Pierce County prosecutor, deputy sued in federal court over alleged 'malicious' prosecution

SEATTLE (AP) — A woman who was charged twice in Pierce County and twice had those charges dismissed has filed a federal lawsuit against the county prosecuting attorney and one of his deputies.

Lynn Dalsing's husband was convicted in 2011 on a child rape charge. Lynn Dalsing was charged with child molestation based on a photograph that prosecutors said showed her on a bed with her daughter. A sheriff's deputy later testified that the photo was not Dalsing, but was from a pornographic series that was circulating on the internet.

Lynn Dalsing says Mark Lindquist directed Deputy Jared Ausserer to maliciously prosecute her in 2010 based on false allegations and deceptive information.

Her lawsuit claims he charged her a second time in 2013 as retaliation for her success in a different civil lawsuit. The Superior Court judge who dismissed those charges in March called it a case of "prosecutorial vindictiveness."

Lindquist did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Dalsing is seeking unspecified damages.