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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Ind. Courts - More on: "Indiana Supreme Court Suspends Judge Accused of Theft"

Updating this ILB entry from Oct. 14th that reported that Knox County Bicknell City Court Judge David Andrew Moreland had been suspended, effective immediately, and included this quote from the Evansville C&P:

BICKNELL, Ind. — A Knox County judge and his wife were arrested this morning on accusations they stole thousands of dollars worth of traffic ticket fines from the court's account.

Bicknell City Judge Andrew Moreland, 45, and his wife, Cindy Moreland, 38, turned themselves in at the Knox County Jail and were then released on bond, Indiana State Police said. They are each facing five counts of theft, a class D felony.

Mike Grant of WTHI TV 10, Terre Haute, reported last evening:
BICKNELL, Ind. (WTHI) - A small southern Indiana community has learned the cost of returning order to its city court.

The Bicknell City Court has been closed for two weeks.

The State Supreme Court shut down the operation when City Judge Andrew Moreland and his wife, Cindy, were accused of five counts each of theft for allegedly taking $20,000 from court funds.

City officials said the closed court is an inconvenience to local residents and money from fines and court costs are no longer staying in town.

"We need our court back as soon as possible. That's the way I feel," Bicknell Mayor Jon Flickinger said. "It's putting the hammer on us because the local people now have to go to their courts in Vincennes down there."

The court operation will be more costly when a new judge is seated.

The city will have to pay both the suspended Judge Moreland and his replacement's salary.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 29, 2009 09:26 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts