Stalking charges against Marion Barry dropped
By: Michael Neibauer
Examiner Staff Writer
July 9, 2009
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| Washington DC Coucilmember Marion Barry's lawyer Fred Cooke holds a press conference in response to the charges that Barry was stalking a female companion. in Washington, DC on Monday July 6, 2009. Andrew Harnik/Examiner |
Prosecutors have decided not to pursue a stalking case against D.C. Councilman Marion Barry, following their review of the “strengths and weaknesses of the evidence,” the U.S. attorney for D.C. said Wednesday.
Barry, 73, was accused by the U.S. Park Police of stalking Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, a woman he had dated until recently when the relationship came to an ugly end. The former mayor was arrested Saturday night near Anacostia Park as he drove home from Watts-Brighthaupt’s house, his lawyer said.
Police sources said Watts-Brighthaupt, 40, and her 46-year-old ex-husband waved over the officer after he stopped Barry for making an illegal turn. The two were nearby, in her truck.
“Following a review of the evidence relating to stalking allegations against Marion Barry and a careful analysis of the relevant factors, including the elements of the offense and the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has decided not to pursue stalking charges in this matter,” prosecutors said in a statement.
Park police said in a statement they had probable cause to make the arrest.
Fred Cooke, Barry’s lawyer, said Monday he believed the charges would be dropped. Even Watts-Brighthaupt, in a statement she issued Monday, questioned the stalking charge given the two had eaten lunch together Saturday in Annapolis on their way to Rehoboth Beach, Del., for weekend plans that ultimately fell through.
Barry, the Ward 8 councilman, hired Watts-Brighthaupt as a contractor to his taxpayer-funded office, under a $60,000 deal payable in $5,000 monthly increments, while they were still dating. Natalie Williams, Barry’s spokeswoman, called a late-night news conference Tuesday to ridicule Watts-Brighthaupt as mentally “unstable” while saying the contract was awarded properly.
The story took a strange turn Wednesday when the Washington City Paper released a series of voicemails left by the former mayor on Watts-Brighthaupt’s phone. The tapes were provided by the woman’s ex-husband, Delonta Brighthaupt.
“Donna, you don’t have to answer your home phone, but let me just say that I’m addicted to you,” the Ward 8 councilman said in one recording. “Don’t call me back. I will not take a call from you … I was trying to be amicable about it, leave this in a good place if we could.”
D.C. police are investigating Barry’s claims that Brighthaupt had threatened him. Barry had the ex-husband barred from an event at the Wilson Building last Friday.
“He threatens me, I’m gonna call the police,” Barry said in another of the recordings. “If he touches me, I’m gonna call the police. If he does anything, I’m gonna call the police. Simple as that. I’m gonna have his ass locked up for as long as I can. That’s one way to get him out of your life.”
