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Thursday, September 08, 2011
Ind. Gov't. - "Grand jury inquiry begins today into case of Union County employees"
Pam Tharp reports today in the Richmond Palladium-Item:
LIBERTY, Ind. -- A grand jury will hear evidence beginning today on allegations made against Union County employees and officials by a recent Indiana State Board of Accounts audit.ILB: Use of grand juries is fairly infrequent in Indiana state courts. See this ILB entry re the Carmel High School cases.The specific targets of this grand jury are unknown. The State Board of Account audit of Union County for 2008-09 released in January accuses highway supervisor Wanda Hartman and highway employee Rick Crowder of ghost employment in the construction of Hartman's home. The pair are also accused of using highway equipment on her home construction project, according to the audit. Hartman was conditionally reappointed as highway supervisor in January.
Former commissioners Gary Davis, Allen Paddock and Larry Gulley, former Auditor Pat Hensley, and current commissioners Paul Wiwi and David Woeste also were cited for paying personal cell phone bills, which the audit said included numerous personal calls and lacked documentation as to the cost of the reimbursed calls. The state said $1,807 was owed for calls made between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009. * * *
Union Circuit Court has allowed two days on its calendar for the grand jury proceedings, which are not open to the public. The glass in courtroom's doors will be covered to ensure privacy for the grand jury inquiry, the first one here since 1996.
The court has summoned 30 residents as possible jurors, according to the jury order. A grand jury is composed of six members and an alternate who will hear evidence, question witnesses and decide if any criminal charges are filed.
The court and the prosecutor are the legal advisers to the grand jury. At least five jury members must vote for and sign a "true bill" of indictment for criminal charges to be filed.
Clerk of Court Sue Ray confirmed her office has sent a number of subpoenas to possible witnesses, but said she didn't count them.
Special Prosecutor Melvin Wilhelm asked Union Circuit Judge Matthew Cox to call a grand jury after an Indiana State Police investigation into the audit's allegations was completed last month.
The State Board of Accounts sent the 2008-09 audit to Union County Prosecutor Ronald Jordan to consider for possible criminal charges. Jordan requested a special prosecutor be named because the audit allegations involved county personnel.
On Tuesday, Williams cautioned any county commissioners who might have been called to testify that grand jury proceedings are "sacrosanct."
"Don't discuss your testimony with anyone else," Williams said.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 8, 2011 09:32 AM
Posted to Indiana Government