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Biden announces end of Bradley prosecution

March 18, 2013

Convicted pedophile Earl Bradley will not face a second indictment after state official withdrew charges first filed in April 2010.

Attorney General Joseph “Beau” Biden III withdrew the second indictments so child victims of the former pediatrician would not have to testify against him in court.

“Our prosecution of this case has been guided by two goals – first, to make certain that Earl Bradley spends the rest of his life in prison, and second, to ensure that no victim be required to face him again and have to testify in court about the unspeakable crimes he committed against them,” Biden said.

Bradley was convicted on 24 charges of rape, assault and child sexual exploitation of 86 children, a conviction and sentence later upheld upheld by Delaware Supreme Court.  He was sentenced 14 life terms plus 164 years in prison. "We have ensured that he will never walk out of prison or be in a position to ever harm another child,” Biden said.

Department of Justice spokesman Jason Miller said Bradley had exhausted his direct appeals.

The state handed down two indictments against Bradley in 2010 based on two different sets of evidence.

The first indictment, in February 2010, was based on video evidence gathered at Bradley’s BayBees Pediatrics office in Lewes. He was tried and convicted of those charges, leading to his August 2011 sentencing.

The second indictment, filed in April 2010, was based on interviews and disclosures made by victims to the state’s Child Advocacy Center. The case was scheduled for a trial in June 2012, but it remained in limbo as the state successfully fought off Bradley’s appeal to the Supreme Court. Miller said the center had nothing to do with the decision to withdraw the indictment.

If the second indictment were to go to trial, Biden said, victims and their parents would have had to testify in front of Bradley. In both the criminal and civil cases against Bradley victims have not had to publicly take the stand.

“We cannot expect or demand that they relive their pain and be victimized all over again,” Biden said. “Because Bradley has already received the maximum punishment available under the law – multiple life sentences without the possibility of probation – we have decided that ending the remaining case by withdrawing the indictment is in the best interest of the victims and their families.”

Biden said he met with the victims’ families last week to discuss his decision. Miller said the families understood the decision.

“While this ends the criminal prosecution of the case, our commitment to the victims and their families does not end,” Biden said.  "My office will ensure that the victims and their families have the support and services they need for as long as they need them."

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