Does these statements make sense to anyone?????
The dismissal came "not because she's innocent but because she is sick,"
attorney general's office spokesman Nathan Barankin told CNN.
"I have always had faith that the truth would win out and justice would be
served - and it has been," Dunn said in a written statement.
Charges against HP's Dunn dropped
Dunn avoids jail time as judge throws out charge against ex-HP chair, citing
her battle with cancer.
By Rob Kelley, CNNMoney.com staff writer March 14 2007: 3:42 PM EDT
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A state judge in California Wednesday dropped
the charges against ex-Hewlett-Packard chair Patricia Dunn, who was
accused of wire fraud in the company's boardroom spying scandal.
Dunn originally faced four felony charges and jail time in the case.
Former Hewlett Packard Board chairperson Patricia Dunn
Three other defendants - Kevin Hunsaker, Ronald DeLia and Matthew
Depante - pleaded "no contest" to the wire fraud charge, a misdemeanor in
California.
Earlier today the California Attorney General's office issued an incorrect press
release stating that defendants would enter guilty pleas to the wire fraud
charges.
Hunsaker is HP's former senior lawyer. DeLia is a private detective and owner
of Outsourcing Solutions. Depante is a co-owner of Action Research Group,
which is alleged to have surreptitiously obtained and sold confidential phone
records.
DeLia and Depante were hired by HP in the boardroom probe.
The court did not accept the pleas of the other three defendants and offered
to dismiss the charges against them if they met two conditions. By Sept. 12
they must serve 96 hours of community service, and complete any court-filed
restitution requests made by victims.
The court dismissed Dunn's charge Wednesday due to her ongoing battle with
ovarian cancer, according to the attorney general's office.
The dismissal came "not because she's innocent but because she is sick,"
attorney general's office spokesman Nathan Barankin told CNN.
Dunn had breast cancer in 2000 and melanoma in 2002, and was diagnosed
with ovarian cancer in 2004 and is still battling it. She also underwent
extensive surgery last year after doctors discovered a malignant tumor in her
liver.
"I have always had faith that the truth would win out and justice would be
served - and it has been," Dunn said in a written statement.
The dismissal of charges in this manner "does not happen terribly often but
this is something that the court came up with on its own," Barankin said.
However, the California attorney general's office "strongly suggested we do
this," he added.
Dunn's arrest will remain on her record, according to Barankin.
As HP chairwoman, Dunn initiated two separate investigations - one in 2005
and one in 2006 - into which member of the board of directors had leaked
private HP information to the media.
It was later alleged that the probe involved questionable practices, including
pretexting - obtaining personal confidential information through false
pretenses - to spy on HP directors, journalists and employees. The allegations
sparked state and federal investigations.
Dunn resigned from both her role as chair and from the board after the scandal
became public last September. Mark Hurd, HP's current CEO, replaced her as
chairman of the board.
Dunn was originally charged with four felony counts: conspiracy, wire fraud,
stealing computer data, and using personal ID information without permission.
In December, the five defendants were offered a plea deal reducing the state
felony charges to misdemeanors, in exchange for guilty pleas.
Although September was a rocky month for HP, its stock actually rose a bit
that month, ending at $36.69. It has since climbed to nearly $40 as HP
continues to execute strongly in the PC and printer markets.
HP (up $0.29 to $39.84, Charts) shares rose 0.6 percent in mid-afternoon
trade Wednesday
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