Hi, sorry I didn't follow up on this earlier--I just caught the tail end of
a very brief news story on television about the case, but then didn't see
anything more, so I can't give you too much detailed information. I was
going to check with people in Bemidji, but heard the story just before a
short trip out of town, and then, well, you know how things can get
forgotten.
Here's what I know, and the ironies continue: the case was dismissed
very soon after proceedings began, as any good judge or lawyer would have
expected. But the innocent defendant, according to the news report, was
charged with contempt of court, because he refused to give information about
his military service to (I think) one of the court officers. If I recall
correctly, he had to pay a fine for that "offense."
Again, my information is very sketchy, but I do know that the rape
charge was dismissed about as quickly as it could be in court. But
"justice" prevailed in the end, with a falsely accused man found guilty
anyway....
Jim Postema
postema@cobber.cord.edu