Retrial in 1995 rape may be near end

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A defense motion to dismiss was denied Tuesday afternoon as a Yakima man's second rape trial neared its end.

After prosecutors concluded their case against Ted Bradford with testimony from the lead detective, defense attorney Felix Luna called an expert witness who raised concerns about Bradford's confession to police.

Bradford was arrested in 1996 in connection with the Sept. 29, 1995, rape of a then-25-year-old woman at her Barge Street home.

He was convicted of the crime and served a prison sentence of about nine years. He won a new trial when a judge agreed that retested DNA evidence might have swayed the jury in his favor.

The DNA was recovered from a mask that was placed on the victim's face and then left at the scene. It does not match Bradford, but prosecutors say other evidence points to him as the suspect.

His case is being handled by attorneys from Innocence Project Northwest, based in Seattle.

Detectives interviewed him after learning that he had been arrested several months after the rape in connection with lewd conduct in the same neighborhood. The jury was not advised of that conviction.

Toward the end of nearly nine hours of intermittent questioning, he provided a tape-recorded confession.

The defense contends that he was pressured by police and that detectives offered details that influenced his confession.

Richard Leo, a San Francisco researcher and university professor who specializes in police interrogation techniques, testified that the interview featured many of the attributes found in false confessions.

Among other points, detectives told him he would not leave until they had secured the information they needed and did not provide him any food during the day.

The lead detective, Officer Joe Scherschligt, agreed that he told Bradford at least once that his "goose was cooked," but he said he conducted the interview in his regular calm manner.

Bradford was read his constitutional rights several times before agreeing to provide the taped statement.

The defense is expected to close its case today by calling Bradford's ex-wife. Luna said in court that he was waiting to talk with Bradford about whether he would testify.

Because Bradford has already served his time, an innocent verdict would allow him to avoid registering as a sex offender.

* Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.