Opinion ID: 799713
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Underlying Criminal Actions

Text: In 1977, Harrington and McGhee were arrested for the murder of retired police officer John Schweer. Harrington, who was seventeen at the time, was charged with Schweer's murder and was ultimately convicted [on August 4, 1978], primarily on the testimony of a juvenile accomplice, Kevin Hughes. Harrington v. State, 659 N.W.2d 509, 514 (Iowa 2003) (footnote omitted). According to Hughes, Hughes, Harrington, and . . . McGhee. . . went to [a car] dealership with the intent to steal a beige Toronado. Hughes waited in Harrington's car while Harrington and McGhee walked around a building to find the desired automobile. Harrington had a shotgun. Shortly after Harrington and McGhee left, Hughes heard a gun shot. Then Harrington and McGhee came running back. Harrington said he had just shot a cop. Id. Like Harrington, McGhee was convicted of Schweer's murder on May 11, 1978, and sentenced on June 13, 1978. Both Harrington and McGhee received life sentences. Following his conviction, Harrington's direct appeal failed, as did a subsequent postconviction relief action in which he claimed that Hughes'[s] testimony was perjured. Id. at 515. Harrington also unsuccessfully sought habeas corpus relief in federal court. Id. In 2000, Harrington filed his second state postconviction relief action. Id. Harrington requested that his conviction be vacated based on an alleged due process violation arising from the prosecution's failure to turn over eight police reports to the defense during the criminal trial. Id. at 516. He . . . asserted a Brady violation occurred in 1978 because these reports contained potentially exculpatory evidence of an alternative suspect and they had been withheld by the prosecution. Id. at 518. The Iowa Supreme Court held that Harrington's due process right to a fair trial was violated by the State's failure to produce the police reports documenting their investigation of an alternative suspect in Schweer's murder. Id. at 525. Therefore, the court ordered that the state trial court vacate Harrington's conviction and grant him a new trial. Id. On April 17, 2003, Harrington was released from prison. On September 2, 2003, McGhee was released from prison after entering an Alford plea. [2]