REDDING — The Shasta County
District Attorney's Office wants additional information from California Highway
Patrol investigators before deciding whether to file possession of child
pornography charges against a CHP officer already charged with having a cache
of illegal guns, explosives, drugs and stolen driver's licenses at his Anderson
area home.
But Redding defense attorney Joe Gazzigli, who represents CHP officer Gerald "Gary" Roland Harris, 45, said today prosecutors have told him child porn charges are sure to be filed later this month.
"They told me they are filing," he said following a brief court proceeding for his client, who remains on leave from the CHP.
Although Gazzigli said he has not been provided with evidence in the pending child porn case since it's not been filed, he said a photo of a young girl in a "compromising position" and another photograph depicting a sex act among a young boy and a young female apparently were found by investigators on one of Harris' computers.
Deputy District Attorney Rachel Donahou declined after court to reveal the nature of the pending charges or to confirm that new charges will definitely be filed.
"I intend to (file additional charges), but I can't guarantee it," she said.
Harris was in Superior Court today for the setting of a preliminary hearing on his already filed criminal case, but retired Superior Court Judge Anthony Anderson agreed to put it off for the third time. Scheduling was reset for July 23.