Robert Strong & David Knick Charged After Deputy Dies 30 Years Later

[Whisper]

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- An unusual murder case unfolded Friday in Orange County where a sheriff's deputy died 30 years after he was shot.
Two men served about a decade behind bars for trying to kill Orange County sheriff's Deputy Ira Essoe in 1980.
Essoe died this year from what officials say were complications from injuries suffered during that shooting.

Now those two men, 55-year-old Robert Strong and 54-year-old David Knick, were back in court facing murder charges.
"It is rare, but the law provides for us to prosecute these kind of cases," said Scott Simmons, a senior deputy district attorney.
"There is a sense of relief that the justice system is working," said Sgt. Ira Essoe, the victim's son.

Authorities said Knick, Strong and another accomplice were stealing a car outside a mall in Orange in 1980 when Essoe and his partner approached them.
Strong pointed a gun at Essoe's partner demanding he put his firearm down. Essoe was then shot twice in the back. He was left paralyzed.

The defendants took the deputies guns and drove off in the patrol car. They were arrested after a pursuit.
Essoe's children, who went into law enforcement, say Essoe was confined to a wheelchair from the age of 40 until he died at 69.
"He was in and out of the hospital repeated times," the victim's son said. "We thought we were going to lose him several times before this."
Kick's daughter came to court to support her father.
"He's a good citizen, he's a pastor, he's a Christian. He has kids, he has a family," Amber Surface said. "He's already paid for his mistakes."
[...]
If convicted, each could face up to 25 years to life in prison

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?se...rticle-7800080

[Valasca]

I understand why it wouldn't be double jeopardy, but... I'm just confused. How can they serve time for the shooting, but then be charged with murder. IS the system working?
This is a case I think I might follow.

[VXIII]

Like I said before, the justice system is becoming out of control, yeh, they are there to protect and to serve but sometimes they go way too far... my son went to prison for 5 years for "thinking about stealing" he didnt actually steal anything (there was video where he put items in a basket but then abandoned it) but he thought about it and then changed his mind and still got 5 years... and Im not just sticking up for him because Im his Ma, or even lying about it, nothing was taken... He even admitted he was thinking of it but later changed his mind... That just kind of floored me like even when we control our impulses and decide to do the right thing, we are still responsible just for thinking about it? So what is next is the question in my mind...

[Abroad]

Forgive me if this seems like prying, but where was he thinking about stealing from? Was it somewhere he should not have been in the first place? If so, the punishment might have been for the breaking and entering part of the crime?

[TheMeaningOfItAll]

Hmmm. I feel for the family of the officer who was shot. I am sure it was painful dealing with their father's injuries all those years, only to have him pass away. In this case, though, I feel like the murder charges are too much. The guys went to jail for their crime, served their time and it sounds like they were trying to clean up their lives. How long should someone have to keep looking over their shoulders for things they did in their youth? I'm torn.

[Robynne]

The deceased was an officer who was injured on the job. The government takes police shootings more seriously than anyone else. There was an officer and a police dog in Florida a couple years ago that were shot. They shut down the city until the person responsible was caught. But if a little girl or boy was shot, they just investigate until they find out who is responsible and take their time.
They are going overboard with these new charges. I don't see how you can be charged with the murder of a man when he dies 30 years after you injured him. I am sorry this poor man had to suffer and died at 69, but that doesn't justify the murder charges.
They did their time, let them try to live the rest of their lives. Police officers and their families know what kinds of things can happen. They made a mistake many years ago.

[Hellsbells]

Deputy Ira Essoe

Robert Strong

Strong served ten years of a 17-year sentence after he was convicted in 1981 of felony attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, assault with a deadly weapon and auto burglary.

David Knick

Knick was sentenced to 16 years in prison on similar charges the same year, but only served nine.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...=feeds-newsxml

[VXIII]

From Home Depot during business hours, he went there, loaded a shopping cart up with tools then changed his mind and abandoned the cart in the check out line... it was really fucked up how it happened, he went to a jury trial and the loss prevention officer showed up in his marine uniform and told how he had been in Iraq and shit, like that had anything to do with it, anyway, no one ever thought he would be convicted for just thinking about stealing but he was... so my point is, we are losing our rights here, you may think of doing something, change your mind but you are still guilty of it even if you dont follow through... The thought police are starting to arise...

[Abroad]

How did they figure that he was even thinking about stealing, in that case? He might have been shopping and discovered that he'd left his wallet at home?

[Whisper]

@VXIII thats so screwed up!!
Its not like he was making plans for a hit and changed his mind
Thats so unbelievable
I hope he came out of that o.k

[VXIII]

Anyway he will be back home in March 2011, I will keep his "thoughts" under control, he will be staying with me, he is OK, he has stolen from Home Depot so this is just Karma catching up with him, he is my baby son and the one that is closest to me, just hate it everytime he goes away... 3rd time around and each time gets harder and harder for me, not for him because he likes it there... just blew me off the wall that you can get years in prison for thinking about stealing and not actually doing it...