Sizing Up Costs
The March 2 article, “Penn Defense Could Rank With County’s Most Costly” by staff writer Glenn F. Bunting, comparing Sagon Penn’s defense costs with the salary of a deputy district attorney presents a distorted picture of the financial cost to the taxpayer for this tragedy.
Mr. Bunting failed to include the cost of the police investigation, reports of which are given to the D.A. for use in prosecution, and the expenses of the D.A.’s office in investigation, retained experts, other lawyers, and staff personnel contributing to the prosecution effort. You itemized defense attorney Milt Silverman’s fees and costs but did not set forth similar costs of prosecution.
It is entirely possible that it may cost as much to defend Sagon Penn as it does to prosecute him.
Isn’t that as it should be?
NELSON P. BRAV
San Diego
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