June 2021 Newsletter
The Durham County District Attorney’s Office newsletter highlights the work staff do in and out of the courthouse.
In The Community
ADA Spiegel Joins Panel on Drug Prosecutions Around the World
ADA Danny Spiegel spoke to fellow Harvard alumni as part of a panel on effective and equitable drug prosecutions featuring legal perspectives from North Carolina, India and Europe. The June 26 event was hosted by the Harvard Club of the Research Triangle. Panelists discussed how prosecutorial discretion, sentencing laws, and plea arrangements vary across these countries. ADA Spiegel shared that the Durham DA’s Office focuses on prosecuting drug cases involving large amounts of drugs and/or additional factors like gun possession or impaired driving, while referring people who are dealing with substance misuse for treatment. In addition, Spiegel spoke about a collaboration with the Wilson Center for Science and Justice to study plea arrangements in the DA’s Office. ADA Spiegel heads the Drug and Property Crimes Team and serves as policy counsel for the Office.
DA Deberry Speaks to St. Andrews Athletes
On June 7, DA Deberry answered questions virtually from undergraduate student athletes at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg who are working to improve their academic standing. DA Deberry talked about her path from nearby Hamlet to the Durham DA’s Office, what motivates her as a prosecutor, and how she handles setbacks in her work.
ADA McLaughlin Honored by MADD North Carolina
Last year, Traffic Team ADA Stephen McLaughlin was named the District Court Prosecutor of the Year by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) North Carolina for 2019. Due to the pandemic, a ceremony to recognize McLaughlin and other awardees could not be held. On June 25, the Law Enforcement Recognition Event was finally held, honoring prosecutors, law enforcement officers and agencies who go “above and beyond.” In a video shown at the event, Traffic Team Lead ADA Dale Morrill described McLaughlin’s work in and out of court preparing cases, speaking to driving safety classes, and assisting at DWI checkpoints: “When we’re able to join that quality of his energy, his diligence, his perseverance, and match that with the skill sets we can bring to the courtroom — that makes the community safer,” Morrill said.
In The Office
DA’s Office Interns Continue Hands-On Experience with Criminal Justice
Durham DA’s Office interns continue to learn about the court process and the role of the prosecutor during their summer internships.
Durham Police Department Investigator Bongarten recently spoke to the group about his role investigating homicides and working alongside prosecutors to successfully close cases.
Deputy Chief of Staff Michelle Cofield, who coordinates the internship program, presented interns with personalized copies of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s new book, For the People, as a reminder to do justice in whatever legal career path they choose. Durham DA’s Office staff are currently reading the book for a staff-led criminal justice book club.
In The Courts
ADA Morrill Secures Conviction in Fatal Hit-and-Run
ADA Dale Morrill secured a conviction in a fatal July 2020 crash that occurred at the intersection of Holloway Street and North Hyde Park Avenue. The defendant was turning left when his vehicle struck an oncoming motorcycle. The defendant kept driving down the street and parked behind his house. When police arrived at the scene, witnesses led officers to where he had parked. Video of the crash was captured by a surveillance camera at a nearby store. The defendant pleaded guilty June 7 to involuntary manslaughter and felony hit and run, which are both Class F felonies.
ADA Blake Norman Closes 2009 Sexual Assault of Teen
ADA Blake Norman closed a 2009 case in which a then-28-year-old man sexually assaulted a 14-year-old. The defendant pleaded guilty on June 9 to attempted statutory sex offense with a 13, 14, or 15-year-old. ADA Norman stated in court that the defendant hit the victim in the head with a hammer, knocking her unconscious. DNA evidence from the hammer and a sexual assault evidence kit matched him.
The conviction was the second to result from Durham’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. Through the initiative, the Durham Police Department is working to investigate cold case sexual assaults and submit previously untested sexual assault evidence kits for DNA testing. A multi-disciplinary team including the Durham DA’s Office, the Durham Police Department and Durham Crisis Response Center reviews the results of sexual assault kit testing and determines how to proceed. In all, thirteen individuals have been charged through this process.
Read more in our press release.
ADA Spain Secures Conviction in 2019 Shooting Downtown
ADA Lindsey Spain secured a conviction in a December 2019 downtown shooting that stemmed from an altercation at the Durham County Courthouse. ADA Spain stated in court that the rival gang members appearing in District Court drove through downtown Durham shooting between their vehicles. The shooting culminated near Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, where children were playing outside. No one was injured and at least five cars were damaged. The defendant pleaded guilty June 8 to one count of conspiracy to discharge a weapon into an occupied vehicle related to the downtown shooting and one count of conspiracy to discharge a weapon into an occupied dwelling related to a separate shooting at a tobacco shop.
Read more in our press release.
ADA Wallace Secures Plea in 2019 Stabbing
ADA Michael Wallace closed a 2019 homicide in which the victim was stabbed multiple times during an altercation at a hotel. Witnesses at the hotel described seeing a man bleeding and holding a knife, as well as the defendant knocking on doors asking for help. The defendant entered an Alford plea on June 7 to second-degree murder. Sentencing was continued pending a mitigation hearing to be held on a later date.
ADA Darrow Closes 2019 Homicide
ADA Mary Jude Darrow secured a conviction against a second person charged in connection with the death of a man found deceased in a car at a Geer Street shopping center in June 2019. The defendant pleaded guilty on June 28 to accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, which is a Class D felony. In 2020, his co-defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and discharging a weapon into occupied property inflicting serious bodily injury. Darrow stated that the victim had been in a conflict over child custody/support with a friend of the defendants. After a confrontation at a bar, the defendants followed the victim to his vehicle, where he was shot.
In The News
The 9th Street Journal featured DA Deberry for Pride Month. DA Deberry spoke about the importance of representation, being a queer, Black female prosecutor in a role traditionally held by white men, and Durham DA’s Office policies related to LGBTQ people, who are disproportionately impacted by violence and the criminal legal system. The Office’s Special Victims Unit, created in 2019, handles cases involving victims targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as domestic violence cases involving same-sex couples. The Office also has a practice of recognizing all individuals’ gender identities and pronouns.
