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BY BOB KASARDA
bkasarda@nwitimes.com
219.548.4345 | Wednesday, July 02, 2008 | (2 comment(s))
VALPARAISO | Former Hebron Town Council President Michael Haughee failed Tuesday to convince a judge to throw out his sexual assault conviction.
Haughee, who is currently serving a one-year term at the county jail, argued in part that the woman accusing him of the attack was under the influence of 26 different prescription medications when she testified against him.
The list of medications, he said, included OxyContin, Xanax, Zoloft and Thorazine.
Haughee, 56, who has served as a Lake County deputy prosecutor, also complained about police taking 10 weeks to raise the allegations after talking to the woman and initially failing to inform him he was accused of the crime or reveal his police interview was being videotaped.
He further said prosecutors failed to provide evidence refuting his alibi. He also raised concerns that he was referred to as an assailant in closing instructions to the jury and that prosecutors were not required to prove the crime happened at the time it was charged.
"I've been falsely imprisoned for 114 days, as of today," Haughee said.
The concerns were downplayed by Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek, who said the jury heard the evidence and made its ruling.
The challenge was rejected with little explanation by Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper.
"Thank you, your honor," Haughee said as he collected his paperwork with the one hand freed from his cuffs.
Haughee was convicted by a jury in January on felony counts of sexual battery and criminal confinement and a misdemeanor count of interference with the reporting of a crime.
A disabled Hebron woman said Haughee showed up at her apartment Feb. 18, 2006, and forced a kiss on her, began groping her chest and prevented her from using her telephone to call for help.
Haughee plans to be back in court Aug. 12 to take a second shot at winning a bond in order to pursue his appeal from outside the jail. The request was turned down once by Harper.
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Pervert wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:23 AM:
Good wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:21 AM: