Guilty Plea in Informant Case Raises Questions About Witness Protection

Strategic Insights -

Robert Jordan, a 28-year-old from Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to drug charges on Tuesday, marking a significant development in a case that has raised concerns about witness protection. Jordan's guilty plea comes after he claimed to have outed a confidential police informant, Kevin D'Souza, who was working with the Kingston detective on a controlled drug buy. The 16-year-old suspect, Joshua Bradshaw, is accused of stabbing D'Souza over 20 times in a brutal attack. The case has sparked questions about the effectiveness of witness protection programs and the potential risks to informants.

Key Takeaways:

  • Robert Jordan pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, resisting arrest, and tampering with evidence on Tuesday.
  • Jordan's guilty plea comes after he claimed to have informed a Kingston detective that Kevin D'Souza was working as an informant.
  • D'Souza was stabbed over 20 times by 16-year-old suspect Joshua Bradshaw, who is Jordan's cousin.
  • The incident occurred during a controlled drug buy arranged by the Kingston detective, which was part of an investigation involving a confidential informant.
  • Jordan has stated that he believed the informant in the case was Kevin D'Souza, but his plea agreement makes no reference to his involvement in the homicide case.
  • Jordan is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21 and will also plead guilty to additional drug charges related to the September 7 drug transaction.
  • The arrest papers do not identify the confidential informant, raising concerns about witness protection and the potential risks to informants.

Statistics:

  • Jordan was found to have over $1,212 in cash and a cell phone during the traffic stop.
  • The controlled drug buy was set up by Kingston detectives Ed Palka and Richard Kotchik using a confidential informant.
  • Jordan was immediately arraigned on traffic-related charges, but not on charges connected to the drug sale until December.
  • The case has sparked questions about the effectiveness of witness protection programs and the potential risks to informants.

Sources:

  • [Times Leader, "Man who claims to have outed police informant pleads guilty", January 18, 2006]
  • [Court papers from the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, 2006]
  • [Interview with David Weiss, Times Leader staff writer]