Tuesday August 28, 2007, 5:18 am

Thank you, everyone who signed my petition!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 5:24 am
Blessed Be! Hate mail...hahahhaha....THANK YOU Carole for for all you've done concerning this case and helping us keep up with this story.
Defence lawyers are SO sleazy...how do they sleep at night??? Now they are trying to get the SOB deported so he won't go to jail! Oh Pllllllleeeeeeeeeeezze! Let him take what coming to him. No one was trying to get those poor little girls away!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 5:32 am

What worried me was that all of this was supposed to have happened weeks ago, but I heard nothing. (I even programmed a "Google Alert" to notify me if any news came in on him.) I was afraid that Maryland would not extradite him from Philadelphia and just sweep it all under the rug. I thought it was pretty cool that they anticipated his defense attorney's argument and had a back-up plan.

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 5:35 am
Congrats "C". Thanks for all your hard work. NOTED!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 5:43 am
about dang time they got him back behind bars. The unfortunate thing is how many othe little babies did he hurt while he was out? Thanks for the update Carole. noted

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 6:09 am
For those who feel that petitions are useless, I want you to know that I think this one made a difference.

I have personally been living with this man (animal) on my mind for months. It has to start with ONE.

I have dogged this States Attorney (McCarthy) and been a constant thorn in his arse.

If you truly believe in justice, PURSUE IT! (and eliminate the nay-sayers from your life).

I am so proud of this site (and the positive people who congregate here)!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 6:23 am

This is a copy of a letter I just sent to States Attorney John McCarthy:

Mr. McCarthy,

I read this morning of the hearing yesterday on the subject matter.

Congratulations to you and your staff for your pre-emptive, anticipatory actions to see that this man stays in place and stands trial for his alleged wrong-doings.

The world is watching; and sends you kudos.

Carole

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 6:27 am
J.C., this is such good news and yes, I absolutely agree that this petition had to have made an impact and really helped! You did a wonderful thing with this. Anytime you need a petition signed, don't forget to let me know!

Thank you so much!!!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 6:45 am
Carole, you know child abuse is a cause that troubles me daily, and I want to personally thank you for pursuing this the way you did......YOU ROCK GIRL!!!!!!
Thank you so much for your petition, and yes, petitions do have an impact on an outcome!!
Gladly noted....

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 6:56 am

Children are my first priority. They have my heart. I cannot live and know that injustice is prevailing and DO NOTHING. It doesn't cost anything (except a few minutes) to speak out. DO IT (and sleep better knowing you did).

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 7:30 am
Noted and Thank you very much Carole.

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 8:13 am
Happily noted and thank you Carole, for not only caring, but for doing. Kudos!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 8:53 am
Carole, it was a pleasure to sign your petition!
Q: What does a lawyer and a sperm cell have in common?
A: They both have a one in a million chance of becoming a human being.
noted.

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 9:03 am
Thank You Just C as a adult survivor who has spoken on this issue and my experience these predators can not be rehabilitated. The recidivism rate is almost 90+%. It is a sickness that feeds on terror and is cylindrical meaning predators have tended to be abused when they were young. In some of the most famous and well respected family lineages this has been passed down for generations. You saved many children by of living a dysfunctional life from the horrors they would endure. You are a true Activist not just a arm chair Quarterback. Be proud Luv Ya C , Jonathan

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 9:13 am
OMG, Jonathan, you are too kind. I honestly believe that any one of the people signing the petition would have done the same. I just started the ball. But you are absolutely correct about the fact that it starts with one. I was a child abuse counselor and everything you said is true. It is a cycle. AND IT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED.

Thank you, my dear friend.

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 9:15 am
OMGoddess Tim! ROFLMAO~~~~~~~~~~~~That is my new favorite joke. Sad that it's TRUE!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 9:19 am
Tim, after being a legal assistant for several years, I can verify that!

LMAO!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 9:23 am
Bravo Just C., all's it takes is one voice in the crowd hon..U did a fine job, and all that worrying paid off..God bless you, for you, as well as I am a child advocate..and people that violate any laws against children deserve jail time, for they can never be rehabilitated...I do not believe for one moment that they can, as it is always on their sick minds. So once again "Wa do" (Thank you) from all of us activists who still believe that one voice does matter Carole....definately noted. "Dohiyi" (peace)...
FreeSpiritRunning....

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 9:44 am
They should have had no trouble finding an interpreter, anyone can go onto the Internet and find a helpful soul who would be happy to assist. This man should never be let out of jail, you think his sexual tendencies are going to change after some jail time? I think they should castrate him, maybe then these sick perversions will end.

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 10:46 am
AWESOME CAROLE! This is encouraging.
I hope he goes to jail for a long time and not get deported as he would only do it somewhere else.

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 11:24 am
NOTED!!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 11:36 am
BELLISIMO *C* This is wonderful my friend! I have been thinking about you and this case often and Im glad there is this Update here for us to see and be thankful for. You have fought so hard to make sure this SCUM of the bottoms of a Quagmire dosent have the privilege to walk about free because he does not deserve to do so. I was more than Glad to be a signer of your important petition. As it stands for the rights of the children, they should be protected from the predator. And I even heard it on the news, an interview with a neighbor that said the Liberian immigrant COULD in fact speak english. What a shame.
Thank you *C* HUGS- Melanie

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 11:46 am
Melanie,

I am, literally, in tears right now. I was called a "fanatic" by my friends, and felt that perhaps I was too obsessed with this case at times. But, something inside me would not let me stop -- regardless!

Thank all of you! (I'm probably really crazy, (wutever -- hehehe) but at least I feel I did the right thing.)

I love you guys!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 1:25 pm
Noted!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 1:52 pm
thank you Carole....I hope that this person gets what they deserve.

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 3:36 pm
Yes! I'm heartened by this news update! Thank you, Just!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 3:50 pm
YAY!

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 4:46 pm
Carol
You probably will never know how many children you may have kept safe from this animal.

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 4:52 pm
Well done Carole let us hope the this person gets his just desserts. Noted. Thanx.

Tuesday August 28, 2007, 10:35 pm
Sweet!

Wednesday August 29, 2007, 12:00 am
My Google Alerts are trickling in and I just read a disturbing take on this story in the Washington Times:
http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070829/EDITORIAL/108290002/1013

Here's part of it:
"Although Judge Harrington at least had the minimally good sense to require that Mr. Kanneh surrender his "travel document" (in court on Monday he claimed not to own a passport), he has proven himself to be a flight risk and should remain behind bars until the state's appeal is heard.

We're relieved to learn that for now, Mr. Kanneh remains in custody of ICE. But the agency hasn't said how long it will hold him, and we should not have to continue to depend on the federal government to clean up the mess made by a dysfunctional court system in Montgomery County, Maryland's largest subdivision, which is becoming a national joke."

Wednesday August 29, 2007, 12:34 am
This is wonderful news. Another child could be a bit safer now that he's locked away. Good work.

Tuesday September 11, 2007, 5:15 pm
For those of you who, like me, are following this, I just received this news update:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296464,00.html

Tuesday September 11, 2007, 5:28 pm
Thank you Carole!
A justly scathing indicitment of the first judge. Well stated.
I too hope that the new judge will do the right thing in this case.

Tuesday September 11, 2007, 5:34 pm
THANK YOU LAUREN.

I am so infuriated by this case that, as you can see, I receive Google alerts whenever his name is mentioned.

(I knew you were like me.)

Tuesday September 11, 2007, 5:34 pm
THANK YOU LAUREN.

I am so infuriated by this case that, as you can see, I receive Google alerts whenever his name is mentioned.

(I knew you were like me.)

Tuesday September 11, 2007, 5:44 pm
Noted, thank you Carole hon, you are keeping abreast of this, "Wa do"...I pray the new judge will take a good long look at this case...Justice needs to be served here....my heart aches for these children who have to go thru this in their young lives..and take into their adulthood....JUSTICE....Many blessings to all....Dohiyi
FreeSpritRunning..

Tuesday September 11, 2007, 6:04 pm
Shell, bless you! (this man will go to his grave dogged by me). This is but one example of the nightmare many females must live with lifetime.

Tuesday September 18, 2007, 9:08 am
Local
Immigration judge next for man whose sex case was tossed

Kathleen Miller, The Examiner
2007-09-18 07:00:00.0
Current rank: # 18 of 4,916
WASHINGTON -

A Rockville resident from Liberia whose charges of child sex abuse were dismissed when no interpreter could be found will face an immigration hearing Wednesday that could lead to his deportation.

Mahamu Kanneh, 23, is in “good health and is detained in [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] custody pending the outcome of removal proceedings,” ICE spokesman Marc Raimondi said in an e-mail Monday.

Kanneh was transferred to ICE custody last month after a judge released him on his own recognizance following a bail hearing in Montgomery County Circuit Court. Officials with the Executive Office for Immigration Review said Wednesday’s court proceedings will be the second immigration court appearance for Kanneh, and the day’s events will be similar to an arraignment.

The court’s Notice to Appear charges Kanneh with being present in the United States without admission, according to ICE officials.

Kanneh has been at the center of intense media coverage since a judge dismissed nine child sex abuse charges against him in mid-July, ruling his right to a speedy trial had been violated. The trial was delayed while the court attempted to locate an interpreter who spoke Vai, a rare West African language. Although several interpreters were found, none could commit to the trial. Prosecutors are appealing that dismissal, but the appeal is not expected to occur until February.

During a 2006 hearing in which Kanneh’s attorneys told judges he needed an interpreter, public defender Theresa Chernosky said Kanneh was from Liberi, but came to the U.S. in 2001 from a refugee camp in Ghana.

“I can’t tell if there’s just language or a mental health issue,” Chernosky told judges in court transcripts. “And the reason for the mental health concern is because of his background and the family mental health issues that exist, the fact that he came over here on a refugee status, was in a refugee camp.”

EOIR spokeswoman Susan Eastwood said immigration officials hope to have ruled on Kanneh’s immigration status prior to the criminal appeal.

“We want to make sure we get all of our stuff done first,” Eastwood said, “so if he is freed and removable [after the state’s appeal], then ICE can pick him up and do what they need to do.”

Under federal law, if someone deportable is convicted of a crime, that person serves the sentence first and is then deported.

Chernosky’s office said she has been attempting to find Kanneh legal counsel for his civil immigration proceedings, but Eastwood said no immigration lawyer is listed for Kanneh at this time.

kmiller@dcexaminer.com
Examiner

Wednesday September 19, 2007, 10:27 am
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0907/456773.html

A federal immigration judge ruled Wednesday that Mahamu Kanneh, a Liberian immigrant who was accused of sexually abusing two young girls, will remain behind bars for now. The judge denied Kanneh's request for bond. Kanneh is being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is investigating his legal status in this country. Kanneh's attorney insists her client is in this country legally.

A Montgomery County judge dismissed the sexual abuse charges against Kanneh in July, ruling his right to a speedy trial had been violated because the court failed to find qualified and reliable interpreters who spoke Vai, Kanneh's native West African language.

ABC 7 News myTAKE - What's Your Opinion?Kanneh was arrested in Philadelphia in August after he failed to appear at a hearing related to the dismissed charges.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Ann Harrington on August 27 ordered Kanneh to be released on condition that he give up his passport, have no contact with minors and get permission to travel outside the Washington area. But the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office says Immigration and Customs Enforcement took custody of Kanneh.

Mahamu Kanneh has another immigration hearing scheduled for October 3.

Montgomery County prosecutors are appealing the original judge's ruling that dismissed the sexual abuse charges again

Friday September 21, 2007, 12:45 am
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/09/20/shock-ice-to-deport-accused-child-rapist-released-when-court-couldnt-find-interpreter/


Shock: ICE to deport accused child rapist released when court couldn’t find interpreter
posted at 6:49 pm on September 20, 2007 by Allahpundit
Send to a Friend | printer-friendly

It’s Mahamu Kanneh, whom you’ll recall was accused of repeatedly molesting a little girl but sprung by a moronic Maryland judge on speedy-trial grounds when she couldn’t find an interpreter who spoke his native language — even though an interpreter was allegedly standing by and ready for trial. The appeal of that decision is still pending, but ICE, for once doing its job, isn’t waiting around.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement senior attorney Christopher R. Coxe said the agency will seek to deport Mahamu Kanneh, who was in the United States legally after being granted refugee status as a teenager, regardless of the disposition of the rape case, which is under appeal. Kanneh was arrested in 2004 on charges of raping a 7-year-old relative and abusing another child…

U.S. Immigration Judge Elizabeth A. Kessler said immigration officials revoked Kanneh’s refugee status last month. The charging document used to detain Kanneh accuses him of entering the country without inspection, but officials provided few details about his entry and refugee status. Refugees typically are able to become permanent residents and U.S. citizens.

Immigration experts said that the government routinely revokes the refugee statuses of people convicted of felonies but that it is unusual to place refugees in deportation proceedings absent a conviction…

Kanneh traveled to Philadelphia shortly after the criminal charges were dropped but was soon arrested by U.S. marshals for failing to appear at a hearing in Rockville, where the state was seeking to reinstate his bond in the rape case. Kanneh was returned to Montgomery, where a judge reinstated bond but released him. Kanneh was taken into the immigration agency’s custody Aug. 28.

This is the same issue that came up in the Carranza case when the judge granted bail inexplicably on an assault charge while Carranza was still awaiting trial for rape. ICE could have stepped in at that point and issued an immigration hold to get him off the street but because he wasn’t in their system they didn’t know he was out there. Result (allegedly): three dead college kids in Newark. They’re obviously not taking chances on the same thing happening with Kanneh. It’s worth remembering, too, just to give you a sense of the insanity on the other side of this issue, that even such otherwise sober characters as Kirsten Powers objected to the idea of an immigration hold on Carranza as a saving measure on the theory that if he was deported to Peru instead of jailed, he’d still be free to terrorize Peruvians instead of Americans. Maybe, maybe not — Lima P.D. could have dealt with him as they saw fit — but since he wasn’t in the United States legally he’s Peru’s problem to begin with. Exit question: Why should American kids have to play “the running man” with some cretin who’s not supposed to even be here?

Blowback

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Comments

Gee I wonder if O’reilly will talk about this.

JayHaw Phrenzie on September 20, 2007 at 6:50 PM

Maybe Canada will take him?

Theworldisnotenough on September 20, 2007 at 7:00 PM

Ship him out.

StephC on September 20, 2007 at 7:00 PM

What? I’m shocked … truly. I wonder how much cash he’ll receive from sympathetic lefties, not to mention leftist lawyers flocking to his aid.

darwin on September 20, 2007 at 7:12 PM

Halellujah!

omnipotent on September 20, 2007 at 7:12 PM

…and ACLU lawyers converge on the scene in 3…2…1…

NTWR on September 20, 2007 at 7:16 PM

Deport him nothing! Throw him into the general population of any U.S. prison and time out just how long he lasts when the word gets out that he’s a child rapist.

pilamaye on September 20, 2007 at 7:17 PM

Why should American kids have to play “the running man” with some cretin who’s not supposed to even be here?

Because the ultra libs/cons aren’t making use of their gray matter.

Entelechy on September 20, 2007 at 7:24 PM

Ultra libs have gray matter? Who’d a thunk it?

trigon on September 20, 2007 at 7:34 PM

Deport him nothing! Throw him into the general population of any U.S. prison and time out just how long he lasts when the word gets out that he’s a child rapist.

pilamaye on September 20, 2007 at 7:17 PM

Yep. Hold him, convict him, then deport him, if he survives doing his time.

IrishEyes on September 20, 2007 at 7:36 PM

Wait till the ACLU gets wind of this

Kini on September 20, 2007 at 7:37 PM

I am surprised. I wonder how long he’ll stay away from the U.S.

4shoes on September 20, 2007 at 10:11 PM

I don’t want to pay for his prison time. Air drop his butt back home - with or without a parachute.

deepdiver on September 20, 2007 at 10:25 PM

Yep. Hold him, convict him, then deport him, if he survives doing his time.

IrishEyes on September 20, 2007 at 7:36 PM

Agreed, because frankly I don’t want any Peruvian kids having to deal with this (no word good enough) either.

- The Cat

MirCat on September 20, 2007 at 10:41 PM

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Thursday November 8, 2007, 7:41 am
U.S. Deports Liberian Man at Center of Interpreter Case
November 8, 2007 - 9:55am

ROCKVILLE, Md. - A Liberian immigrant whose sexual abuse case was dismissed when he didn't get a speedy trial is in custody awaiting deportation after an immigration hearing in Baltimore Wednesday.
"He was ordered for immediate and permanent removal from the United States," says Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy.

Mahamu D. Kanneh, 23, of Rockville was charged in 2004 with the rape of a 7-year-old relative and with sex offenses involving an 18-month-old child. The 7-year-old said she had been raped and repeatedly molested over the course of a year.

Kanneh, who was in the U.S. legally after being granted refugee status as a teenager, attended high school and community college in Montgomery County. He spoke to detectives in English after his arrest.

His trial was postponed several times because court officials could not find an interpreter fluent in Vai, Kanneh's native dialect. Kanneh's defense insisted that he needed an interpreter to fully understand the proceedings. The charges were dismissed this summer when a judge ruled his right to a speedy trial had been violated.

Deportation proceedings began soon after the dismissal was reported. Prosecutors filed an appeal to reinstate the rape charges, but McCarthy said they haven't decided whether to drop the appeal.

"There's not a high degree of a chance there will be a trial," McCarthy tells WTOP.

McCarthy says his office will discuss what should be done with the appeal with the Maryland Attorney General's office. The appeal is set to be heard in January by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, the state's second highest court.

"We're going to try to do what is the best thing after everybody examines all the particular options," McCarthy says.

A decision will be made on the appeal Friday.

Immigration spokeswoman Ernestine Fobbs says Kanneh is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but could be deported at any time.

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


ROCKVILLE, Md. - A Liberian immigrant whose sexual abuse case was dismissed when he didn't get a speedy trial is in custody awaiting deportation after an immigration hearing in Baltimore Wednesday.
"He was ordered for immediate and permanent removal from the United States," says Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy.

Mahamu D. Kanneh, 23, of Rockville was charged in 2004 with the rape of a 7-year-old relative and with sex offenses involving an 18-month-old child. The 7-year-old said she had been raped and repeatedly molested over the course of a year.

Kanneh, who was in the U.S. legally after being granted refugee status as a teenager, attended high school and community college in Montgomery County. He spoke to detectives in English after his arrest.

His trial was postponed several times because court officials could not find an interpreter fluent in Vai, Kanneh's native dialect. Kanneh's defense insisted that he needed an interpreter to fully understand the proceedings. The charges were dismissed this summer when a judge ruled his right to a speedy trial had been violated.

Deportation proceedings began soon after the dismissal was reported. Prosecutors filed an appeal to reinstate the rape charges, but McCarthy said they haven't decided whether to drop the appeal.

"There's not a high degree of a chance there will be a trial," McCarthy tells WTOP.

McCarthy says his office will discuss what should be done with the appeal with the Maryland Attorney General's office. The appeal is set to be heard in January by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, the state's second highest court.

"We're going to try to do what is the best thing after everybody examines all the particular options," McCarthy says.

A decision will be made on the appeal Friday.

Immigration spokeswoman Ernestine Fobbs says Kanneh is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but could be deported at any time.

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Friday February 8, 2008, 7:18 am
http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080208/METRO/514523183/1004

Article published Feb 8, 2008
Lawmaker eyes judge's removal over rape case


February 8, 2008

By Tom LoBianco - ANNAPOLIS — A state lawmaker wants to remove the judge who dismissed charges against a suspected rapist after she could not find an interpreter who spoke the suspect's native language.

Delegate Patrick L. McDonough, Baltimore County Republican, introduced the proposal yesterday to impeach Montgomery County Judge Katherine D. Savage.

"The idea behind this is to send a message to the judiciary that the General Assembly, under the constitution, has the responsibility and the authority to oversee judicial decisions," Mr. McDonough said.

Mrs. Savage dismissed charges against Mahamu Kanneh, a Liberian immigrant, after the court delayed the trial three years because it was having trouble finding an interpreter.

Mr. Kanneh speaks a relatively obscure West African language, Vai.

The impeachment motion would need support from two-thirds of the House before moving to the Senate.

"The address has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee and will have a full and fair hearing," said Alexandra Hughes, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Michael E. Busch, Anne Arundel Democrat.

Mr. McDonough acknowledged his drive to impeach Mrs. Savage is unlikely to succeed, but said he's more concerned with drawing attention to the Kanneh ruling.

"In this case it was so blatant," he said. "It's anti-crime victim, anti-child and anti-woman."

Mr. McDonough also plans to send a letter to lawmakers asking them whether they will support the impeachment, oppose it, or not take a position. He said he plans to post responses on his Web site.

Circuit judges in Maryland serve 15-year terms. Judge Savage, one of 21 judges on the Montgomery County Circuit, joined the court in 2002. She was previously an associate judge for the District Court in Montgomery County.

The trial was delayed as prosecutors and defense attorneys argued whether Mr. Kanneh, who attended high school and community college in Montgomery County, needed an interpreter.

Witnesses said he raped and repeatedly sexually molested a 7-year-old relative.

After a court-appointed psychiatrist said he needed an interpreter, the court struggled to find one. The first interpreter left after becoming emotional while hearing the facts of the case, and the second became ill, according to a statement from Montgomery County State's Attorney John J. McCarthy. A third interpreter participated in two hearings and was unavailable for the trial, he said.

This is the second recent attempt to oust a judge by a state lawmaker.

State lawmakers declined to remove the judge who ruled the state's ban on same-sex "marriage" is unconstitutional. The ruling was ultimately overturned by the Maryland Court of Appeals.

Friday February 8, 2008, 8:02 am
Thank you Dear Heart. You should run this as a new story. It still irritates me to no end that this happened. When we were in Bakersfield, if a person went to the county hospital, they had interpretors on call for some 30+ different languages! But this court couldn't find one?! What BS! It just shows that the court didn't CARE about the case or the VICTIM.

Friday February 8, 2008, 8:20 am
Well, as I promised (and you can see), I am still getting Google alerts every time this case is mentioned in the news. (smile)

Tuesday February 12, 2008, 11:55 am
http://www.examiner.com/a-1215316~Officials_to_court__Man_initiated_delays_in_case_of_child_sex_abuse.html

Local
Officials to court: Man initiated delays in case of child sex abuse

Kathleen Miller, The Examiner
2008-02-12 08:00:00.0
Current rank: # 248 of 11,656
WASHINGTON -

Representatives from Maryland’s attorney general’s office will tell the state’s highest court Tuesday that a Liberian immigrant who had child sex abuse charges against him dismissed last summer either initiated or agreed to nearly all delays in his trial.

Former Rockville resident Mahamu Kanneh was the focus of national media attention when a judge dismissed the charges against him in mid-July, ruling his right to a speedy trial had been violated while officials hunted for an interpreter. Kanneh speaks Vai, a rare West African language.

Kanneh was arrested in August 2004 for allegedly raping and molesting a 7-year-old relative and fondling an 18-month-old infant, and the effects of the Kanneh case persist today.

Nearly three years passed between Kanneh’s arrest and the dismissal of the charges, but Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Grill Graeff said in a court brief that delays were not the prosecution’s fault.

“The delay of almost three years was not unreasonable given that the reasons for delay involved processing DNA evidence, determining Kanneh’s competency and finding a competent and willing interpreter for Kanneh that spoke a rare tribal language in Liberia,” the brief said.

Graeff’s brief adds that there were more than 21 hearings before dismissal and “the continuances in this case were either requested by, or agreed to, by the defense.”

Kanneh has been slated for deportation back to Liberia, but prosecutors are hoping the state Court of Special Appeals will reverse a lower court decision and allow him to be tried for the crimes before he goes.

Officials with the public defender’s office that is representing Kanneh did not respond to requests for comment.

Baltimore County Del. Pat McDonough is now attempting to impeach Montgomery Circuit Court Judge Katherine Savage, who dismissed the charges against Kanneh.

“I thought that this case stood out as a blatant example of a violation of court rules and an injustice to victims,” said McDonough, whose bill is awaiting review in the House Judiciary Committee.

Slow motion

Timeline of events in the criminal trial of Mahamu Kanneh:

» Arrested Aug. 18, 2004

» Indicted Dec. 3, 2004

» Case dismissed on speedy trial violation July 17, 2007

» State files notice to appeal on July 23, 2007

» Federal immigration judge orders Kanneh deported Nov. 7, 2007

kmiller@dcexaminer.com
Examiner

Friday March 14, 2008, 12:17 pm
Top court revives charges against Vai speaker
BARBARA GRZINCIC
Managing Editor/Law
March 14, 2008 1:01 PM

Maryland’s highest court has revived child sex abuse charges that were dismissed last year after the trial court had trouble finding an interpreter who spoke the immigrant defendant’s native language.

Mahamu D. Kanneh’s case was dismissed last year, nearly three years after his arrest on suspicion of sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl, when a judge in Montgomery County Circuit Court found he had been denied his right to a speedy trial.

While part of the delay was due to DNA testing and competency evaluation, much of the delay was attributed to problems finding an interpreter who spoke Kanneh’s native language, a Liberian dialect called Vai.

The state challenged the dismissal and the Court of Appeals decided to take the case itself, without waiting for the intermediate appellate court to act.

In today’s decision, the top court said the dismissal was not warranted because Kanneh failed to object to any of the delays except the final one. That delay — from Feb. 26 to July 30, 2007 — was granted because a Vai interpreter had been found but was recuperating from major surgery.

“Although the delay in this case was significant, in light of the complex nature of the case, the length of the delay does not weigh heavily against the State. Because there was no bad faith on the part of the State in securing or failing to secure an interpreter, which was the primary reason for the delay, this factor does not weigh against the State,” Judge Clayton Greene Jr. wrote for the unanimous court.

“It is significant that Kanneh failed to object to all of the postponements but the last, and this factor is accorded great evidentiary weight. Finally, we note that any prejudice against Kanneh, as a result of the delay, was minimal. Balancing all of these factors, we cannot say that Kanneh’s right to a speedy trial was violated.”

Kanneh was ordered deported in November, but his current location was not immediately known.

http://www.mddailyrecord.com/article.cfm?id=4687&type=UTTM

Friday March 14, 2008, 12:37 pm
This is great news. We can only hope that this will result in a conviction and this being will spend many, many years in prison, far away from any children.
THANK YOU CAROLE!!!