Court rejects attempt to get evidende thrown out in sexual abuse case

An Iowa prisoner’s attempt to get evidence against him thrown out has fallen short. John David Johnson, an inmate in the Anamosa State Prison, filed a lawsuit trying to overturn his 1990 Scott County conviction on sexual abuse charges. His primary target: the psychologist who met him after court-ordered counseling. That psychologist, Dr. Phillip Reed, ended up providing evidence that helped lead to Johnson’s sex abuse conviction. Johnson, who is working as his own lawyer, accused the doctor of “breach of contract.” The Court of Appeals rejected Johnson’s arguments because they came too late, and because, the justices said, Johnson failed to present evidence of the psychologist’s breach of confidentiality. The Court said Johnson’s status as his own lawyer was no excuse for failing to meet deadlines or evidence rules.