Fishing winner disqualified after failing lie detector test
Thursday, October 18, 2001
Organisers of a fishing competition in California have disqualified the winner for failing a lie detector test.

James Storm says the 40-pound striped bass he caught during the Rio Vista Bass Festival is legitimate.

It's the first time organisers have used the test. He's hired a lawyer to appeal the decision.

The first prize is a fishing boat worth $19,000.

"It's upsetting, especially when you're not a cheat or liar," Mr Storm says.

His friend, Rick Ring, who witnessed him landing the fish, says he can't believe the decision.

"I know what I saw and in my mind he won the derby and should have won the boat," he says.

"I don't know how accurate lie-detector tests are. They're not admissible in court. The guy's under a lot of pressure. He's a nervous wreck as it is. He shakes when he drinks coffee," he adds.

Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce executive director Denise Rubiaco says: "We wanted honesty and integrity in our events. We wanted to ensure there weren't big fish tales going on.

"This year we decided to get really serious. With the value of the boat, we had decided in advance that we were going to use it no matter what."

Mr Storm's lawyer, James Vaughn of Sacramento, told the San Francisco Chronicle organisers haven't said which questions he failed on the lie detector test.

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