Officers in King case surrender // Will be arraigned Monday

  Jonathan T. Lovitt

  08/07/1992

  USA Today

  FINAL

  Page 03A

  (Copyright 1992)

  LOS ANGELES - Four police officers acquitted of excessive force in the beating

  of motorist Rodney King surrendered early Thursday to federal marshals on

  charges they violated King's civil rights.

  After a brief court appearance, Sgt. Stacey Koon and officers Laurence Powell,

  Theodore Briseno and Timothy Wind were each released on a $5,000 unsecured

  bond. If they don't show up for court, they will each forfeit $5,000.

  U.S. Magistrate George King ordered the four to appear Monday for

  arraignment.

  If convicted, the officers each face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

  ``I'm innocent,'' Powell said as he left the courthouse. ``Why are they doing this

  to me?''

  Koon dodged reporters' questions, suggesting they read his as-yet- unpublished

  book.

  A tired-looking Briseno, who had testified against the three other officers during

  the first trial, said he was shocked none was convicted on state charges.

  ``I thought there would be convictions,'' Briseno said. ``I can understand why the

  public was so outraged.''

  Briseno's lawyer, Harlan Braun, maintained his client's innocence.

  ``He (Briseno) tried to stop the beating,'' Braun said, adding that about 15 other

  officers watched but didn't try to stop the beating. ``If he had just stood around

  like the rest of the (unindicted) officers, he wouldn't have been charged.''

  Powell's attorney, Michael Stone, said Rodney King will be called to testify this

  time. King did not take the stand in the state trial in April.

  ``If the prosecution doesn't call King, I will,'' Stone said. ``The community needs

  to see this guy for what he is. He is not a victim. ... He was a felon trying to

  escape arrest.''

  Wind's attorney, Paul De Pasquale, thinks it will be impossible to find a jury that

  will acquit the defendants when the first acquittals sparked the nation's worst

  riots.

  De Pasquale says the new charges place the officers in double jeopardy.

  ``It may be a slightly different courtroom with slightly different procedure, but

  the charges are basically the same,'' De Pasquale said.