Nov. 2 2012 — In an Oct. 30 letter, a victims’ rights group announced it no longer supports Lassen County District Attorney Robert Burns in the Lassen County Superior Court judge’s race.

Burns faces Susanville attorney Tony Mallery in the Tuesday, Nov. 6 general election.

Harriet Salarno, chair of Crime Victims United, a victim’s rights group headquartered in Auburn, Calif., said Burns violated the law in his handling of a case in which a 4-year-old Litchfield girl was allegedly raped by a teenaged family friend.

Salarno said her organization worked so hard to pass Marsy’s Law — a constitutional amendment that details a criminal victim’s bill of rights approved by the voters in 2008 — that it cannot tolerate district attorneys who do not follow the law.

Burns acknowledged one of his deputy district attorneys resolved “a sensitive juvenile sexual assault case without having first consulted the victim’s family. This is a plain violation of Marsy’s law. Regrettably, the crime victims’ organization chose to focus on the one case my deputy mishandled rather than the countless number of victims we have assisted through the criminal justice system over the 14 years I have served as district attorney … Nevertheless, it is my office. It is my responsibility ... In conclusion, I remain committed to Marsy’s Law and the protection of victims of crime as your district attorney and in the election of a new superior court judge.”

For the complete story, see the Tuesday, Nov. 6 edition of the Lassen County Times.