Former New Orleans police sergeant Arthur Kaufman, who won a
new trial this week after being convicted in 2011 for his role in helping cover
up the Danziger Bridge shooting, is seeking a chance to get out of prison on
bond. (Ted Jackson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune archive)
In the wake of a ruling granting a new trial for five former
police officers convicted for their roles in the post-Katrina Danziger Bridge
shooting, the cop serving a six-year prison term for aiding in the cover-up is
asking to be released from prison on bond.
Attorneys for former police Sgt. Arthur Kaufman, 57, made
their motion for bond Thursday morning. Kaufman is currently in a Virginia
prison with a release date of 2017.
Stephen London, an attorney for Kaufman, asked for a
$100,000 personal surety bond, which was the bond granted for Kaufman leading
up to the 2011 trial. Of the five officers who stood trial in 2011, Kaufman was
the only one allowed to remain free on bond in the lead up to trial.
This week's blockbuster ruling by U.S. District Judge Kurt
Engelhardt granting a new trial blasted federal prosecutors for
"grotesque" misconduct based on their anonymous posting of
inflammatory comments about the Danziger case and other federal matters on
NOLA.com. The prosecutors outed as NOLA.com commenters were not the prosecutors
who tried the Danziger case. But one -- Jan Mann -- was a high-ranking
supervisor, and another was a Justice Department lawyer with a role in the
Danziger case.
An attorney for ex-offier Anthony Villavaso, who was sentenced
to 38 years in prison for his role in the Danziger shooting, earlier this week
said he also intends to seek release for his client. By Thursday morning he had
not filed a request.
"We intend to seek our clients release on bond and feel
that he is an excellent candidate for release," Roger Kitchens had said
immediately after Engelhardt's ruling. The other ex-cops who were granted a new
trial are Kenneth Bowen, Robert Gisevius and Robert Faulcon.
A new trial date has not been set, but the judge indicated
he wanted to move swiftly. It's unclear if the Justice Department plans to
challenge the ruling.