Pubdate: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 Source: Times-Picayune, The (LA) Copyright: 2003 The Times-Picayune Contact: http://www.nola.com/t-p/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/848 Author: Manuel Torres INFORMANT FILES SUIT AGAINST EX-JUDGE He Sees Bodenheimer As Threat, Lawyer Says The FBI informant on whom Ronald Bodenheimer conspired to plant drugs has sued the former Jefferson Parish judge, claiming a "continued pattern of harassment" that disrupted his livelihood and caused him to fear for his life. Coming out publicly for the first time, Eric Michael Boe said in a lawsuit filed Monday that Bodenheimer used "threatening phone calls," had him falsely arrested and was "framing him for a felony crime involving drugs." The lawsuit was filed in 24th Judicial District Court, where Bodenheimer served until his arrest in June. The lawsuit comes three weeks after Bodenheimer pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to plant drugs on Boe, among other crimes, as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Bodenheimer, who faces up to 42 months in prison, is scheduled to be sentenced July 9. Boe, who works at a Metairie auto repair shop, said Tuesday that he could not discuss details of the suit or his involvement in the federal investigation because the probe is ongoing. "I'm exercising my constitutional right to file suit against Ronald Bodenheimer for crimes that were committed against me," Boe said. "I'll have much more to say after July 9." Boe's attorney, Sam Dalton, said his client was not satisfied with Bodenheimer's plea and filed the suit because he is still concerned about his safety. "He's not satisfied that Bodenheimer is through with him," Dalton said. "Now everybody knows, if something happens to (Boe), who did it." Bodenheimer's attorney, Eddie Castaing, said Boe's suit was "unfortunate" and that his client did not represent any threat. "This (suit) will only interfere with an ongoing federal investigation and would not be productive for Mr. Boe or the government," Castaing said. He said the conspiracy to plant the drugs "occurred more than a year ago, and Mr. Boe has been perfectly safe. He's in no danger." Boe, who lives near Bodenheimer's Venetian Isles Marina in eastern New Orleans, complained about drug and zoning violations at the business and was collaborating with federal investigators, according to federal records that only recently have identified Boe by name. Federal sources and court records indicate that Boe started collaborating with the FBI in the summer of 1999, about two years before secret wiretaps caught Bodenheimer talking on the telephone about planting drugs on Boe. According to Bodenheimer's plea, in the summer or fall of 2001 the former judge discussed with a Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputy a plan to have Boe falsely arrested on drug possession charges. In early 2002, Bodenheimer began discussing a plan to plant illegal drugs on Boe with a New Orleans police officer and with Slidell mechanic Curley Chewning, a common acquaintance of Bodenheimer and Boe. Chewning, authorities said, planted three pills of the prescription painkiller OxyContin in the glove compartment of Boe's truck April 19, 2002, while the vehicle was under FBI surveillance. Chewning, who pleaded guilty the same day he and Bodenheimer were indicted in July, finished serving a six-month sentence in a halfway house this month. In his suit, Boe contends Bodenheimer sought to "disrupt (his) life, inflict emotional distress . . . impose a state of terror upon his mind and . . . deprive him of the enjoyment of life." Boe is seeking compensation for damages including psychological and psychiatric trauma, fear of death and loss of earnings. Dalton, however, said by the time a judgment is rendered, his client is unlikely to collect any payments. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart