(RSF/IFEX) – In a 29 February 2000 letter to Ronald M. George, chief justice of California, RSF protested “against the imprisonment of Tim Crews, editor of the twice-weekly Sacramento Valley Mirror”. According to RSF, this decision “is a serious violation of press freedom”, in that it “calls into question the basic journalistic principle that reporters […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 29 February 2000 letter to Ronald M. George, chief justice of California, RSF protested “against the imprisonment of Tim Crews, editor of the twice-weekly Sacramento Valley Mirror”. According to RSF, this decision “is a serious violation of press freedom”, in that it “calls into question the basic journalistic principle that reporters have the right to protect their sources”. The Paris-based watchdog organisation calls on George to “use (his) influence to persuade the appeal court to re-examine the Tim Crews case”.
Crews was imprisoned on 26 February. Two days earlier, he was sentenced by Judge Noel Watkins in Tehama County Court, California, to five days in jail, because he had refused to reveal his sources, which was regarded as “contempt of court”. The sentence was confirmed on appeal the next day. Crews had been called as a witness at the trial of a police officer, Dewey Anderson, who was charged with stealing a revolver in 1995. Judge Watkins described the journalist’s refusal to reveal his sources as “obstinate and wrong-headed”, and said his attitude was hindering the officer’s right to defend himself.
In a report published on 8 June 1999, Crews quoted information supplied by two police officers who had made allegations against Anderson. The journalist refused to reveal these officers’ names. Even if Crews is released as scheduled on 1 March, he could be jailed again if he continues to refuse to comply with the court’s demands.
