Federal investigation sought for Hynes’ role in illegal detention accusations
Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes once again finds himself warding off legal challenges of illegal conduct in his office’s investigation and prosecution of cases. The majority of these challenges stem from the $150 million civil lawsuit brought by Jabbar Collins, who was released from prison in 2010 after spending 16 years behind bars for a robbery/murder he did not commit.
In court papers filed last week, a former investigator revealed in a sworn deposition that, under Hynes’ guidance, law enforcement officials from the DA’s Office held witnesses in hotel rooms against their will and without judicial intervention. The filing also revealed that Hynes’ prosecutors used forged, falsely “sworn” applications to obtain warrants to arrest and detain individuals who were merely prospective witnesses.
In his complaint, Collins alleged that prosecuting attorney Michael Vecchione threatened a witness with “prosecution, imprisonment, and bodily harm unless he agreed to stand by his … statement accusing Collins of the robbery and shooting.” Alleging that “Hynes took no disciplinary action against Vecchione,” after the acts of misconduct were revealed, Collins asserts that the DA and by virtue the New York City, ratified “Vecchione’s illicit tactics.”