Molestation Trial Moved for Former Council Candidate

The new trial of a former Palmdale City Council candidate accused of child molestation has been transferred to San Fernando Superior Court because of pretrial publicity and a backlog of cases in Lancaster Superior Court.

The trial for Richard Burriss, 42, who is accused of molesting two neighbor girls who were friends of his daughters, was transferred by Lancaster Superior Court Judge Margaret Grignon. His first trial on those charges ended in a hung jury in March.

In February, 1988, sheriff’s deputies arrested Burriss, 40, a community activist who ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 1986 and had taken steps to run again in 1988 but did not enter the contest. He argued that the case against him was motivated by political antagonism on the part of city and county officials.

Crowded Court

Prosecutors agreed to his request for a transfer because of pretrial publicity about Burriss’ statements and the case, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen L. Cooley. The transfer was also intended to alleviate the crowded calendar in Lancaster Superior Court, Cooley said.

The new trial is to begin Sept. 27.

Neither Burriss, who has steadfastly maintained his innocence, nor his attorney could be reached for comment.

Burriss is charged with molesting the girls, a 6-year-old and her 5-year-old sister, on Jan. 30, 1988, allegedly while he played “doctor” and “policeman” games with them in his home. The girls told their mother about the alleged games and she alerted authorities.

The jury in the first trial voted 9-3 for acquittal on one count and 8-4 for acquittal on the other. If convicted on both counts in the new trial, Burriss faces a maximum of eight years in prison.

New Evidence

Prosecutors plan to introduce new evidence based on testimony from other parents who reportedly came forward during and after the first trial with additional allegations of Burriss’ misconduct involving children.

The new allegations were “a major factor” in the decision to retry the case, Cooley said. He said the time that has elapsed could make proving the case difficult, particularly in regard to the testimony of the alleged victims and their memory of the events.