By Toni Shah
Last week, District Attorney Rick Chancey got what he deserved. Put on trial for the theft of a girl’s bike that was parked in front of the courthouse, Chancey was found guilty by the 18 young jurors who listened to verbal testimony from the defense and the prosecution, as well as watching video evidence that clearly showed Chancey riding away on the bike.
For his defense, Chancey’s lawyer argued that her client was innocent, received good grades, and was an upstanding citizen. Based on additional information from her client, the defending attorney brought forth the theory that Chancey has a twin brother and that he may have been the one to commit the crime. No other explanation could work since evidence connected Chancey’s DNA to the theft. However, that claim was proven false as Chancey tripped himself up during testimony.
“What is you and your brother’s birthday?” the prosecuting attorney asked.
“Who?” Chance responded.
“Your brother?” said the prosecutor.
“Oh, him.” Chance said. “Mine is in December, and his is in March.”
Jurors were quick to catch on to the discrepancy, especially when Chancey kept giving different dates for the birthdays during further questioning.
Chancey tried to leave the courtroom, but a bailiff caught and retained him for sentencing.
This scene is from the mock trial held in the municipal courtroom last Friday. Jurors were cadets from the Phenix City Junior Police Academy Summer Program. The judge, attorneys, and bailiff were Chancey’s staff and interns, from different universities, working in the Helping Families Initiative, a program within the D.A.’s office that aims to support at-risk students and their families by addressing issues such as truancy and behavioral problems.
The participants, under the direction of Officer Kendell Smith and other volunteers, have worked with students this summer in two classes, one for ages six to nine, and another for ages 10 to 14. The kids were taught police procedure, fitness drills, investigation techniques, and other policing skills. The graduation for the first class was held on Friday, and the second graduation will be this Friday. This is the second year for the program, which has shown to be very popular. The program’s graduations will be in next week’s issue.
