, for committing criminal extortion and commercial
bribery.

Regarding the indictment of Mr. Lewis, you were quoted by the Associated Press on December
21, 1999 as saying that : “We believe the conduct as set forth in this indictment clearly crosses
the line of legitimate news gathering activity and violates Colorado law.”

On May 15, 2000, Jefferson County District Court Judge Jane A. Tidball denied Lewis’ Motion to
Dismiss the indictment.

On June 21, 2000, defendant Lewis filed Petition for Relief in the Nature of Prohibition or
Mandamus and for Issuance of a Rule to show cause pursuant to C.A.R. 21 with the Colorado
Supreme Court.

On June 30, 2000 the Colorado Supreme Curt entered an Order and Rule to Show Cause. On
July 31, 2000 your office filed People’s Response to Defendants’ Petition Pursuant to Rule 21,
C.A.R.

On October 26, 2000 the Colorado Supreme Court ordered that “the Rule to Show Cause
hereto entered, be, and hereby is, discharged as having been improvidently issued.”

Notwithstanding the significant litigation of the indictments of Mr. Lewis and the October 26,
2000 Supreme Court order, your office on November 9, 2000 filed People’s Motion to Dismiss
the charges against Mr. Lewis and The Globe. The motion stated that

“Defendant and his employer have made public” a statement regarding the alleged crimes and
have “donated $100,000 to the University of Colorado School of Journalism. The University will
use this money to pay an instrutor who teaches on the subject of Ethics in Journalism.” In
regard to the dismissal of charges against Mr. Lewis, the November 9, 2000 Rocky Mountain
News quoted you as saying “It is very unusual”.

At a meeting at your office on September 17, 2001, you told us that several lawyers
representing Mr. Lewis and The Globe met with you to discuss the charges against Mr. Lewis.
You said that at least one of the lawyers attending that meeting attempted to influence your
official decision and action regarding the indictment of Mr. Lewis through enclosed afficavits of
Fleet Russell White, Jr. and Priscilla Brown White). By doing so, that person violated Section
18-8-306 C.R.S., Attempt to influence a public servant, and possibly other Colorado criminal
statutes.

We hereby request that the conduct of the person or persons who illegally attempted to
influence your decision or actions concerning Mr. Lewis’ indictment be investigated and
prosecuted. We further request that your office cause the appointment of a special prosecutor
for that purpose and that you recommend to the Colorado Attorney General that the matter be
referred to a state grand jury for investigation.

We would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Fleet Russell White, Jr.
Priscilla Brown White

Cc: Bill Owens, Governor of Colorado
Ken Salazar, Attorney General of Colorado
Mary Keenan, District Attorney of the Twentieth Judicial District
John Suthers, United States Attorney