TRIAL OF EX-NARCOTICS DETECTIVES TO STAY IN JEFFERSON

Two former narcotics detectives accused of wrongdoing in their jobs will be
tried in Jefferson County because enough potential jurors were deemed
qualified yesterday.

Jefferson Circuit Judge Steve Mershon last year denied requests to move the
trial by attorneys for Mark Watson and Christie Richardson, citing
publicity about the case. But he had set up Bowling Green as a backup
location for the trial if enough impartial jurors couldn't be found in
Jefferson County.

Mershon and the attorneys in the case interviewed jurors individually
Wednesday and yesterday on the issues of whether they had formed opinions
from the pretrial publicity or whether anything would prevent them from
participating in the entire trial, which is expected to last about a month.

''The jury-selection process substantiated our argument that we could get a
fair jury here in Jefferson County,'' said prosecutor Scott Davis, who
opposed moving the trial.

This morning attorneys are scheduled to strike names from the 49 potential
jurors. Opening arguments would be Tuesday, when court reconvenes after the
Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Steve Schroering, an attorney for Richardson, declined to comment. An
attempt to contact Mary Sharp, an attorney for Watson, was unsuccessful
after yesterday's proceedings.

Watson and Richardson, who resigned from the county police last year, are
accused of creating bogus search warrants with photocopied judges'
signatures, with obtaining warrants through the use of fraudulent
affidavits, and with obtaining payments for informants who say they never
got the money.

The former detectives each face counts of burglary, possession of a forged
instrument, tampering with public records, bribing a witness, theft,
perjury and official misconduct. In addition, Watson faces a count of
harassing a witness.

Both Watson, 39, and Richardson, 36, have pleaded innocent to all charges.
If convicted, each could be sentenced to up to 70 years in prison.