Chem Lab Case Dismissed (Sort of)

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office agreed today to defer its prosecution of a UCLA chemistry professor charged in connection with a 2008 lab fire that killed a research assistant, in a deal that could result in the case against him eventually being dismissed. Under the agreement, Patrick Harran must adhere to a series of requirements, including 800 hours of non-teaching community service at the UCLA Hospital System/UCLA Health Services. If he completes all of the requirements, the case against him is expected to be dismissed in five years, according to the deferred prosecution agreement...

Full article at http://centurycity.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/ucla-prof-charged-in-death-of-lab-assistant-makes-deal-that-could-get-case-dismissed

As we noted in earlier posts as this case progressed, the matter should have been resolved - and likely will be - as a civil case.  The DA who originally filed the case and the successor DA who continued it were overreaching. At one point, the criminal prosecution included the Regents. This resolution seems like a face-saving move on the DA's part.

Earlier posts at:
http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2012/07/has-worm-turned-in-ucla-lab-fire-trial.html
http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2012/11/hearing-on-ucla-chemistry-fire-case.html
http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2013/07/were-waiting-for-complete-post-for-july.html

Our favorite:
http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2012/04/too-much-old-radio.html

http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2012/03/da-overreaching.html
http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2011/12/ucla-professor-charged-in-2008-lab-fire.html