The Atlantic County executive welcomed the state’s new attorney general by introducing her to the ongoing conflict with the Prosecutor’s Office.
“I’d like to make sure you are aware of the current circumstances surrounding Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds,” Denny Levinson said in a letter sent to Attorney General Jennifer Davenport dated March 27.
He then proceeded to recap litigation that includes one filed lawsuit by Reynolds, and tort claims warning of others.
Reynolds’ allegations include calling into question Atlantic County Counsel Lynne Hughes and Assistant Counsel Arthur Murray, which has led to outside counsel having to be hired on both sides.
“I’m not fighting with him. I’m fighting for the taxpayers of this county,” Levinson told BreakingAC. “It’s going to be extremely expensive forcing everyone to hire outside counsel, and it will all be on the back of the Atlantic County taxpayers.”
He talked of the taxpayer concerns in the letter, saying that the Feb. 9 complaint has resulted in two mediation sessions, and still there is no answer as to whether mediation will continue or litigation will begin.
"Atlantic County has an unfortunate history of having paid millions of dollars to settle lawsuits as a result of questionable decisions made by former prosecutors," Levinson wrote. "Our taxpayers cannot afford the expense of additional ill-advised and prolonged litigation. Even when we win, there is a cost to pay and that burden falls on the taxpayers."
FULL LETTER FROM LEVINSON TO AG DAVENPORT
Reynolds declined to comment on the letter, which is the latest chapter in the ugly aftermath of the failed prosecution of Atlantic City’s mayor, schools superintendent and High School principal.
After Mayor Marty Small was found not guilty, Levinson went on a series of radio interviews saying that the prosecutor should drop the then-pending cases against Superintendent Dr. La’Quetta Small and High School Principal Constance Days-Chapman.
“For 2½ years he went after Marty Small and his family,” Levinson said Tuesday. “I only suggested that he ought to drop it against Marty’s wife and the principal and call it a day. Two months later, he did just that.
“I don’t know how he feels he’s been compromised in anyway. He did exactly what I suggested he do,” Levinson added.
But it was how it was done that Reynolds alleges was the problem.
The push to drop the remaining cases started the day after the mayor's acquittal with a phone call initiated by county counsel and assistant counsel, Reynolds' complaint alleges.
Levinson said of the four constitutional officers — county clerk, sheriff, surrogate and prosecutor — only one has an issue with Hughes and Murray, and it's Reynolds.
"That is a slap in the face to two extraordinarily talented, honorable, highly respected individuals," he said.
But even they did not want to be involved, according to a memo Reynolds included in his filing that he wrote to memorialize the conversation with the attorneys after Small's acquittal.
"(Hughes and Murray) stated that they did not agree that the call should have been made at all, and that even if such a call were to be made, they believed the timing was poor and should not have occurred until next week or after the holiday," Reynolds wrote.
Levinson also took issue with Reynolds' attorneys being from outside the area, saying he should have been able to find someone in Atlantic County.
"Holy cow, charity begins at home," Levinson said. "If you want to piss money away, at last piss it away on a local firm."
Levinson has been critical of late with how the county prosecutor is chosen, saying that politics needs to be taken out of the equation.
He also believes that prosecutors do not worry about losses because there are no consequences for them.
"I guarantee that if they were responsible for their screw ups and it came out of their pocket, they would be a lot more careful," he said.
Instead, he said, they fall back on the fact that they got an indictment.
"Being indicted by a grand jury doesn’t mean a damn thing because you can’t make your case," Levinson said. "I'd like to see an equitable system that gives the defendant a fighting chance."
He said the United States got the grand jury process from England, which abolished them 90 years ago. One state, Connecticut, also does not use grand juries for indictments.
As for Reynolds, Levinson said, "I don't want to fight with this guy."
"There's not benefit for me," he said. "I don't have to look any smarter and he doesn't have to look any dumber."
