NBC 29’s Paul Merrill interviewed Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Camblos about the widespread criticism of Camblos’ handling of the smoke bomb case, and Camblos isn’t exactly contrite. The big news is that he intends to run for reelection next year, but there are some choice quotes from the piece, with my favorite being, on the recent acquittal in the case: “We were disappointed with the decision, but the system works.” If he was disappointed — meaning that he believes boy should be in prison right now — wouldn’t that mean that the system doesn’t work?
What’s amazing is Camblos chalking up the concerns of y’all on cvillenews.com as nothing more than whines. If a single person has defended Camblos in this entire kerfuffle, since all information came to light a couple of months ago, I’m yet to hear of them. The fact is that he’s screwed this case up royally, and is in the process of screwing up the case against the other three kids.
I’ve got to put together a Camblos’ Greatest Hits blog entry. It’s quite a remarkable list. If Camblos “gets grief after every trial,” as he says, perhaps it’s time he figured out that might have something to do with him doing a lousy job.
I am a constant pitbull at the heels of Jim Camblos and long to see him out of office. However, for the record I am pleased with the outcome of the ‘Bentivar Cat-Killer’ case. The perpetrator is going to spend some time behind bars for what he did and that’s the important thing. Camblos handled that one correctly.
I, too, am pleased the Cat-killer will get some jail time- wonder who is giving Camblos much grief about that decision? ( I just watched the clip of his nbc29 interview)
If Camblos still believes he had a real case in the bomb plot story, he must be delusional- and really why would we worry about his opinion about us?
I have been thinking about recent entries on this blog. If there is no comprehensive review of how the police handled this case, and we have to wait for an election at some point in the future to have any hope of a more competent Commonwealth’s Attorney, then it becomes truly important for the community, as well as the families involved that their be very significant lawsuits in which the families prevail. Otherwise, how will their be any brakes against official abuses in cases where minor children are unrepresented during questioning when parents are not allowed to be present?
The only other alternative is if our legislators come through with a law which would prevent police from interviewing minor kids without a parent or lawyer present.
George Seymour? :)