« Ind. Courts - "New science shows Southern Indiana woman didn't kill son, judges told" | Main | Courts - "Michigan Supreme Court rules homelessness not a defense for sex offender failing to register" »

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Ind. Gov't. - "Curry raises questions by dropping OmniSource charges"

The IndyStar's Carrie Ritchie has the long front-page story today, that begins:

When Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry won the election in November, he said he was "taking down the 'for sale' sign" from the prosecutor's office.

But Wednesday, it was Curry who was raising eyebrows and facing scrutiny. The prosecutor announced he was dropping charges in a high-profile case against a local metal recycling company -- and that the company, OmniSource, had agreed to donate $300,000 to law enforcement.

Curry said the money will help cover the cost of the nearly two-year investigation, and that 20 percent, or $60,000, will go to the prosecutor's office.

The Star has an accompanying editorial that begins:
Let's be sure we have this straight.

A company is hauled through a criminal probe lasting more than two years, the charges get dropped, the authorities agree to return $279,000 in confiscated money, and the company's owners for all their righteous indignation donate $300,000 to the county.

Welcome to the strange case of OmniSource, large recycler of metals and target of a crusade against stolen-goods trafficking that embarrassed the police and divided prosecutors.

Earlier ILB entries on Prosecutor Curry include:

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 14, 2011 09:06 AM
Posted to Indiana Government