OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY DAVE ARONBERG STATE ATTORNEY June 9, 2017 Stephan LeClainche, Esq. Cohen, Milstein, Sellers & Toll, PLLC 2925 PGA Boulevard, Suite 200 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Dear Mr. LeClainche: We received your letter dated May 26, 2017, that requested a reopening of the investigation into the shooting death of Seth Adams. As we have explained over the phone to you and other representatives of the Adams family on multiple occasions, there are insufficient grounds to do 50, As you know, the decision to close this matter was made by my predecessor, State Attorney Peter Antonacci, in 2012. Justice deserves finality, and we respect the decisions made by previous administrations and give great deference to them. We will always review new evidence that was not considered by the previous administration to ensure the administration of justice. To date, however, no new evidence has been presented in this matter. As prosecutors, it is unethical to file criminal charges when we have no good faith basis that we would succeed at trial. The fact that you were unable even to achieve a civil verdict in your favor ~ which requires a much lower burden of proof -- during the recent federal trial demonstrates why we would not be able to meet our much higher burden of proof Your letter questions the integrity of the investigation conducted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO), and you include the inadmissible opinion of the federal judge in your civil case as proof of the investigation’s inadequacy. Even if true, you fail to recognize that our prosecutions do not get stronger with evidence of a deficient investigation. Quite the contrary, ‘our cases become weaker and harder to prosecute if there are problems with an investigation. You continue to request that an independent investigation and review be completed, but you keep omitting that, in addition to the State Attorney's own investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) did an independent review. The incident review report generated by the FDLE details the independent investigation it conducted. It also explicitly includes its findings that not only was this a reasonable use of force but that the PBSO investigation was sufficient, thorough and in conformace with generally acceptable investigative procedures. 401 North Dixie Highway + West Palm Beach, FL 33401-4209 (561) 355-7100Finally, I strongly disagree with your statement that State Attorney Antonacci’s decisions should be discounted because he was an interim State Attorney appointed by the Governor. Prosecutors are ethically bound to seek justice in each case, regardless of political pressure or party alfiliation ~ and regardless of whether they were appointed or elected, Ihave sympathy for the Adams family as they mourn the tragic death of their son. Absent new evidence, however, the decision of this Office remains the same. Sincerely, BLA) Dave Aronberg, 401 North Dixie Highway + West Palm Beach, FL 33401-4209 (561) 355-7100