SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-
An appeals court has removed a prosecutor from trying a rape suspect because she wrote a crime novel about a remarkably similar case.
Deputy District Attorney Joyce Dudley’s desire to see her book succeed is so strong that she may not treat defendant Massey Haraguchi fairly, the 2nd District Court of Appeal said in a decision issued last week.
“Dudley will garner no laurels, and this case will not generate favorable media publicity for her book, if she enters into a negotiated settlement,” the court said.
In both the real-life case and the book, a woman claims to have been sexually assaulted after being given an intoxicating drug.
The court said Dudley’s self-published novel, “Intoxicating Agent,” had enough similarities to suggest Dudley is relying on the case for plot lines.
Haraguchi’s attorney had asked for Dudley’s removal.
In court papers, Dudley argued that her book, released last January, does not describe “any events or details of the case” involving Haraguchi. She said the book would not affect her handling of the case.
