Monday, February 25, 2013
Police: Maine Zumba defendant deleted emails
AP
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ALFRED, Maine (AP) — An insurance agent charged with promoting prostitution deleted all the email from his office computer a day after investigators raided his mistress' Zumba dance studio, office and home, a law enforcement computer expert testified Monday.

Frederick Williams of the Saco Police Department told jurors that he found spreadsheets, tax documents and snapshots from Skype video chats on defendant Mark Strong's computer and on computer equipment belonging to fitness instructor Alexis Wright, who's accused of using her Zumba studio as a front for prostitution.

Jurors weren't told of sexually explicit images on Strong's computer that prosecutors contend show he knew about the prostitution. The defense said showing the panel the more than 500 photos would be prejudicial.

"It's going to horrify some of these people to the point (Strong) is not going to be able to get a fair verdict," defense lawyer Daniel Lilley told the judge while the jury was out of earshot. He said it was a "stretch" to say possession of pornography meant Strong knew about prostitution.

On Tuesday, jurors were asked to report to duty several hours later than usual so Justice Nancy Mills and lawyers can discuss several motions and evidentiary issues.

One issue up for discussion was whether personnel records of Kennebunk police officers must be turned over to the defense, which intends to attack the integrity of the chief investigator.

Also up for discussion was Lilley's motion to dismiss all remaining counts because prosecutors have repeatedly missed deadlines for turning over documents.

Monday's testimony focused largely on 86 items seized from Strong's Thomaston home and business in July, months after police raided Wright's home, studio and office in Kennebunk on Valentine's Day.

Williams, the police computer expert, examined computers and hard drives, and said Strong deleted all his email before Feb. 15, 2012. He also was able to recover pornographic snapshots recovered from Skype video chats between Strong and Wright.

A state police detective also testified that 41 items — including much of the computer equipment and hard drives — remained in state police custody but that one hard drive was included in 45 items that were placed in the custody of Kennebunk police investigator Audra Presby. Continued...

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