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Crime & Punishment

By K.C. Johnson

The Chronicle reports that Michael Burch was recently arrested on charges of rape. Burch is the same man arrested for rape after a February 2007 party at a house rented by members of Duke?s predominately African-American Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. The Chronicle reminded us that ?police had found marijuana, cocaine and Oxycontin in the house? at which the February 2007 party was held. Burch, who is not a Duke student, is African-American; his February 2007 accuser, who was a Duke student, is white. Neither the Chronicle nor the N&O revealed the race of Burch?s second accuser.After his February 2007 arrest, Burch was held on a $50,000 bond. It was hard to miss the disparity between this figure and the amount ex-Nifong boss and current Durham judge Ronald Stephens assigned to the falsely accused lacrosse players?$400,000, with a requirement for posting the entire amount in cash, rather than (as Burch received) a 10% bond...continue to full post

Full post as published by Durham-in-Wonderland on November 30, 2008 (boomark / email).