jameson's Links  Terms of Service  News  Chat  Forum Archives  Cord Photos  Email  

jameson's WebbSleuths

Subject: "Fuhrman's Plea Agreement To Felony Perju"     Previous Topic | Next Topic
Printer-friendly copy     Email this topic to a friend    
Conferences Ramsey evidence Topic #53
Reading Topic #53
jamesonadmin
Charter Member
6093 posts
Oct-25-02, 08:17 PM (EST)
Click to EMail jameson Click to send private message to jameson Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
"Fuhrman's Plea Agreement To Felony Perju"
 
   Mark Fuhrman's 10/2/96 Plea Agreement To Felony
Perjury At OJ Simpson's Criminal Trial

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CENTRAL DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Plaintiff,
v.
MARK FUHRMAN, Defendant.


Original Charge: Count I: Violation of Penal Code section 118 (a felony)

Convicted Of: One Count - Count I of Information - of Penal Code sec 118

Date of Offense: On or about March 15, 1995.

Guilty by: Plea of nolo contendre.

Date: 10/2/96
Judge: Ouderkirk

Actual Time In Custody: 0 days 4019 P.C. Time: 0 days

No. BA 109275

PERSONAL HISTORY IN LIEU OF PROBATION REPORT

Hearing: 10/2/96 Time: 9:00 Dept.: 109

Bail: O.R.

Negotiated Plea: People v. West plea - Defendant plead no contest with
an understanding:
(1) no jail time;
(2) three years probation;
(3) probation supervision in defendant's current state of residence;
(4) the minimum restitution fine;
(5) the single term of probation that defendant violate no laws;
(6) entry of a plea of nolo contendere.

Defendant has entered a waiver pursuant to People v. Harvey.

Co-Defendants: None

Attorney: Darryl Mounger


PERSONAL HISTORY

Legal Name: Mark Fuhrman A.K.A.: None

Address:
Telephone:

Age: 44 Date of Birth: February 5, 1952

Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington

Race/Ethnicity: White

Citizenship: United States of America

Date Arrived in L.A. County: 1975

Date Arrived in State: 1970

Sex: M Height: 6'2 Weight: 205 Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown

Driver's License No.:
State of Issuance:
Social Security No.:

Education: High School and approximately 2 years college

Military Service: U. S. Marine Corps: 1970-1975

Type of Discharge: Honorable

Health/Handicaps: None known

Alcohol/Drug Use: No drugs, non-abusive occasional alcohol consumption

Father's Name:
Address:
Mother's Name:
No. of Brothers: No. of Sisters:
Ages:
Present Spouse:
Address: Same
Former spouse(s):
Addresses: Unknown
Defendants Children
Name .... Age .... Custody .... Supported by


EMPLOYMENT RECORD

From ... To ... Employer .......... Type of Work ...... Salary
1975 ... 1995 . Los Angeles.........Law Enforcement 1995
............... Police Department

CRIMINAL HISTORY

Present Requesting Agency: California Department of Justice

Date: 10/2/96 Surrendered
BI No.: .... CII No.: .... FBI No.:
No Criminal Record

CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE OFFENSE

Defendant was one of the two detectives originally assigned to
investigate the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. He
arrived at the crime scene located on Bundy Drive in Brentwood in the
early morning hours of June 12, 1994. Upon arrival, Defendant began his
investigation.

Within an hour of his arrival, defendant was notified two more senior
detectives had been assigned responsibility for the case.

When the two senior detectives arrived, they requested defendant
accompany them to the house of the deceased woman's husband. At this
second location, Rockingham Drive, defendant made several evidentiary
discoveries which eventually led to the arrest of O.J.Simpson the former
husband of the deceased woman.

In July, 1994, defendant appeared as a witness for the prosecution in
the preliminary hearing of the homicide case against Simpson.

Defendant was called as a prosecution witness in the homicide trial of
People v. Simpson (Los Angeles Superior Court No. BA 097211) in March,
1995. Defendant was cross-examined on March 14 and 15, 1995. On March
15, 1995 defendant was asked the following questions by the cross-
examiner and gave the following answers:

Q. "I will rephrase it. I want you to assume that perhaps at sometime
since 1985 or 6, you addressed a member of the African American race as
a nigger. Is it possible that you have forgotten that act on your part?"

A. "No, it is not possible."

Q. "Are you therefore saying that you have not used that word in the
past ten years, Detective Fuhrman?"

A. "Yes, that is what I'm saying."

Q. "And you say under oath that you have not addressed any black person
as a nigger or spoken about black people as niggers in the past ten
years, Detective Fuhrman."

A. "That's what I'm saying, sir."

Q. "So that anyone who comes to this court and quotes you as using that
word in dealing with African Americans would be a liar, would they not,
Detective Fuhrman?"

A. "Yes, they would."

Q. "All of them, correct."

A. "All of them."

(Source: People v. Simpson, Vol. 107, page 18899)

On September 5, 1995, Laura Hart McKinny testified. In her testimony she
laid the foundation for two tape recorded excerpts which, in Defendant's
own statements as recorded, impeached defendant's denial of any use of
the racial epithet during the ten year period. She also testified that
defendant had used the epithet in non-recorded conversations during the
ten year time period.

Three other witnesses, Kathleen Bell, Natalie Singer and Roderick Hodge,
each testified to instances of defendant's use of the racial epithet
within the ten year period.

On September 6, 1995, defendant was recalled to the witness stand as a
defense witness. Out of the presence of the trial jury, defendant
asserted his constitutional right not to incriminate himself.

DEFENDANT'S STATEMENT

Through his attorney, defendant has stated he is entering a People v.
West plea because he believes it is in his best interest to do so.
Defendant deeply regrets the effect his testimony has had on the general
public, the Los Angeles Police Department and its employees, and his
family.

SENTENCING CONSIDERATIONS

Violation of Penal Code section 118 is a felony punishable by a term of
two, three or four years in prison. A person convicted of the offense is
eligible for probation and may be supervised out of state pursuant to
the interstate compact.

Criteria Affecting Probation

(a) Crime related facts:

(1.) Seriousness as compared to other instances of the same crime

While perjury is always a serious offense, it is rare that a witness who
has given testimony is prosecuted for that perjury. When there is
prosecution, the usual case involves a situation in which the witness
has given false testimony about an event related to the crime or
provided a false alibi.

Here there is no evidence that defendant gave any false testimony about
his investigative efforts. The false testimony related to personal use
of a racial epithet during a time period that pre-dated the criminal
investigation.

An argument can be made that this type of perjury is less serious than
giving false testimony about the investigation.

(a)(2) No weapon was involved.
(a)(3) No individual victim was involved.
(a)(4) No injury was inflicted on any person.
(a)(5) There was no individual who suffered monetary loss.
(a)(6) Defendant was an active participant in the crime.
(a)(7) There are unique circumstances in the commission of the offense.
(a)(8) No criminal sophistication was demonstrated.
(a)(9) The defendant did take advantage of a position of trust and
confidence in the commission of the offense.

(b) Defendant Related Facts

(b)(1) No prior criminal record.
(b)(2) Not applicable because defendant has never before been placed on
parole or probation.
(b)(3) Defendant is willing to comply with the terms and conditions of
probation.
(b)(4) Defendant is able to comply with the terms of probation.
(b)(5) Imprisonment would create financial hardship on the defendant's
dependents. Because of his background as a police officer defendant
would be at risk in prison. There is no evidence that defendant needs to
be incarcerated to deter him from future similar criminal conduct.
(b)(6) Defendant's primary adult employment was as a peace officer. One
result of this conviction is defendant is precluded from ever again
being a peace officer in California. (Government Code, Section 1029.)
The high profile that resulted from the events surrounding the crime as
well as the news focus that the conviction will create will make it
difficult for defendant to find employment at any professional level.
(b)(7) The remarks of defendant as reported by his counsel indicate
remorse.
(b)(8) Defendant presents no danger to others.

It would appear that defendant is an appropriate candidate for
probation.

CIRCUMSTANCES IN AGGRAVATION

The factors which appear to be circumstances in aggravation are:

Rule 421(a)(6): Defendant's perjury illegally interfered with the
judicial process.

Rule 421 (a)(11): Defendant took advantage of a position of trust.

CIRCUMSTANCES IN MITIGATION

The factors which appear to be circumstances in mitigation are:

Rule 423(a)(6): There was no physical harm to any persons or property.

Rule 423 (b)(1): The defendant has no prior criminal record.

Rule 423(b)(3): The defendant has voluntarily acknowledged wrong doing
at an early stage of the criminal process.

Submitted by:

JOHN A. GORDNIER
Sr. Assistant Attorney General
Counsel For The People
/s/ John A. Gordnier
JOHN A. GORDNIER

DARRYL MOUNGER
Counsel For Defendant
/s/Darryl Mounger
DARRYL MOUNGER

The within and foregoing history in lieu of probation report has been
read and considered by me this 2nd day of October, 1996.
/s/John W.Ouderkirk
JOHN W. OUDERXIRK
Judge Of The Superior Court

-----
Brought to you by - The 'Lectric Law Library
The Net's Finest Legal Resource For Legal Pros & Laypeople Alike.
http://www.lectlaw.com


  Alert | IP Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Conferences | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic