A Hennepin County prosecutor did not commit misconduct when she sought out advice about evidence in the upcoming molestation trial of an ex-Minneapolis park police chief, a judge ruled.
In an order issued Wednesday, Judge Daniel Moreno wrote that Assistant County Attorney Judy Johnston may remain on the case of William Jacobs, who is scheduled to be tried in March. He's accused of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and 15 felony counts of possessing child pornography for allegedly molesting a boy for three years from ages 12 to 15.
Jacobs' attorneys, Joe Friedberg and Paul Engh, accused Johnston of misconduct for seeking advice from District Judge Daniel Mabley. Moreno ruled that the discussion bore no influence either way on the case because Mabley, a former prosecutor, was not connected to it.
Moreno also ruled that he will review the boy's medical, counseling and school records to determine whether they are admissible as evidence.
ABBY SIMONS
