TS - Jackson gets the ax from DA's office

Jackson gets the ax from DA's office
By James Tressler Chris Durant The Times-Standard
Friday, June 11, 2004

EUREKA -- Allison Jackson, a Humboldt County prosecutor who earlier this year helped get a child molester sentenced to life in prison, has been fired.

Jackson confirmed her firing in the lobby of the District Attorney's Office on Thursday.

"I was told my services were no longer needed," Jackson said.

In a courthouse hallway Thursday, District Attorney Paul Gallegos said the reason for her dismissal was a "personnel matter."

Since all prosecutors are "at-will" employees, they can be dismissed at any time without cause.

Gallegos' office has been crippled the past two years by budget cuts. He and all other county department heads this year had to strip 20 percent from their budgets, a move Gallegos indicated earlier this year would lead to the loss of at least one prosecutor, if not more. Earlier this year long-time prosecutor Nandor Vadas left the office to accept a new post as a federal magistrate in Eureka, a move some speculated would ease the burden of cuts in Gallegos' office.

Jackson's role in the District Attorney's Office in recent years focused mainly on child abuse and sexual assault cases. Last year she successfully prosecuted the case against Mike Hiscox, who in January was sentenced to 165 years in prison after molesting three preteen boys over the course of several years. Jackson also was a member of the county Child Abuse Services Team, which interviews children who are potentially victims of abuse.

In April, Jackson prosecuted a case against Daniel Strow, 36, of Arcata. Strow was arrested by the Arcata Police Department on March 28 and admitted to 10 counts of child molestation against a single victim who was about 8 years old.

Gallegos has been criticized for his handling of a similar case.

Word of Jackson's dismissal spread quickly through the courthouse Thursday. Prosecutors and defense attorneys who worked with Jackson declined to comment officially on her dismissal. Those who did talk unofficially gave a range of opinions on Jackson's abilities as a prosecutor and why Gallegos gave her the ax.

"You'll have to talk to Paul," was one response. "All I can say is she was an excellent attorney. ... That office is a (expletive) mess right now."

But a defense attorney, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "Good. There are those in the defense bar who feel she's less than credible."

One source who would speak on the record was Eureka Police Department Capt. Murl Harpham, a 40-year veteran police officer.

"It's devastating to our officers because they know (Jackson) to be one of the best prosecutors up there and the best sexual assault and child abuse prosecutor," Harpham said. "She was a thorn in the side of defense attorneys because she refused to make deals -- so they're going to be delighted she's gone."