Charges Dismissed In SD Witness-Tampering Case
by Associated Press
January 10, 2013 5:33 PM
A judge has dismissed the remaining charges against two Aberdeen residents on trial in an alleged witness-tampering case because of a lack of evidence.
Judge Gene Paul Kean dismissed witness tampering and perjury-related charges filed against former Brown County prosecutor Brandon Taliaferro and Shirley Schwab, a former court advocate for juveniles and families on Thursday. Both charges were felonies.
The two were accused in a case in which prosecutors say a sexual abuse victim was influenced to give false testimony.
The judge had earlier dismissed misdemeanor charges in the case.
Lawyers for Taliaferro and Schwab called the charges a "tragedy" and a "travesty of justice."
Prosecutor Mike Moore says he was disappointed and while he respected the judge's ruling, he disagreed with it.
