NARCOTICS OFFICERS' TRIAL STARTS TODAY

LOUISVILLE (AP) -- Two former narcotics detectives will go on trial today
in one of the largest and most publicized police-corruption cases ever in
Jefferson County.

Mark A. Watson and Christie Richardson, who have resigned from the county
police, are charged with creating bogus search warrants with photocopied
judges' signatures, with obtaining warrants with fraudulent affidavits, and
with obtaining payments for informants who say they never got the money.
Watson faces 472 counts, and Richardson 467.

Because of the accusations against Watson and Richardson, the Metro
Narcotics division has altered its policies, drug convictions have been
overturned and dozens of drug charges have been dropped.

"I've never been in the position where I'm walking around making motions to
dismiss cases -- at this volume at least," said Alex Dathorne, chief
narcotics prosecutor in the commonwealth's attorney's office.

Russell Weaver, a University of Louisville law professor, said the
allegations in the case point to "a major breakdown" in the criminal
justice system and involve one of the biggest police-corruption cases he
has seen since coming to Louisville in 1982.

If convicted, Watson and Richardson each could be sentenced to as long as
70 years in prison for burglary, possession of a forged instrument,
tampering with public records, bribing a witness, theft, perjury and
official misconduct. In addition, Watson faces one count of harassing a
witness.

The charges span 13 months, starting in January 2001, and the two are
accused in connection with 133 separate incidents, according to court records.

Watson, 39, and Richardson, 36, have pleaded not guilty and are free on bail.

Mary Sharp, an attorney for Watson, said her client is employed but would
not say what he is doing or where he is working. Richardson's attorney,
Steve Schroering, would not comment on her status.

Watson, a former Atlanta police officer, joined the Jefferson County
department in 1992, moving to Metro Narcotics in 1995. Richardson, a former
Georgetown officer, joined the county force in 1994 and was teamed with
Watson after joining the narcotics division in 1998.

Schroering declined to discuss his client's defense, but said, "She
absolutely maintains her innocence of any criminal conduct."

Sharp said her client's statement to investigators reveals part of his defense.

In the statement, Watson said money he was to pay confidential informants
did go to them, and when he signed informants' names, he did so only with
their permission.

"I think that there are a lot of problems with the commonwealth's case --
specifically, counts of the indictment that we don't believe have
sufficient evidence which support them.