Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Friday, July 25, 2008

Court upholds child molester's conviction

MADISON (AP) — A state appeals court has upheld the conviction of a child molester whose attorney used a ruse to gather evidence.

Gordon Sussman argues his attorney, Stephen Hurley, should have tried to introduce a note that said the victim's family denied any inappropriate contact. Hurley also should have tried to introduce testimony the victim had accused his father of sexual assault.

The 4th District Court of Appeals said that evidence is not significant.

Hurley hired a private investigator to get the boy's laptop so he could search it for pornography. The investigator sent the boy a letter claiming he was researching students' computer use and offered him a free laptop in exchange for his old one.

A state Supreme Court referee chose not to punish Hurley.

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