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Thursday, August 05, 2010

Ind. Courts - "Prosecutor accused of misconduct" [Updated]

Editor Vince Luecke of the Perry County News reports today in a long, detailed story that begins:

INDIANAPOLIS - Perry County Prosecutor Robert Collins faces disciplinary action for sexually charged comments he allegedly made to a former deputy in his office. She was later fired, triggering a disciplinary investigation that remained behind closed doors until this week.

A verified complaint was filed Monday by the Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court, alleging he committed professional misconduct. In it, Commission Executive Secretary G. Michael Witte outlines the complaints investigated against Collins. They include sexual remarks allegedly made to Lyn Hayse, who joined Collins' staff in April 2007 as his chief deputy prosecutor.

Collins issued a written statement Wednesday indicating he would fight to prove his innocence.

"As an employer, I have had to terminate employees. Firing an employee is not easy and never pleasant and causes resentment. When you fire an attorney and they want to get back at you they can file a complaint," he wrote. "I have trust in the disciplinary process. I will be denying the complaint's allegations and addressing the issues at a hearing."

[Updated at $;57 PM] The Evansville Courier & Press has posted this long story, reported by Mark Wilson. It begins:
TELL CITY, Ind. — Perry County Prosecutor Robert Collins is facing a possible disciplinary action for firing a former chief deputy prosecutor allegedly after she spurned his sexual advances.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 5, 2010 03:57 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts