PUBLISHED SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003

King boys prosecutor faces hearing

Ethics complaint targets Rimmer, who calls it `frivolous'

Alan Gomez
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com

David Rimmer, the prosecutor who came under fire publicly for his prosecution of two teenage brothers accused of murder, could be disciplined for his actions during the trial.

A Florida Bar grievance committee meets next month to determine if it should investigate Rimmer's actions during the highly publicized murder trials of Alex and Derek King.

The Aug. 19 hearing was prompted by an ethics complaint filed by Brian Oliver, a convicted child abuser from Maplewood, Mo., who has been one of the most persistent advocates for trying the children in juvenile court.

The complaint is based on Rimmer's decision to prosecute Alex, Derek and adult acquaintance Ricky Chavis on first-degree murder charges in the death of Terry King.

``Given the bizarre nature of this case and Mr. Rimmer's handling of it, it is likely that a range of general misconduct was committed here,'' Oliver wrote in his original ethics complaint.

Rimmer called the complaint frivolous.

``I feel very confidant I've done nothing wrong, and I feel that the allegations were made out of spite by this Brian Oliver, who was writing hateful e-mails and letters to me before the trial ever started,'' Rimmer said.

If the Bar finds Rimmer guilty of any violations, he can be reprimanded, suspended or disbarred. Officials at next month's hearing, which is closed to Rimmer, Oliver and the general public, will determine if there is probable cause to continue the investigation.

In his complaint, Oliver argued that Rimmer violated eight ethics rules during the two murder trials stemming from Terry King's death.

King was found fatally beaten at his Cantonment home on Nov. 26, 2001, and his house had been set on fire.

Alex and Derek, ages 14 and 15, stood trial in September 2001 and were convicted of second-degree murder. The brothers also testified against Chavis at his trial, but Chavis was acquitted.

Alex and Derek's convictions later were thrown out, but the brothers pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and are scheduled to be released from their juvenile detention centers by late 2009.

Chavis later was convicted of falsely imprisoning Alex, tampering with evidence and being an accessory to a murder. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Oliver organized e-mail petitions to Rimmer's boss, State Attorney Curtis Golden and members of government and has spoken out about the brothers' treatment in adult court to anyone who would listen.

Rimmer faced months of public scrutiny for trying Alex and Derek as adults, and he still faces plenty of criticism.

He is handling the case of Daniel Carter, who was 15 years old when he was charged with killing his uncle, Jack Carter, by repeatedly stabbing him in the neck and torso.

Rimmer also will prosecute Christine Rogers, a 13-year-old who is accused of killing her friend, Ashley Harvey, with a butcher knife on July 5.