In September, attorney Michael Berger was granted a motion to be released as legal counsel for Dawndee Rossy in the case of embezzlement of $1.5 million in welfare funds which allegedly took place by her and her husband Ken Rossy. She now has a new attorney.
Mr. David Evans will now represent Ms. Rossy. The case is next on calendar November 19th for trial setting. Mr. Evans is in private practice in Pasadena and will be paid by Inyo County to represent Ms. Rossy. At last report, Mr. Rossy continues to be represented by Attorney Gerard Harvey. The previous trial date of October 6th was vacated.
The Rossys were originally arrested in April of 2013. At that time, they faced charges of grand theft by embezzlement of public funds, grand theft of personal property, misappropriation of public funds by a public officer, welfare fraud, conspiracy to commit grand theft, 31 counts of identity theft and other charges.
Dawndee Rossy had been terminated from her job in the Welfare Office in February of 2013. The Rossys had entered pleas of not guilty and have denied all allegations filed against them. In November of last year, District Attorney Tom Hardy had said the total charges against the couple numbered 213 felony counts.
More on the case is expected November 19th.
Discover more from Sierra Wave: Eastern Sierra News - The Community's News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hi Benett
Is there a new court date?
Thanks
November 19th.
Like I said if you knew anything about the law you know innocent until proven guilty! And if you want to whine about how they made bail I’m sure it’s public record. Relax and let the game play out!
Ricky O’ Brien.. if you knew anything about the law you would know that there is no way you can bail on alleged stolen monies. That’s the first thing they check. You should take my advice from an earlier post! Looks like this case is going to trial and I have a feeling there may be a lot more to this than any of us know!
HIGH…I know enough about the law to know that there are ways to circumvent certain protocals on where bail $$$ come from…her bail was reduced to 250,000.00. His bail was reduced to 100,000.00. Now, if they went through a bail bondsman, that’e THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS out of pocket (bail bondsman fee,non-returnable) PLUS, they have to put up collateral equal to the 350,000.00.. Now, they’re accused of embezzling well over a million dollars. These people are accused of multiple identity theft charges and are evidently pretty good at hiding money (not good enough) and not leaving a paper trail… Where do YOU think it came from ? If a couple like this have those kind of legal resources, why are they under a 213 felony count indictment ? You should take MY advice from an earlier post, and use your real name like I do, if your opinion is so “spot on”.
Yeah ok. What about Kevin Carunchio? Why don’t you ask him how a low level employee would even have the ability to bypass several levels of so called security. What is really going on here? After all administrators are the ones with all the power and the access!
A quote from John Adams, future President of the US and founder of this nation, made in an argument as a defense attorney circa 1770:
“We find, in the rules laid down by the greatest English Judges, who have been the brightest of mankind; We are to look upon it as more beneficial, that many guilty persons should escape unpunished, than one innocent person should suffer. The reason is, because it’s of more importance to community, that innocence should be protected, than it is, that guilt should be punished; for guilt and crimes are so frequent in the world, that all of them cannot be punished; and many times they happen in such a manner, that it is not of much consequence to the public, whether they are punished or not. But when innocence itself, is brought to the bar and condemned, especially to die, the subject will exclaim, it is immaterial to me, whether I behave well or ill; for virtue itself, is no security. And if such a sentiment as this, should take place in the mind of the subject, there would be an end to all security what so ever.”
A fancy way of saying “I’d rather set ten guilty men free than put one innocent man in jail”.
This is in NO way to be construed that I think the 2 Rossy’s are innocent. Quite frankly, I am in firm belief that anyone accused of stealing a million-plus, should not have been able to bail out of jail without proving the cash didn’t come from the money they’re accused of embezzling.
Notice my comment has been removed! What? Did I hit a nerve!
I did not realize it went up. It’s about innocent until proven guilty. BK
Let me try again as I’m just trying to understand – the taxpayers were not only (allegedly) ripped off by the Rossy’s while Dawndee was paid by the same taxpayers, but now the taxpayers have to pay for a lawyer from Pasadena? Why Pasadena? Doesn’t Inyo County pay lawyers who live here as Public Defenders? Why isn’t one of those attorneys representing Dawndee and didn’t she have a Public Defender when she was first charged? I can’t understand why she can’t get a Public Defender like everyone else who can’t pay for their own lawyer. It seems to be a huge waste of County funds to pay a lawyer to come up here from Pasadena; what is Kevin Carrunchio saying about all this? I doubt Inyo County has a hundred grand (which is probably on the low end) to pay this new lawyer. And what about (alleged) charges against Ken Rossy? Isn’t his lawyer in trouble and can’t practice law (State Bar of California web site). Guess we will be paying some LA lawyer to represent Ken Rossy too! This is very frustrating and I can’t help but wonder what is really going on!
I’m not familiar with the details of this case. But I know it’s not uncommon for local governments to hire outside counsel under certain situations. An explanation from Inyo County as to why this was necessary in this particular case would be appreciated though.
Country girl…why does it matter. The county is the responsible entity in ensuring the Rossy’s, right to a fair trial. What could the CAO of Inyo county possibly say? That’s hilarious. Have you ever read the Constitution? GET OVER IT.
All they are accomplishing by all these legal delays is putting off the inevitable…
ME TOO…comment goes up, gets 20 ups, and then it’s gone. That’s a new one.
Rick ……I read your comments before they went away. If you have been following this case at all and checked your factsbyou wouldn’t sound like such a fool. You go Hiwater
Wait a minute…what happened to innocent until proven guilty? I am not saying that they are innocent, I don’t know. But should they not have the same rights as anyone else?
To all you folks out there that think you know anything about this case or any other for that matter. ” It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt”.
Ya, let’s not give her counsel and risk not getting a sound ruling. We’ll just spend the money we save fighting endless appeals. Brilliant!
You may want to return to the good ol days of the Scottsboro Boys and gut the Sixth Ammendment, but better hope you never need it yourself.
| In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.|
OMG @Pedro, I am busting up at your reply. Apparently you have “been there”…me?? I don’t get myself in those situations, if it’s not mine, I don’t take it….. And at this point in this life, sometimes I honestly wouldn’t mind going back to the good ol days, where people were punished for their wrong doings.
Yep, Wondering, been there. Family member falsely accused of theft. Judge threw it out when they were allowed to present their side. You have to allow all parties to present their side for the judge and jury to punish the guilty and free the innocent.
Thanks Benett for the update. They had to go all the way to Pasadena to find an attorney who would take her case??
Thank you, again, Benett for the update. I hope this case is resolved before you retire – lol!
You got that right, us citizens will never be made whole..
Look on the bright side, the crime is keeping people employed
Protecting the innocence of the accused benefits every single one of us. The worst possible crime is to imprison the innocent, and worse yet execute someone for a crime they did not commit. Through DNA testing and the innocence project we know with certainty we have imprisoned and even executed innocent people. When being innocent of crime is no protection from imprisonment or worse, execution, there no longer is a reason for anyone to obey the law. You do not want to live someplace where obeying the law is no longer important. That is why providing defense attorneys to defendants in criminal trials is vital to all of us.
213 felony counts