Sherman Lee Criner, a GOP candidate for the Deleware state Senate, was accused of molesting a child. Because his wife is a judge, the investigation was carried out by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) rather than local or county police who would be frequently appearing in court before the judge. Criner was a family friend of the alleged victim.
According to the paper, the prosecutor declined to file charges to protect the alleged victim.
“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the team of dedicated professionals whose expertise has guided us through every step of this ordeal,” the father wrote. “We continue to heed their advice, understanding that a trial at this time would only compound the trauma our daughter has already suffered.”
In a letter dated Tuesday from Special Deputy Attorney General G. Patrick Murphy to a Criner attorney, Murphy said the decision was made after consultation with the alleged victim’s family.
“Taking into consideration all of the evidence available to us, we do not think it is in the best interest of the minor child to pursue a prosecution of Mr. Criner,” Murphy wrote. “Accordingly, we are closing our file in this matter.”
Star New Online, June 29, 2006
- WECT: State Senate Candidate Becomes Center of Child Molestation Investigation
- StarNews Online: Criner will not be charged
06 July 2006