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DA Wright Announces Indictment of Private Investigator
Putnam District Attorney Kevin L. Wright announced the arrest and indictment on April 3, 2006 of a private investigator for attempting to bribe a witness to change her testimony regarding the 1997 murder trial of Anthony Dipippo, convicted along with Andrew Krivak for the rape and murder of 12 year old Josette Wright.
The District Attorney said a sealed indictment was handed up to the Court by his Office from a Putnam County Grand Jury on March. 24, 2006 charging 39 year old Patricia McGovern, a former New York City Detective, with Attempted Bribing a Witness an B-Felony, Tampering with a Witness
Fourth Degree, an A-Misdemeanor, and Criminal Solicitation Fourth Degree an AMisdemeanor arising out of an October 31, 2005 incident in Pennsylvania.
According to the investigation Wright said that the witness was promised significant monetary compensation from a movie deal if she would recant her eyewitness testimony regarding the rape and murder of young Josette. The private detective was persistent in trying to have the witness change her trial testimony, according to the investigation.
The Indictment was unsealed before Putnam County Court
Judge Robert Miller on April 3rd after McGovern's arrest by District Attorney Investigator Edward Johnston who investigated the case along with Assistant District Attorney Mary Jane MacCrae. District Attorney Wright appeared for the People at the unsealing of the indictment and arraignment of McGovern. Judge Miller set May 3, 2005 at 2 pm for establishing a pre-trial motion schedule on. the case.
District Attorney Wright also requested that Judge Miller issue two Orders of Protection prohibiting the defendant from any contact with the witness or hcr family. Over the objection
of the defendant's attorney, Nicole Barnum of Manhattan, Judge Miller issued both orders of protection and directed the defendant on the record to stay away from the witness and her family.
Mr. Wright said that although the attempted bribery occurred in Pennsylvania, the Putnam County Grand Jury had jurisdiction to bring an indictment because the "effect" of the bribery, had it been successful, would have served as the basis for Dipippo to bring a motion to have his rape and murder conviction thrown out by a court an effort he has made previously without success.
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