New trial ordered for Fallon man in prison for child molestation
Friday, May 14, 1999 | 7:56 a.m.
District Court Judge Dan Papez of Ely ruled that John Wright did not get a fair trial in 1993.
The judge said Wright's defense attorney, now Churchill County District Judge David Huff, "committed a multitude of errors" that probably would have resulted in acquittal during Wright's three-day jury trial.
Wright is serving two life terms in prison on two counts of child sexual assault involving a 7-year-old girl.
He has maintained his innocence since he was accused of molesting the girl in 1992 - 11 days after he separated from his ex-wife Nativdad Reeser.
Wright claims his ex-wife threatened to ruin his life during their bitter divorce and convinced the child to make the allegations to police.
Judge Papez said that Huff, who was Wright's court-appointed attorney, failed to contact witnesses who had relevant information to the case. He said that Huff failed to obtain the victim's medical records or investigate prior allegations that Wright's ex-wife abused her stepson.
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