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.
