Attorney: CHP officer Sean Harrington victimized other women


By Matthias Gafni

MARTINEZ -- Disgraced former California Highway Patrol officer Sean Harrington victimized more women than he has been charged with, his attorney said Friday, minutes after Harrington pleaded not guilty in a nude photo scandal that has rocked the law enforcement agency. Harrington not only secretly forwarded racy cellphone photos on two female suspects' phones to himself, he also took pictures with his own phone of other arrestees' explicit phone photos, attorney Michael Rains said outside the courtroom in Martinez.
"He indicated there were a couple of instances where he took his own phone and took a photo of the pictures (on women's phones)," Rains said, providing the first corroboration in the CHP scandal that photos were captured by another method, and that there could be women who are unaware they were victimized.
Former California Highway Patrol Officer Sean Harrington walks away after his arraignment on felony computer theft charges was postponed at the Wakefield
Susan Tripp Pollard
"I don't know if we know who they are," Rains said of the other women. "He made a number of arrests."
The Contra Costa District Attorney's Office found that Harrington made 13 arrests of female suspects this year, Rains said.
Harrington, 35, of Martinez, did not speak to the media. He was joined by his wife in court as he entered the not guilty plea on two felony computer theft charges. Rains set two future hearings in December and told visiting Judge Garrett Grant: "Our anticipation is to resolve this case by then." Rains said he's been discussing a possible plea deal with prosecutors; the "not guilty" plea allows those negotiations to continue.
A solemn Harrington said, "I understand," when the prosecutor advised him he was waiving his right to a speedy trial. Harrington faces three years and eight months in prison. He is out of custody on $10,000 bail.
In his interview with investigators, Harrington, who has resigned, called the photo stealing practice a "game" among CHP officers in Los Angeles and in his most recent position in the Dublin office.
'Rumors'
Harrington has admitted to his own actions, but has since downplayed the involvement of other officers and now says he only knew of "rumors" that others participated in such an activity.
Prosecutors have decided not to charge two of his Dublin CHP colleagues who received one or more of the photos from Harrington, a move that has rankled an attorney representing one of the alleged victims, and surprised other legal experts.
Rains said he agreed with the prosecutors' decision not to press charges against officers Robert Hazelwood and Dion Simmons as co-conspirators.
"There had to be an agreement before this occurred," Rains said. "I think the DA made the right call with the state of the evidence."
As far as his client telling investigators the "game" was widespread throughout the state agency, Rains reiterated Harrington only was referring to "rumors" he heard while at the Los Angeles office. When asked what his client meant when he told investigators, according to court documents, that he "learned" the practice while in Dublin, which does not reference a rumor, Rains declined to elaborate on whom he learned it from.
Was his client covering for fellow officers?
"I don't think he's ever ... backtracked with what he said," Rains said. "He has always said, 'This is what I did.'"
Contra Costa Deputy District Attorney Barry Grove has said his office interviewed many officers of the Dublin office and civilians, but found no evidence that anyone other than Hazelwood and Simmons received photos from Harrington.
The CHP has said the "game" was isolated to the Dublin office. A CHP spokeswoman Friday said the state agency's probe into the scandal continues and she could not comment on specifics about the number of officers disciplined until it was completed. Previously, the agency said one other Dublin-based officer besides Harrington was pulled from patrol duties.
Rains said Harrington, a married father of two, realizes his whole life will change.
"It's tough. He's now given up a career he's thoroughly enjoyed, and by all accounts was good at," Rains said. "He understands the consequences ... (of) his conduct."
-- Staff writer Malaika Fraley contributed to this story.