This morning’s Washington Post reports that the Fairfax County Grand Jury could indict Miles Harrison on manslaughter charges as early as today. Harrison, reportedly suffering from nervous collapse at the scene of Dmitry/Chase’s death, later upgraded to a heart attack, remains in a private psychiatric hospital and has not been arrested. Herndon authorities agreed not to serve Harrison with a manslaughter warrant until his release, but Friday Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh said they can’t hold off indefinitely. In the meantime, Herdon police have removed computers, a backpack, prescriptions, life insurance policies and Dmitry’s adoption information from the Harrison’s home and are re-checking information from interviews taken earlier.
Miles Harrison has retained high profile Fairfax attorney Peter D. Greenspun to represent him. Greenspun previously defended Washington DC Sniper John Allen Muhammud, sports announcer Marv Albert, and Potomac, Maryland civic leader and “internet child predator” Rabbi David A Kaye.
The April 2002 Washingtonian rated Greenspun the 14th best lawyer in Washington, DC, just below Ken Starr (#7), Monica Lewinsky’s attorney Plato Cocheris (#9) and Robert Bork (#13). A year and a half later, the Washingtonian named Greenspun one of the top 30 lawyers in the Washington DC metro area (#10) and the top defense attorney in Virgina.
Peter D. Greenspun (Greenspun & Mann). Many of his best-known cases have been defeats—but how do you represent the sniper John Muhammad and win? The Fairfax-based criminal-defense lawyer wins most of his cases you don’t hear about and some you do—as when he got TV sportscaster Marv Albert off virtually scot-free from an assault charge. Somebody has to represent the most despised defendants, and Greenspun ends up with many, frequently at personal cost. For that he deserves much credit. He’s the best criminal-defense lawyer in Virginia and one of the best in the nation.
Greenspun is the past president of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
According to WaPo, Greenspun said he didn’t understand the urgency to bring Harrison to court.
“I have seen some pretty difficult and very tragic situations in 30 years of criminal defense practice,” Greenspun said. “The sadness here is as bad as it gets for Mr. Harrison and his family and friends. This is a good man who has the unwavering support of his entire family. They are all dealing with their grief in this most difficult of times.”
This seems typical of Greenspun’s approach. In a profile published in the November 2007 Mason Law News, Greenspun says that being a defense lawyer gives him the chance to get the help his clients need. “It’s a chance to figure out what went wrong, and get them help. Cases that end with a plea or a conviction can be some of the most satisfying cases because you know they’re going to get help.”
And no doubt, “professional help” for Harrison will play a big part in the defense. Since we really don’t know what’s wrong with Miles Harrison, if anything, staying in the hospital is his first line of defense.
Greenspun can spin all he wants but he knows exactly what’s so urgent about getting Harrison into court: the Russian Bear breathing down the back of the State Department and the State Department breathing down the back of Fairfax County officials. With Harrison hospitalized and now lawyered up with Greenspun, the chance of a quick “settlement” is nil. Look for a protracted investigation and plea bargain down to negligence or some related charge. The real test of a good lawyer is in the penalty, and there is no way leaving a toddler to roast in a car will fly, even with the best defense in Virginia.
Au contraire! In Richmond, VA, Doug Grote, then a YOUTH PASTOR, got off with a slap on the wrist for leaving his daughter to roast in the family van in the church parking lot. His congregation was “behind him 100%” http://www.kidsandcars.org/incidents/heat/news/Pastorleftdaughterincar.html
But did Doug Grote have the Russian government on his tail? There is no way Harrison can walk, but he an get probation or house arrest.
I couldn’t find the case on the link ou sent, but I did find this. What a crock!
http://www.kidsandcars.org/incidents/heat/news/Pastorleftdaughterincar.html
“But did Doug Grote have the Russian government on his tail? There is no way Harrison can walk, but he an get probation or house arrest.”
Indeed. Charges vary when kids die in cars:
“College professor, horse trainer face different fates following tragic events”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20013390/
But there’s no precedent for these particular circumstances.
Lawyers work their magic in these cases. It will be interesting to see how Harrison fares. I appreciate your activism in keeping this case and others out front.
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Hello! I wanted to drop you a quick message letting you know about a new Social Network for Adoptees, called AdopteeNetwork.com.
http://adopteenetwork.com
If you’d like any more information, feel free to contact me personally @ [email protected]. I’d love to discuss how we can work together!
John
FROM Erik L. Smith:
The indictment was for manslaughter, not murder. Thus, the state concedes that it lacks sufficient evidence that the Father premeditated the act. I find it odd that less government interest was directed to the Russian adoptee situation before–when more dastardly and intentional parental acts were committed against Russian adoptees. Regardless of whether the prosecution is right or wrong, this case further shows the perversity of the American people generally and the unwillingness of our government to prevent obvious, pending problems before they occur.
FROM Erik L. Smith:
Improper Adoptee said: “It seems to me if Miles really felt bad about killing the child…, he would take a punishment he deserved, no matter the jail time.”
I interpret that comment as a criticism of Miles hiring a defense lawyer and a prediction that Miles does not intend to plead guilty. But who says Miles won’t take a punishment he deserves? Even when one wishes to plead guilty to a crime or charge, one should obtain defense counsel before doing so to insure fundamental fairness, full knowledge of plea alternatives and conditions, and possible defenses. Simply throwing oneself at the mercy of the government is ill-advised, and the suggestion Miles do so shows the comment’s underlying prejudice against him. Like many non-lawyer defendants, Miles likely does not know what he is actually guilty of and lacks the objectivity to determine a just punishment or proper jail time.
Eric Smith said ” I find it odd that less government interest was directed to the Russian adoptee situation before–when more dastardly and intentional parental acts were committed against Russian adoptees. “
Me too.
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I would also like to say, that if Miles memory was THAT bad, that he would forget about leaving this precious child in a car of posibly 180 degrees as Marley posted, why the hell then did the Adoption Agency consider him competent enough to be a parent to a child?! What mental health tests could he possibly of passed?
it was a tragic accident
Well, well. Miles Harrison is a complete fraud. His whole life represents fraudelent behavior. He is well known in the move consulting industry for his selfish, bully-like behavior. He has demonstrated questionable business practices wherever he has worked. Even his name is a fraud. His real name is Miles Grossberg. Why the name change? Keep digging. He is not stable enough to adopt a child and should never have passed a prudent examination. Hiring an attorney like he has demonstrates to me that he has no intention of facing his actions. He has no intention of facing his actions, he never has! He simply re-invents himself and sets out to swindle the next group of unassuming victims. Shame on you Miles!!!!! Your sentence should be for you to roast in a hot car!
This situation has me fuming..Since sweet Dimitry went to Heaven, I have often been driving and try to imagine how I would not know a child was in the car with me…only a self-centered jerk could forget about his child in a steaming car for 9 HOURS…no thought about that precious boy ALL DAY???? And, someone else had to remind him?? What about Carol? Do she and Miles not even communicate all day long? I would think the mother would check in and see how the day care drop off went…Children should never be placed with people like the Harrisons. This is so very sad.