OPELIKA, Ala.
Former Russell County sheriff's deputy Tim Watford approached a handcuffed man on a cold November night and, with the help of a friend and fellow deputy, beat the man until his victim was covered in blood, prosecutors alleged on the first day of Watford's trial today.
Watford's defense attorney, however, told jurors in the federal trial that prosecutors would fail in their efforts to prove that his client is guilty of deprivation of rights under color of law.
Prosecutors claim that the 43-year-old Watford, along with 38-year-old Kirby Dollar, beat a handcuffed Patrick C. Harrington outside a Lee County business Nov. 26. If convicted, Watford faces up to 10 years in prison.
Former Russell County sheriff's deputy Tim Watford approached a handcuffed man on a cold November night and, with the help of a friend and fellow deputy, beat the man until his victim was covered in blood, prosecutors alleged on the first day of Watford's trial today.
Watford's defense attorney, however, told jurors in the federal trial that prosecutors would fail in their efforts to prove that his client is guilty of deprivation of rights under color of law.
Prosecutors claim that the 43-year-old Watford, along with 38-year-old Kirby Dollar, beat a handcuffed Patrick C. Harrington outside a Lee County business Nov. 26. If convicted, Watford faces up to 10 years in prison.
Dollar already has pleaded guilty to the charge. He faces just less than five years in prison and has agreed to testify in Watford's trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Stump told jurors that Watford, Dollar and former Phenix City police officer Rachel Hauser were at a party that night when Dollar got a call from a bondsman. The bondsman, Joseph Williams, had agreed to call Dollar if he caught Harrington, who was wanted for misdemeanor charges.
The three officers then drove in Dollar's undercover car to where the bondsman had Harrington lying on the ground in handcuffs, Stump said.
“This man, Timothy Anthony Watford, and his friend Kirby Dollar, beat up Patrick Harrington that night and they did it together,” the prosecutor added.
Attorney L. Joel Collins, who represents Watford, told jurors that the prosecution's version of events wasn't correct.
“Joe Williams called Kirby Dollar and both of them hated Patrick Harrington,” Collins added.
Harrington received some of his injuries before the deputies arrived. Bondsmen used a stun gun on Harrington and dragged him across asphalt, Collins said.
“You're going to have to determine who caused what injuries,” he added. “... We expect for you to hear what Paul Harvey always said on the radio, the other side of the story.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Stump told jurors that Watford, Dollar and former Phenix City police officer Rachel Hauser were at a party that night when Dollar got a call from a bondsman. The bondsman, Joseph Williams, had agreed to call Dollar if he caught Harrington, who was wanted for misdemeanor charges.
The three officers then drove in Dollar's undercover car to where the bondsman had Harrington lying on the ground in handcuffs, Stump said.
“This man, Timothy Anthony Watford, and his friend Kirby Dollar, beat up Patrick Harrington that night and they did it together,” the prosecutor added.
Attorney L. Joel Collins, who represents Watford, told jurors that the prosecution's version of events wasn't correct.
“Joe Williams called Kirby Dollar and both of them hated Patrick Harrington,” Collins added.
Harrington received some of his injuries before the deputies arrived. Bondsmen used a stun gun on Harrington and dragged him across asphalt, Collins said.
“You're going to have to determine who caused what injuries,” he added. “... We expect for you to hear what Paul Harvey always said on the radio, the other side of the story.”
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