Witness In Atlantic City Vote Fraud Trial Arrested
MAYS LANDING, N.J. (AP) -- First Ronald Harris had stomach trouble, bolting from the witness stand to the bathroom. When he returned, he developed a case of dry heaves, trying to vomit into a trash can. And by the time his day in court ended Tuesday, Harris was under arrest on outstanding warrants.
Harris was a star prosecution witness in the voter fraud trial of Atlantic City Councilman Marty Small and others stemming from the 2009 Democratic mayoral primary, which Small lost.
On Wednesday, prosecutors revoked a plea deal Harris signed last fall in which he admitted conspiring with others to try to swing the election to Small by tampering with absentee ballots.
"Due to his conduct yesterday, the state has elected not to recall Mr. Harris," Deputy Attorney General Anthony Picione told Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten. The judge had described Harris' behavior in court Tuesday as "odd."
Because Harris' plea deal had been revoked, his public defender, David Henderson, refused to let Harris continue testifying Wednesday.
Harris paid fines stemming from the outstanding warrants and was released without going to jail, Henderson told The Press of Atlantic City.
On Tuesday, Harris was supposed to testify that crimes alleged by the state were part of a conspiracy among the defendants. But when he finally testified, the judge ruled he had not proven that a existed. When Picione asked if the defendants "confined themselves to legitimate means," Harried replied, "yes."
This is Small's second trial on voter fraud charges. He was acquitted five years ago of similar charges stemming from a previous mayoral election, in which he was not a candidate. He has predicted he will be acquitted at this one, too.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
