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Rape case prosecutor facing ethics violation

By Brian Hagen

01/28/2020

(KAIR)--A former Jackson County special prosecutor is facing ethics charges, following a recommendation from a panel of Kansas attorneys.

According to a report from the Topeka Capital-Journal, attorney Jacqie Spradling faces the charges for allegedly misleading the jury that found a Holton man guilty of sex crimes, which were thrown out on appeal.

Jacob Ewing was convicted in 2017 on charges including rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, and battery. The Kansas Court of appeals, when reversing his convictions last year, made note of Spradling’s conduct.

According to the newspaper, a public hearing before a separate committee will be held to develop a recommendation for the Kansas Supreme Court about whether or how Spradling would be sanctioned. Potential penalties include public censure, license suspension or disbarment.

The complaint against Spradling was filed by Ewing’s mother.

The Court of Appeals said Spradling’s misstatement of evidence during the closing argument of Ewing’s trial inflamed “passions and prejudices of the jury.” The appeals court said “cumulative effect of the errors committed by the district court and the prosecutor denied Ewing his constitutional right to a fair trial.”