Allegheny County DA Responds to Judge's 'White Boy' Plea Deals Comment
Posted By
on Oct 8, 2010 7:42am PDT
PITTSBURGH -- District Attorney Stephen Zappala said he sees an Allegheny County judge's comments about plea agreements for white defendants as a criticism of one case, not the whole justice system.
"I don't see a racial issue," Zappala told Channel 4 Action News on Thursday.
Judge Joseph Williams, who is black, rejected a plea deal Tuesday for a man accused of fighting with police during a traffic stop, saying it was "a ridiculous plea that only goes to white boys" and a black defendant in the same situation would not have been treated as leniently.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review said Williams made the comments after a prosecutor proposed three months of probation for 24-year-old Jeffery McGowan, a white man with no criminal record who agreed to plead guilty to disorderly conduct.
"I just think, based on that particular case, I reviewed the case myself, obviously, I don't see a racial issue there," said Zappala.
Williams recused himself after making his comments, and another judge accepted the plea agreement for McGowan, who originally faced a more serious charge of aggravated assault.
County Councilman William Robinson said he plans to meet with President Judge Donna Jo McDaniel to discuss the issue.
Williams' secretary on Wednesday told The Associated Press the judge does not give interviews.