Jury Acquits Probation Officer

  Jurors acquitted a Stevenson Ranch man accused of evading a police officer and resisting arrest, focusing on the intent of his actions...

    County Probation Officer Everett Scott said he was happy, but not surprised at the jury’s verdict Wednesday because he was confident in their ability to disregard the prosecution’s harassment.
    “The jury was able to see through the (prosecution’s) inconsistencies and determine their decision,” Scott said.
    Standing in the court lobby, jurors said deliberations focused on what Scott was thinking when he drove his car past a roadblock manned by California Highway Patrol Officer Matthew Hill as a wildfire rapidly approached his neighborhood last October. Scott testified he was trying to reach his “extremely hysterical” wife rather than disobeying law enforcement orders.
    Robin, of Santa Clarita, said this was her first experience of sitting on a jury. She said many of the jurors were extremely passionate about their opinion, but eventually agreed to concentrate on Scott’s motive.
    “We had to look at the evidence and the biggest issue was intent,” Robin said. “We had to decide if he broke the law to show disrespect to the officer, or did he come to the aid of his wife.”
    Prosecutor Laura Knight Jackson accused Scott of acting above the law when he flashed his Los Angeles County Probation badge and claimed he was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department.
    Jackson refused to comment on the verdict.
    But Scott denied abusing his county position and testified he clearly stated his need to find his wife.

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