Delaware News

Having Secured Multiple Life Sentences for the Sexual Abuse of Children, Biden Announces End to Criminal Prosecution of Earl Bradley

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, March 18, 2013



Office remains committed to serving needs of victims and families indefinitely

Georgetown – Following the conviction and lifetime prison sentence for child rapist Earl Bradley, and after successfully defending that conviction on appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court, Attorney General Beau Biden announced today that he has decided to spare the victims who are represented by the remaining indictment against the former Lewes pediatrician by ending that case before it goes to trial.

“Our prosecution of this case has been guided by two goals – first, to make certain that Earl Bradley spends the rest of his life in prison, and second, to ensure that no victim be required to face him again and have to testify in court about the unspeakable crimes he committed against them,” Biden said.  “With his conviction and the Supreme Court’s decision this past September upholding his conviction and sentence of 14 life terms plus 164 years in prison we have ensured that he will never walk out of prison or be in a position to ever harm another child.”

Unlike the first trial against Bradley, which was based on an indictment secured from video evidence of his crimes, the remaining second indictment was based on disclosures that victims made to authorities during interviews at the state’s Child Advocacy Center.  As a result, a trial on these charges would require the young victims and their parents to take the stand and testify publicly, in the presence of Earl Bradley himself, about their abuse.  “We cannot expect or demand that they relive their pain and be victimized all over again,” Biden continued.

“Because Bradley has already received the maximum punishment available under the law – multiple life sentences without the possibility of probation – we have decided that ending the remaining case by withdrawing the indictment is in the best interest of the victims and their families,” said Biden, who met with the victim families last week to discuss the case and his decision.

“While this ends the criminal prosecution of the case, our commitment to the victims and their families does not end,” Biden said.  “My office will ensure that the victims and their families have the support and services they need for as long as they need them.”

Read the April, 2010 media release that announced this indictment at http://www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/media/releases/2010/2ndindictmentbradley.pdf

Read the August, 2011 media release on Bradley’s sentencing to life imprisonment which followed his June, 2011 conviction at http://www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/media/releases/2011/sentencing8-26.pdf.

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Having Secured Multiple Life Sentences for the Sexual Abuse of Children, Biden Announces End to Criminal Prosecution of Earl Bradley

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, March 18, 2013



Office remains committed to serving needs of victims and families indefinitely

Georgetown – Following the conviction and lifetime prison sentence for child rapist Earl Bradley, and after successfully defending that conviction on appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court, Attorney General Beau Biden announced today that he has decided to spare the victims who are represented by the remaining indictment against the former Lewes pediatrician by ending that case before it goes to trial.

“Our prosecution of this case has been guided by two goals – first, to make certain that Earl Bradley spends the rest of his life in prison, and second, to ensure that no victim be required to face him again and have to testify in court about the unspeakable crimes he committed against them,” Biden said.  “With his conviction and the Supreme Court’s decision this past September upholding his conviction and sentence of 14 life terms plus 164 years in prison we have ensured that he will never walk out of prison or be in a position to ever harm another child.”

Unlike the first trial against Bradley, which was based on an indictment secured from video evidence of his crimes, the remaining second indictment was based on disclosures that victims made to authorities during interviews at the state’s Child Advocacy Center.  As a result, a trial on these charges would require the young victims and their parents to take the stand and testify publicly, in the presence of Earl Bradley himself, about their abuse.  “We cannot expect or demand that they relive their pain and be victimized all over again,” Biden continued.

“Because Bradley has already received the maximum punishment available under the law – multiple life sentences without the possibility of probation – we have decided that ending the remaining case by withdrawing the indictment is in the best interest of the victims and their families,” said Biden, who met with the victim families last week to discuss the case and his decision.

“While this ends the criminal prosecution of the case, our commitment to the victims and their families does not end,” Biden said.  “My office will ensure that the victims and their families have the support and services they need for as long as they need them.”

Read the April, 2010 media release that announced this indictment at http://www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/media/releases/2010/2ndindictmentbradley.pdf

Read the August, 2011 media release on Bradley’s sentencing to life imprisonment which followed his June, 2011 conviction at http://www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/media/releases/2011/sentencing8-26.pdf.

# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.