Delaware justices hear more arguments in appeal of convicted pediatrician

The attorney for a pediatrician serving multiple life sentences for sexually abusing many of his young patients told the Delaware Supreme Court that police carried out a search warrant “not in good faith.”

The legal team for Earl Bradley had a second opportunity Wednesday to present their appeal before the state’s highest court.  Three justices heard arguments in June.  This time, five court officers oversaw the 40-minute hearing. 

Bradley’s attorney Robert Goff said police and law enforcement “committed essentially a bait and switch” when they sought a warrant for medical files at Bradley’s Sussex County office compound by exceeding the warrant’s limitations.  The warrant, according to Goff, allowed for search of a specific building for medical evidence specific to eight of Bradley’s patients.  Goff maintained that once police got to the scene they located photos and videos recorded by Bradley himself of sexual assaults of children. 

“This was a search not in good faith, your honor, in a legal sense,” Goff told the court. 

Deputy Attorney General Paul Wallace said one detective knew only of one building, and that the detective properly paused the search and sought a second warrant when he came upon evidence of the crimes. 

“This was an appropriate warrant, properly executed,” Wallace said. 

Bradley was arrested in late 2009.  He was convicted following a one-day bench trial last year after waiving a jury trial, and received his sentence in August 2011.