Lewis Co. Prosecutor Issues

Lewis County (Centralia) Prosecutor Michael Golden had a sexual relationship with a woman whose son was charged with arson. He says the relationship ended when the boy was arrested; she says they had detailed conversations about the son's case and defense strategy. After the son pleaded guilty, the mother told the defense attorney about the relationship, and he moved for the case to be dismissed and the Prosecutor's Office to be disqualified from the case. The two superior court judges in the county removed themselves from the case, and Chief Justice Alexander has appointed Judge Gary Tabor (Thurston County) to hear the case. Lewis County judges remove themselves from prosecutor case, Seattle Times, Aug. 7, 2007.