KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasExclusive: DA's Office Now Involved in Corcran Case
DA David Roger talks with reporter Brian Allen
Accident scene on Feb. 19, 2006There's new information concerning a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper involved a fatal accident a week and a half ago. Channel 8 Eyewitness News has learned the Clark County District Attorney's office, and not the Attorney General, will prosecute the case if charges are filed.
Clark County Deputy District Attorneys are now involved in this investigation. D.A. David Roger said, "We don't rush to judgment. There are people in the public who would like to see the trooper in handcuffs right now."
District Attorney David Roger tells us normally his office wouldn't be involved, that the Attorney General's office handles cases where a state employee may be charged with a crime. But with the state possibly facing a civil suit from the accident's only survivor, the A.G. asked the D.A. to step in. "They have asked us to handle the prosecution if there is one and so right now our deputies from the vehicular crimes unit are working with detectives to investigate this matter."
The investigation is stymied a bit, as the trooper involved, Joshua Corcran, has yet to speak with Metro Police. By law he doesn't have to. So what happens if he doesn't? Sheriff Bill Young says, "If the trooper chooses not to speak to the police we will have to base our entire investigation based on the scientific evidence."
It's evidence that includes the black box recorder from Corcran's patrol cruiser, soon to be reviewed by the Ford Motor Company in Michigan. Also Wednesday night on "News One At Nine", Sheriff Young again fought the idea that his department will cover for Corcran. "There's not going to be any cover up."
On Thursday, Trooper Corcran's attorney Steve Wolfson told Eyewitness News he has talked with Metro detectives and that he talks daily with Trooper Corcran, but so far no decision as to whether Corcran will talk to investigators or not.
District Attorney David Roger tells Channel 8 Eyewitness News an investigation like this can take several months to complete before any decision is reached on whether charges should be filed.
Email reporter Brian Allen at ballen@klastv.com
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