Do you see anywhere in this letter to the editor where Benjamin LaGuer endorses Deval Patrick?
Convicted rapist supports Patrick
Editorial / Opinion Sentinel & Enterprise
Article Launched:10/30/2006 11:08:07 AM EST
My name is Ben LaGuer. I am one of the men at the center of Lt. Governor Kerry Healey’s political campaign ads attacking Deval Patrick. The truth about my care of who I am cannot be found anywhere in Kerry Healey’s disingenuous campaign ads. In 1983, after just getting out of the Army and with no criminal record, I was charges and subsequently wrongly convicted of rape and sentenced to life in prison. I was initially offered a two-year sentence under a plea bargain; however, I could not plead guilty to a horrendous crime that I did not commit. During the past 23 years in prison, I have maintained my innocence which has only kept me in jail longer. However, I continue to have faith in our judicial system and pray that the truth will some day prevail. In a short time, The Supreme Judicial Court will hear my case.
For years the Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte’s office has waged a scurrilous prosecution against me. Due process of law required that the prosecutor timely disclose evidence in his possession that could materially aid in my defense. The prosecutor withheld for almost two decades fingerprints lifted from crucial crime scene evidence- fingerprints that excluded me.
In addition, the widely held view that the DNA test “further linked LaGuer to the rape” is not accurate. Personal articles taken from my bedroom were sent for DNA testing, but were misrepresented to lab technicians as being taken from the crime scene. A group of independent forensic experts, including prominent scientists from Harvard and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, has concluded that the DNA testing in my case has no forensic value. There are numerous other irregularities that challenge the integrity of the prosecutor’s case against me, all of which should be of concern to any fair-minded individual- especially to someone holding public office.
As the Kerry Healey campaign continues to run smear and fear ads featuring me, I am hopeful that the people of Massachusetts will choose a Governor based on real issues that affect their daily lives. I only with that Republicans and Democrats could come together and act for the greater and common good of all people.
Ben LaGuer
How is this an endorsement of Deval Patrick? Well, LaGuer is obviously not supporting Healey, so the democrat is the default? Maybe so, but the Sentinel & Enterprise are only trying hype this letter for what it is not. If this letter is about anything, it’s an attempt by LaGuer to keep his name in the news as he’s heading into his appellate hearing in a few months.
Once again, the Sentinel & Enterprise makes up a headline to accomplish their real task: smear Deval Patrick. The S&E has a history of publishing editorials against Deval Patrick disquised as news stories. Sadly that article has expired, but Lance over at No Drumlins has a great wrap up of that.
Don’t let them get away with it. Call editor Jeff McMenemy at 978-343-6911 X214 and tell them to stop smearing Deval Patrick.
Hat Tip to Karen S. from Natick
i clicked on to the actual letter, which, as susan m notes in her comment, says NOT ONE WORD about laguer supporting patrick. i called the editor to express my outrage and he said they didn’t have room to print the whole letter, but that the full letter does support patrick. i told him that was completely unacceptable and that if laguer had made any such endorsement, the editor would have printed it. hard to imagine anything lower than healey’s gutter politics, but this appears to be a new low.
Lowell Sun, Sentinel & Enterprise and many, many local papers are all owned by the same propaganda machine Media News Group.
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They are well known for their creative editing of LTE. Thank you for calling them out on that.
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