Opinion ID: 585477
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 4 On November 10, 1980, MacDonald and Michael English broke into the home of Solon Dunton, beat him, and smothered him to death. 5 MacDonald's trial began in May 1982. On June 1, 1982, the eighteenth day of the trial, the trial was adjourned until June 7 because the prosecution's final rebuttal witness was unavailable. The trial court reminded the jurors that they should not (1) discuss the case with anyone, (2) go to the scene of the events, or (3) read the newspapers or observe TV or listen to the radio about any of the things you may [have] hear[d] in court. 6 On June 2, 1982, Romero Moench, the deputy district attorney prosecuting MacDonald's case, resigned from the district attorney's office effective at the end of MacDonald's trial. In his letter of resignation, Moench accused Bernard DePaoli, the district attorney of Humboldt County, of unethical conduct in not investigating a possible defense of self-defense in an unrelated murder case the district attorney's office was prosecuting. He also alleged improprieties in a plea bargain in a drunk driving case and in DePaoli's reporting of statistics, and urged DePaoli, who was a candidate for reelection on June 8, 1982, to resign. On June 3, 1982, DePaoli fired Moench, alleging that he had suffered a mental breakdown. 7 These events were reported in the local media. A June 3, 1982 newspaper account of the events included the following information, which MacDonald asserts is relevant to whether the publicity denied her a fair trial. 8 Humboldt County District Attorney Bernie DePaoli's right-hand man resigned Wednesday, saying he is not going to work in an office where I have to be ashamed of what we're doing. 9 DePaoli, however, speculated that the resignation of Assistant District Attorney Rick Moench was either the result of an emotional breakdown or a response to a letter of reprimand DePaoli wrote him March 1. 10 Moench said he resigned Wednesday morning, effective at the end of Candace Lee MacDonald's murder trial, which he is currently prosecuting. Whether he will remain on that case, however, was still uncertain late Wednesday morning. 11 It's not something I undertook lightly, Moench said. 12 His resignation was a matter of conscience, he said, and he was very critical of DePaoli, saying, I don't trust him. 13 [Account of DePaoli's alleged improprieties followed.] 14    15    16 [DePaoli] alleged that Moench's resignation was politically motivated. 17 Moench denied that, saying, I'm making the strongest statement I can make. I'm voting with my feet and with my paycheck. 18 He claimed his resignation was not related to the upcoming election, adding that he is now out of a job, has a family to support, and has no job prospects because he specializes in prosecuting criminal cases. 19    20    21 DePaoli said Moench can probably not ethically continue prosecuting the MacDonald case. 22 It is solely my decision whether Moench continues on the case, he said, adding that he will more than likely be pulled off the case. 23