Jury: Officer Didn't Tip Off Dealer
By Laurie Mason, Courier Times
Jonathan Knight, the former Chalfont police officer accused of tipping off a drug dealer that he was the target of an undercover sting, was found not guilty Friday in Bucks County court in Doylestown.
Knight, 35, of Warminster, wiped away tears of joy after the verdict was announced. In the packed courtroom, a supporter exclaimed, "Yes!" prompting a warning from Judge Mitchell Goldberg.
"I had the greatest lawyer," Knight said, while hugging family members outside the courtroom. "And I thank the jury."
Knight, who worked as a police officer for 11 years before his September 2005 arrest, was accused of telling drug dealer Whitney Watson, 29, that he was the target of an investigation. Watson of Wycombe testified that he sold a quarter-pound of pot to a man he suspected was an undercover officer and asked Knight for advice.
Prosecutors say Knight confirmed Watson's suspicions and told him he was a "marked man."
Knight denied the allegations. He did not testify during the weeklong trial, but his attorney, Louis Busico, argued that prosecutors were misconstruing a small-town relationship between Knight and Watson — the owner of a local car wash — into something nefarious.
"He maintained his innocence all along and the great people of Bucks County believed him," Busico said.
The defense lawyer noted that almost two dozen character witnesses, including police officers from neighboring jurisdictions, took the stand to defend Knight's law-abiding traits. Busico did not call any Chalfont officers.
"It was critical for this jury to see that he had tons of support in the community. When he was in trouble, these people did not turn their backs on him," Busico said.
In his closing statement to the jury Friday morning, Busico said Knight tried to steer Watson away from crime and had a "momentary lapse of judgment" when he forgot to report his conversation with Watson to his superiors.
Knight's brother, New Britain police Officer Shawn Knight, was so moved by Busico's speech that he began to weep loudly, causing Goldberg to call a recess before ordering Shawn Knight to compose himself or leave the courtroom.
After the verdict, Shawn Knight said that he was overcome with emotion as the grueling trial came to a close. He said he felt "relief" that his brother was exonerated.
"It's over," he said. "The system that I so honor did the right thing today."
The verdict was the second time Knight had been cleared of the charges; District Judge Ruth C. Dietrich dismissed charges against the former officer following a hearing in December. Prosecutors refiled the case, however, and Knight waived a second preliminary hearing in Doylestown in March.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Diaz said she believed there was sufficient evidence to bring Knight to trial.
"Obviously, the jury did not believe we proved our case beyond a reasonable doubt," she said.
The jury deliberated for 2½ hours before acquitting Knight of hindering prosecution and obstructing justice. Had he been convicted, Knight faced a maximum seven years behind bars.
Knight's father, Donald Knight of Bedminster, expressed both relief and anger after the verdict.
"I feel justice has been served. My son was a good police officer for 11 years. He has a heart of gold, and that's what got him into this," he said.
Donald Knight said the case should have ended when Dietrich found there wasn't enough evidence to send it to trial.
"Instead, we have a weeklong trial and a lot of taxpayer money spent. This case should not have been blown out of proportion the way it was," he said.
Knight was fired after his arrest. Neither he nor Busico would say whether he would try to get reinstated following the acquittal. His father said he believed his son would.
"Without a doubt, he wants his job back," Donald Knight said. "He lives and breathes police work."
Laurie Mason can be reached at 215-949-4185 or lmason_court@yahoo.com.
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