Attempted Murder Charge Dismissed

A Pierce County Superior Court judge Monday dismissed an attempted murder charge against a man who was convicted of the crime in 1993 and spent two years behind bars without being formally charged.

The decision came as a retrial opened for George Lewis Corrado, 38. Judge Donald Thompson granted a defense motion that the new trial would violate constitutional guarantees against double jeopardy in criminal cases, said Corrado’s attorney, Michael Schwartz.

The judge, however, ordered Corrado to remain in custody pending an appeal of the decision by the state. Schwartz said defense lawyers, in turn, are trying to expedite an appeals court review of the decision to hold Corrado.

Corrado was accused of first-degree attempted murder of girlfriend Dorothy Gardner, but was convicted of second-degree attempted murder.

He was charged in July 1993 after Gardner told police he had shot her in the face. The charge was dismissed in September of that year when detectives could not locate her.

After she was found, Corrado was arraigned again in October. But Deputy Prosecutor Tom Moore forgot to refile the charge. The trial judge - J. Kelly Arnold, now a federal magistrate - noted at the time that no formal charge was in the court file.