—
Ted White Jr.’s life hasn’t been his own for more than 10 years. The former Aurora man has been caught in a horrible nightmare where the supposed good guys wind up being the bad guys.
Now he finds there’s no honor among the City Council of Lee’s Summit.
The damage to his character and the legal atrocities suffered by White would fill a book — and probably will some day.
White, who now lives in Utah, was falsely convicted of sexually abusing a young girl. Five years of his life were taken from him while he wrongly was forced to sit in prison.
On July 8, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Kansas City ruled that a former Lee’s Summit detective violated White’s constitutional rights by lying and manipulating evidence to get White convicted. Richard McKinley, the detective, had been having an affair with White’s wife while investigating the abuse allegations against White. Lee’s Summit’s police chief even knew of the affair. McKinley, released from his job last year, has never been charged with any wrongdoing.
In 2006, the Lee’s Summit City Council unanimously agreed that in exchange for being dropped as a defendant, the city would pay any judgment brought against McKinley.
That bill — in the amount of $16 million — is now due.
Instead of making good on its word, the city is refusing to honor the contract based on a city ordinance that city officials say bars the city from paying judgments against anyone who violated the “rights and privileges of a person.”
During a rally held last week, White told the council: “My life was taken away by a city employee. I want this to be an opportunity for you to make it right. I expect you to pay the bill.”
This is a case where we think White is owed every penny. He spent five years behind bars because of a corrupt city employee.
The city signed the agreement, and now it is trying to hide behind a city ordinance.
White is headed back to federal court, where we hope he gets a successful judgment.
Lee’s Summit city leaders should hang their heads in shame. Apparently their signature on a legal contract is no good.
Opinion
Related Photos
-
In our view
Discussion
In our view: Make it right
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Santorum's Achilles' ear
Rick Santorum knocked everyone for a loop this week, not just with his victory in Missouri but with the landslide size of the thing.
-
Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
The late American middle class struggled for decades to keep pace with an American dream slipping from its grasp.
-
Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
-
Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
-
Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
-
Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
-
Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
-
Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
-
Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
-
James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
