Centre County DA rides again
◊ This is just getting weird, and sad. You know that if Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira had to run this past election cycle, with so many more PSU students registered in Centre County, he would have lost. But nope, Madiera will play to the masses of old, grouchy locals and townies in 2009. You know, the "Those students are ruining State College!" crowd.
Why is he running again? "I'm running for district attorney again because I love the job," Madeira said. "There's nothing so satisfying as having a victim look at you in the eyes and thank you."
...or, send you sext messages during the investigation. Come on, he had that one coming. But no, that was Marshall, so we shouldn't judge the District Attorney for what the Assistant DA does right Mike? "Madeira said those who look at the Marshall incident as a reflection of Madeira are ignoring the fact he took action -- Marshall no longer works for the district attorney's office, he said."
Wow, way to go! Madiera "took action" against a very high-ranking justice system official–second-highest, in fact–firing him, for corrupting the entire criminal process in Centre County. What the hell else was Madiera going to do, keep him on? "To his detractors, Madeira said criticism of the district attorney's office often comes from "people who don't understand the system" and do not have all the facts... "Against everyone of those dissatisfied people I can put up nine or 10 satisfied people," Madeira said. "I can point to victim after victim after victim. ... That's the kind of message that the public really needs to know about."
Victim after victim after lying victim... oops! There's a big difference between quantity and quality. Madiera seems to be going after the former. It doesn't matter how many you get wrong, as long as you get a lot more right. Sorry, but I though the days of Cheney-Gonzalez justice in this country were over. Madiera doesn't care, though. Because... "Madeira said no one else has indicated to him they will be challenging him for the position, but "in politics, you take nothing for granted."... When asked about the potential of running for district attorney, local attorney Anthony De Boef said he will make an announcement later this week about his decision."
Fantastic. In a system that's supposed to offer the best candidates for the job, we're not getting our money's worth.
I strongly suggest reading the entire Collegian article.
2 Commented on this story:
I am a long time Penn State fan and recent Alum (ok, I guess 20 years is not so recent). I must say as much as I hate to see players on the wrong side of the law, I hate seeing them treated 'special' even worse.
That sense of entitlement and untouchability is what turns High School jocks into College football thugs and pro-ball criminals who shoot themselves in the foot (figuratively and literaly...Plaxico).
If we want this to stop, they must be prosecuted.
That is true. Football players (and all athletes) should never get special treatment when it comes to breaking laws. However, you have to look at Madiera as a runaway prosecutor with no regard for what is real justice.
Madiera has been cited for suppressing evidence in a murder case (2007), in order to get the conviction quicker. Then, numerous cases of his had been thrown out due to lack of evidence.
I hope he loses, but that doesn't mean I'm an advocate for athletes running amok. I hope he is replaced by a hardworking, FAIR district attorney. I hope it isn't someone who runs a corrupt department. I hope it's not someone out there being a politician first, and a man of justice second.
Again, I agree with what you're saying, just not how you're saying it.
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