Moose given go-ahead for book, movie deals about sniper case

ROCKVILE, Md. -- Former Montgomery County police chief Charles Moose reached a deal with the county ethics commission Tuesday that clears the way for him to write a book and pursue a movie project about the sniper investigation.

Moose resigned last month, but his departure did not resolve the legal dispute over his book about the three-week manhunt following the sniper attacks that terrorized the Washington area last fall.

The county ethics commission had argued Moose could not write his book -- even if he had resigned -- saying he would be unfairly profiting from his office. Commission members also worried the chief would reveal confidential information to titillate readers.

The agreement includes a clause stipulating Moose would not disclose any confidential information, and Moose also promised to give the county $4,250 he has already been paid for the movie rights, Karp said. In addition, Moose will drop a federal lawsuit against the county and his appeal of the ethics commission ruling.

"He is free to write the book, he is free to pursue the movie," Karp said.

Satisfying ethics

Elizabeth Kellar, chairwoman of the panel, said the decision satisfies the county's tough ethics provisions.

"We are sending a very clear message that when you are a public official, it comes with certain benefits and certain responsibilities," she said.

Moose faced potential criminal prosecution and disciplinary action if he would have gone ahead with the book without the county's approval. County Attorney Judd Garrett said at the time of Moose's resignation that the county could claim any money Moose made on the book or movie deal before his resignation was effective June 28.

Karp said Tuesday that the $4,250 is all Moose has been paid. According to the agreement, Moose will not be paid for the book until it is published. Karp said he had not received any of his advance, a reported $170,000, to write "Three Weeks in October: The Manhunt for the Serial Sniper."

Moose remains on active duty with a military police detachment of the District of Columbia Air National Guard and was not available for comment.

Sniper suspects John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo have been linked to 20 shootings, including 13 deaths, in Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Washington D.C. Both face the death penalty.

Muhammad's attorneys had filed a motion in the federal lawsuit seeking a postponement of the book release until after their client's October trial. Thomas Mann argued Moose would reveal confidential information to satiate the public's interest in the case.

It was not clear how Moose's decision to drop the lawsuit would affect the motion. Mann did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday.