Defense takes aim at witness in Bonilla bribery case

Jan. 25--LAWRENCE -- The defense attorney for suspended Lawrence Police Officer Melix Bonilla wants the personnel file, including all investigative and internal affairs reports, on Jay Jackson, a recently fired police department employee who is the prosecution's "key witness" in the criminal extortion, fraud and conspiracy case against Bonilla.

Jackson served as both the police department's unpaid auxiliary police chief and civilian facilities manager. He was suspended as auxiliary police chief in September and fired as facilities manager after new Mayor Daniel Rivera took office Jan. 2.

In a motion filed yesterday, attorney Alex Cain of Andover, wrote that Jackson was the target of "multiple internal affairs investigations." Cain also wrote he was informed retired Lawrence Police Chief John Romero dropped an internal affairs probe against Jackson for "unlawful promotional practices and sexual harassment" in exchange for him testifying against Bonilla and other members of former Mayor William Lantigua's administration in criminal proceedings.

Jackson "... may have been coerced into making a damaging statement against (Bonilla)," Cain wrote.

Romero, reached for comment yesterday, denied Cain's allegation against him. "There is no truth to that," said Romero, the city's police chief for 15 years who retired in September.

Jackson testified against Bonilla at the Essex County Grand Jury on April 25, 2012. Bonilla was indicted on Sept. 11, 2012. Romero dismissed an internal affairs investigation against Jackson on Dec. 27, 2012, Cain wrote in the motion.

"The Commonwealth's case is predicated almost entirely on the statements of Jay Jackson. Therefore, his credibility will be central to the defendant's case," Cain wrote in the motion.

Cain is seeking all reports, witness statements, records of interviews, notes, documents, charts, photographs, video and audio recordings and Jackson's complete personnel file from the city. The city has until Feb. 20 to turn over the documents or show up in Salem Superior Court and say why they won't.

According to grand jury testimony, Jackson said Bonilla, then deputy police chief, threatened to have him fired if he didn't help Bonilla with an illegal swap of 13 city-owned cars for four Chevrolet Impalas.

Bonilla is facing extortion, fraud and conspiracy charges as a result of the car swap.

Jackson said he feared losing his job; his only source of income and health insurance after he had a heart attack four years prior, according to grand jury minutes.

Under questioning by prosecutor Michael Patten, Jackson said he only helped with the car swap because he feared being fired.

Bonilla's trial is scheduled for April 7.

Earlier this month, Bonilla stopped receiving his $138,000 salary. After his indicted on Sept. 11, 2012, Lantigua allowed Bonilla, his former mayoral campaign manager, to stay on paid administrative leave from the police department.

After taking office, Rivera suspended Bonilla, demoted him to the rank of sergeant and moved to halt his pay. A hearing officer then ruled the city was justified in shutting down the paychecks.

Rivera has said Bonilla's pay issue and demotion is part of a larger campaign pledge to reshape the police department.

Bonilla was indicted at the same time with Leonard Degnan, Lantigua's former chief of staff, who is accused of pressuring a city trash hauler to donate a truck to Lantigua's native Dominican Republic. Degnan's trial is scheduled for March 10.

Jackson could not be reached for comment for this story.

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill.

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