Fallout Of Iberia Sheriff’s Scandal Includes Tossed Cases

NEW IBERIA, La. (AP) — In the fallout from a scandal at the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, Iberia Parish prosecutors have tossed out more than 100 pending criminal cases involving affected deputies.

And a review of court records by The Advocate shows that some defendants who had been convicted have won new trials or dismissals after raising the issue of the deputies' reliability.

Sheriff Louis Ackal is fighting federal charges in the beatings of inmates and suspects that prosecutors say he encouraged or ignored. However, nine deputies have pleaded guilty to allegations of abuse. They also have admitted in some cases to falsifying paperwork and lying in court depositions.

The acknowledgement of the falsehoods as part of their guilty pleas has called into question hundreds of cases they investigated, mostly drug cases.

(Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com)

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