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Athens DA Office forced to recuse itself after violating victim's rights

The Statue of Justice - lady justice or Iustitia / Justitia the Roman goddess of Justice
The Statue of Justice - lady justice or Iustitia / Justitia the Roman goddess of Justice

The Western Circuit District Attorney’s Office has recused itself of prosecuting a case involving the same victim whose legal rights were violated by the office in a 2021 rape case, a judge determined Friday in Clarke County Superior Court.

The defendant of the pending case, Michael Lareco Daniel, 42, of Lawrenceville, is also the same suspect in the rape and child molestation case that was unjustly dismissed by DA’s office after a jury was seated for a trial in April.

Chief Superior Court Judge Eric Norris presided over a hearing under the statute called Marsey’s Law, but he has not decided on the consequences of the violation. The DA's Office did not contest the Marsey's Law violation.

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