Dear Editor:

This is about Richard “Dik” Brackett's post-conviction review and request for a new trial. I attended most of the hearings, trial, sentencing and the post-conviction review – all conducted by Judge Horton. Why would anyone suppose he would reverse his own decision?

Dik's arrest failed to solve our drug problem; it made it worse. He was trying to detox people. Drug addiction is a medical problem, not a legal one. The so-called “war on drugs” is a failure.

The state's chief witness, Lhea Sellick, who was used in a sting operation to entrap Dik through a taped conversation, contacted Dik's attorney at the time, David Van Dyke, demanding $20,000 from Dik in exchange for renouncing her charges and not appearing at his trial – this despite the existence of the tape. More meetings and conversations followed.

Dik's new attorney, Jeremy Pratt of Camden, contends that this made Van Dyke a witness at the time he was supposed to be serving as Dik's attorney, and Van Dyke should have recused himself. He didn't, maybe because he'd already accepted $10,000 for the whole trial.

Judge Horton ruled that he didn't think this would have mattered to the jury.

Furthermore, it was Lhea Sellick, not Dik, that brought up sex in the taped conversation. Dik's only interest in Lhea was concern for her welfare and a desire to cure her addiction. She'd been his patient since childhood. Was she called to account for her perjury and attempted conspiracy to commit extortion? No.

Prior to this, Dik had a clean record: 30 years of service in the field of medicine; five tours of duty in Vietnam; and the respect of all his female patients, including a relative and a neighbor of mine. He has been terribly wronged.

He has lost his health, his reputation and the job he loved. His innocent family has suffered. It cost this town its clinic, which is needed now more than ever.

Jeremy Pratt will next take the case to the Maine Supreme Court.

Francis Bredeau
Boothbay Harbor