United Press International Charleston, W.Va. Aug. 15, 1987 calif., krishna states Prosecut

United Press International
Charleston, W.Va.
Aug. 15, 1987


calif., krishna states
Prosecutor says Drescher's lawsuit has `wild' allegations
        MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (UPI) _ A $50 million lawsuit filed by a Hare
Krishna claiming mistreatment while in the Marshall County Jail is filled
with wild allegations that will be denied by county authorities, a
prosecutor says.
The lawsuit filed by Krishna devotee and convicted murderer Thomas
Drescher was served Thursday upon the defendants _ Marshall County Sheriff
Donald Bordenkircher and chief deputy Joseph Hummel.
Drescher charges he was stripped to his underwear and kept in a cold
cell during his last 10 days at the jail in January. He was transferred to
the West Virginia Penitentiary to serve a life sentence after being found
guilty of murdering Krishna devotee Charles Saint Denis in 1983.
Marshall County Prosecutor Thomas White, who is representing the
two county law enforcers, said Friday the lawsuit is filled with "wild
allegations."
"Most of them look like things I would imagine the sheriff's
department would be denying," he said.
Bordenkircher had called Drescher an "absolute liar" and said the
inmate was kept in a bare cell because he threatened to commit suicide.
The sheriff also removed any books from the cell, saying Drescher
could eat the pages, become ill and authorities would have to take him to a
hospital, leaving more opportunities for a suicide attempt.
The prosecutor has 30 days to file a response to the suit, which was
filed July 2 in U.S. District Court at Elkins.
Drescher, whose Krishna name is Tirtha Swami, this week was ordered
extradited to California to stand trial for the suspected murder-for-hire of
Steven Bryant, an ex-communicated member of the Krishnas. However, a circuit
judge delayed the effect of the order until Sept. 4, giving the Krishna time
to appeal to the West Virginia Supreme Court.