Prosecutor has high standards, is honorable man

To the editor:

Wesley Wright's Dec. 12 letter engaged in personal attacks on our prosecutor, Morley Swingle, over his decision to charge the McDonald girl with careless and imprudent driving in the accident which killed her sister. Wright went so far as to suggest Swingle is evil and abusing the law to inflict further pain.

While I might not always agree with Swingle, the one constant I have found is that Swingle demands the highest standards of professionalism and ethical behavior.

I think we have a rush to conclusions here. The young girl has only been charged. Whether or not she is guilty and what punishment she might face will be decided by a jury, a judge or by her if a plea agreement is reached.

No one denies the pain this young lady and her family feels and will have to live with for the rest of their lives. However, that does not mean she should not have to answer for her actions. If you take Wright's proposition to its broadest, a young boy who murdered his parents should not be charged because he is an orphan. That is ridiculous.

Swingle does not need me to defend his character. He has put years of his life on the record as prosecutor. Nevertheless, I will speak when supposedly well-meaning folks defame him. Those people would better help their friends by prayer and comfort than by spreading unfounded venom on a decent and honorable man.

MICHAEL H. MAGUIRE

Johnson, Montgomery & Maguire

Cape Girardeau