EFTA00191355 Case 9.08.CV.807381AM Document 2473 Entered on LSD Docket 05/02/2014 Pages of 13 Follow us on Friday, May 2, 2014 | 3:56 p.m Subscribe | Today's paper | Customer care Sign In | Register Palm Beach Daily News the shiny sheet Search Posted: 12:00 a.m. Monday, April 21, 2014 # Appeals court rules against sex offender Attorneys for underage victims seek to overturn 'sweetheart plea.' ## Related By Michele Dargan Daily News Staff Writer Underage victims of billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are entitled to correspondence between federal prosecutors and Epstein's attorneys related to his sweetheart plea deal, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. This is one more step in the fight by victims' attorneys Brad Edwards and Paul Cassell to overturn the secret deal, which saved Epstein from facing serious federal charges and serving significant prison time. If Epstein had been found guilty on federal charges, statutory penalties ranged from 10 years to life in prison. Instead, the sealed pact was part and parcel of Epstein's acceptance of a state plea deal. Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution and soliciting prostitution. He received an 18-month sentence. In a vacant wing of the Palm Beach County Stockade, and was let out on work release six days a week for up to 16 hours a day. Edwards and Cassell represent Jane Doe No. 1 and Jane Doe No. 2, who say the U.S. Attorney's Office violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act by signing the federal non-prosecution agreement in 2007 without notifying the victims. Their case is pending in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach. The 24-page published opinion says U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra did not err in his June 2013 ruling, when he ordered the correspondence turned over to the victims. "Sweetheart plea" "We're now going to get a complete picture of the negotiations that led to this sweetheart plea arrangement," said Cassell, a former federal judge. "We think it will show the part of the discussion to keep the victims in the dark about what was happening. If that's what the correspondence shows, we'll use that as part of our argument for throwing out the plea." Cassell said he anticipates that 500 pages of correspondence should be released early this week. The opinion by the three-judge panel ruled against Epstein's arguments that the correspondence was protected by an attorney's work-product privilege. The court says privilege was waived when attorneys voluntarily sent the correspondence to federal prosecutors during negotiations. "Disclosure of work-product materials to an adversary waives the work-product privilege," the ruling says. http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/local/appels-court-rules-against-sex-offe... 5/2/2014 EFTA00191356 CaSe9:08 cou807136 against Document 2473v.Entered on LSDs Docket 05/02/2014 Page 6 of 13 The ruling also dismissed Epstein's claims that a federal rule of evidence protects his plea correspondence. That rule applies only to defendants who withdraw a guilty plea. Because he pleaded guilty, that doesn't apply, the ruling says. "While respectful of the panel's decision, given issues of overriding importance to the criminal justice system regarding the need for continued confidentiality for communications between defense lawyers and prosecutors, we will be petitioning the court of appeals for further review," said Boston based attorney Martin Weinberg, who represents Epstein. The U.S. Attorney's Office failed to notify victims prior to striking a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein on Sept. 24, 2007, and didn't tell them of the agreement's existence for at least nine months, the ruling says. On June 27, 2008, the U.S. Attorney's Office told the victims that Epstein planned to plead guilty to state charges three days later. But federal prosecutors failed to disclose that his pleas to the state charges arose from his federal non-prosecution agreement and would bar federal charges. Jane Does No. 1 and No. 2, who were, respectively, 12 and 13 at the time they were victimized,received confidential monetary settlements in civil cases. They are among more than two dozen underage girls who filed lawsuits or settled claims against Epstein. All alleged they were lured to his Palm Beach mansion to give him sexually charged massages and/or sex in exchange for money. "A well-connected billionaire got away with molesting many girls," Edwards said. "These girls should at least know how and why he was able to get away with these crimes. This ruling will allow us access to the documents that will provide insight into how that happened. I suspect that the answers revealed by these documents will ultimately allow us to invalidate that agreement and permit prosecution of Mr. Epslein." ## More News ## We Recommend - Appeals-court decision in Epstein case rights a terrible wrong (Palm Beach Daily News) - Memorial service set for former 'Daily News' reporter (Palm Beach Daily News) - Ernest S. Johnston Jr. (Palm Beach Daily News) - Choosing plants? There's always something new (Palm Beach Daily News) - State restripes Royal Palm intersections (Palm Beach Daily News) ## From Around the Web - Eunice “Penny” Jacobs (Palm Beach Daily News) - Bad Neighborhoods: How to Read the Warning Signs Before You Move in (realtor.com) - The 5 Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S. (AARP) - Stunning Photos Of Leonardo DiCaprio's For Sale Home (Lonny Magazine) - Rosie O'Donnell Is Buying Olivia Newton-John's Florida Estate For $5.6 Million... See The Pictures (Lonny) - Andy Griffith's Widow to Raze His Home (AARP) • Supermodel Heidi Klum's Kid Is Growing Up Gorgeous (StyleBistro) ## Comments [7] If you would like to post a comment please Sign in or Register 2 Comment(s) Comment(s) 1-2 of 2 • Posted by THEPALMBEACHER1 at 3:02 p.m. Apr. 21, 2014 • Report Abuse Its inconceivable to see articles like this!! USUALLY, one gets charged with statutory rape, child molestation, etc., and its Guaranteed that they will do prison time.. Now, If your a "BILLIONAIRE", you can BUY yourself freedom, and throw money to the victims and say adios!!! Its OBVIOUS, payments, kickbacks, DONATIONS, financial promises are all part of this deal. Where is the JUSTICE SYSTEM? Where is the State Attorney, The JUDGES? People go to jail for petty thefts, illegal drugs, assault, battery, domestic violence, but this case is PROOF that the LEGAL system can be BOUGHT for the right price!!! Its OBVIOUS this individual has a severe mental problem, a sexual predator, who would ship young girls like human trafficking back and forth via his private jets.. Its no different than "THE BACKPAGE" girls being exploited by their pimps http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/local/appalais-court-rules-against-sex-offe... 5/2/2014 EFTA00191357 ## Case 9.08.CV.86738.AWV Document 2473.Entered on LSDS Docket 05/02/2014 Page 7 of 13 being housed in cheap motels along federal hwy for GUY LIKE THIS to get their sexual perversions satisfied!! Read the entire case and see that young girls flowed thru Palm Beach South Ocean Blvd and South County Rd ,to his El Brillo "MANSION OF PERVERSION" with this guy as its Master!! For people to think "Palm Beach" has the "Elite", the "Upper Crust" of society, it also is home to some of the worst thieves, sexual predators, financial criminals the world has ever known!! Mr. Epstein has Billions of Dollars, and can afford the Best Criminal Attorneys, yet Can't or WON'T get Professional Mental Help with his sexual desires and fascination with young girls. And the Court systems goes along with him!!! Unbelievable.. - Posted by Adios at 3:12 p.m. Apr 22, 2014 - Report Abuse I agree with the post by the palm bleacher. This guy is a perv and needs to sit out of society. When listening to his depositions, he pretended to be insulted by the questions being asked of him and his lawyer shut it down quickly. What remains to be seen is if the soon to be released files will bear the fruit we all hope it does. My worry is that the tracks will be covered and he will not get his due. His opinion of himself allows him to think he did nothing wrong and these BABIES he molested were not of his place in society and were simply objects to be thrown away. What would he think if someone did that to his BABIES if he has any? I can bet that the full force of his money would work against whomever played with his kids...bloody gross! 2 Comment(s) Comment(s) 1-2 of 2 p=recruemedialc&type=gif&segment= 84&add=true http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/local/appalas-court-rules-against-sex-offe... 5/2/2014 .