11262012 - News Article - Deadline extended for guilty plea in Portage slaying

Deadline extended for guilty plea in Portage slaying

Northwest Indiana Times

Bob Kasarda
November 26, 2012 - 6:30 pm

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/deadline-extended-for-guilty-plea-in-portage-slaying/article_9fd3c09b-85c8-5a3e-926b-7b636a6920ba.html

VALPARAISO | A Jackson Township man charged in his estranged wife's slaying now has until Dec. 6 to accept a plea agreement.

A judge extended the deadline Monday after Fredrick Cashner Jr. declined to take action on an offer to plead guilty to murder in exchange for a prison sentence of 45 years.

The murder charge carries a potential sentence of 45 to 65 years.

Cashner has no prior criminal history and likely would not receive more than 55 years if found guilty at trial, Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek said after the court hearing.

Cashner is accused of killing his estranged wife, 50-year-old Cynthia Cashner, on April 24, 2011, by firing at least eight bullets into her body with a high-powered semiautomatic rifle.

Cynthia Cashner was found dead on an air mattress after police received a 911 call about 10:25 p.m. from the Mystic Moon Herbal Shoppe, 5830 U.S. 6, Portage, which she owned.

Dispatchers reportedly heard faint breathing on the line and nothing else, though on second review, detectives later heard a male voice in the background say, "It's too late," followed by three or four gunshots, police said.

If Cashner does not accept the proposed plea agreement, his case will go trial Jan. 7 before Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford.

11252012 - News Article - When Police Ignore The Law

 

 

Police don’t always follow the law when it comes to public information

Northwest Indiana Post Tribune

November 24, 2012 

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/16389019-418/police-dont-always-follow-the-law-when-it-comes-to-public-information.html

Some they do and some they don’t

And some you just can’t tell

Supertramp

“Goodbye Stranger”

Any ordinary person should be able to walk into any police department in the state and find out what’s going on in their community, law enforcement-wise.

Indiana’s Public Access Law requires law enforcement agencies to keep a list of all “suspected crimes, accidents or complaints” and list specific facts that must be included in that daily log.

This list “shall be made available for inspection and copying” to any member of the public, the law states.

But it’s not one of the laws police agencies fully abide. Asking to see a daily log can be met with cooperation, but more often questions, challenges and even a rude rebuff.

Most police departments in Lake and Porter counties follow some aspects of the law. Others appear to ignore the requirement altogether.

In that vast gray area in between, the information provided at the front counters of a sampling of area departments varies from a detailed account to a single terse word.

For example, when a rural Porter County man chased home invaders down U.S. 30 to Hobart’s retail corridor on Aug. 8, a series of events, involving multiple police agencies, followed: a car crash, foot pursuits, gunfire and the apparent suicide of one of the suspects. Three people were handcuffed and stashed in squad cars in full view of hundreds of shoppers, diners and motorists. The suspects were taken to the Hobart Police Department and held there until charges were filed in Porter County.

In their daily log, Hobart police described the entire event as “shooting.” Other arrests and calls contained in the department’s daily log are similarly brief and vague.

By contrast, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department’s log lists complete information about the complainant, the type of call, which officers responded and how it was resolved. A simple dispatch to check on the legality of a man digging a well on his own property warranted a full paragraph. Lake County’s only omission is ages of victims.

When involved in a high-profile case, such as the “shooting,” Hobart police limit release of information. Detectives often refuse to provide names of those arrested until the person has been formally charged in court.

In the days after the “shooting” in Hobart, Lt. David Grissom flatly refused to provide names of the three suspects in custody, saying the case was still being investigated. The Post-Tribune then asked to see a copy of the department’s jail sheet, which by law must include all arrests and summons, with details of charges, officers involved and circumstances. But City Attorney Anthony DeBonis said the department’s jail sheet would not include the suspects’ names because they were not arrested. Other police agencies acknowledged the suspects were being held at the Hobart jail.

Indiana Public Access Counselor Joseph Hoage, an appointee of the governor, said Hobart was wrong to deny the information.

“If they are arrested or summoned, then there’s a string of information that has to be provided in 24 hours,” Hoage said.

“Even if they were trying to get cute by saying the Hobart police didn’t arrest them, they still took them to the jail or lockup. I don’t know how they’d justify not releasing the names after 24 hours,” Hoage said.

Renowned defense attorney Larry Rogers, who represents one of the suspects in the Aug. 8 home invasion, agrees Hobart misconstrued the facts.

“They were absolutely arrested,” Rogers said. “They may be trying to split hairs between getting arrested and being in custody, but police don’t have to tell somebody they’re under arrest for them to be arrested,” Rogers said.

In addition, Hobart’s daily log entry of “shooting” is clearly not in compliance with the law, Hoage said.

Chief Jeff White did not return messages left by the Post-Tribune seeking comment.

Some that do

Lake County Sheriff’s police make a daily log available at the Bureau of Information on the second floor of the sheriff’s building. The information includes everything required by law except ages, written in plain language, easy to read and understand. Sheriff John Buncich’s log is the clearest and most available in the area.

 

The Gary Police Department maintains a daily bulletin available at the records desk on the first floor of the Public Safety Facility. A member of the public can view contents of the folder, which includes printouts of police calls and case numbers. If a report is needed, clerks can locate it by the number provided. Front desk personnel, officers and others within the police station use the bulletin to help the public and also to locate information they need in the course of their work.

The Griffith Police Department keeps a log and faxes it daily to reporters, but deletes victims’ names and other information that is required by law. Department spokesman Detective Lt. Matthew Argadine said he followed the established practice, but would review Lake County Sheriff’s daily log and make adjustments.

“We certainly want to do it the right way,” he said. The log is posted on a clipboard at the entrance of the police station daily.

The Porter County Sheriff’s Department provides a stack of daily reports, a practice that has continued for more than 30 years.

Reporters can read through accounts of burglaries, arrests, batteries and other calls for service. Only proprietary information is deleted.
Department spokesman Sgt. Larry LaFlower said he’s not aware of anyone except media representatives requesting to see the reports, but his office is willing to assist anyone.

“We get people coming in asking to see information about a certain person or an address. Our reporting system is really good, we can query a person, an address or even the unit number that went to a call. So when people ask for that kind of information, we are able to give it to them,” he said.

LaFlower also releases a daily roster of everyone brought to the Porter County Jail.

The Valparaiso Police Department makes a log available, but it’s in code. A man behind the counter at the police station entrance last month amiably provided a printout for all calls in a 24-hour period. The list shows the dates and times, the address, but the type of call and how it was resolved — such as an arrest — are not included.

Chief Michael Brickner said anyone who needs more detailed information on any call can ask for it, but also said he would review the daily log and make changes so it complies with the Indiana law.

The Portage Police Department faxes a fairly comprehensive list of calls to area reporters. Sgt. Keith Hughes, public information officer, said he releases a list of all arrests and other crimes. The department’s chief clerk, Barbara Vaughan, handles requests for information from the general public. Vaughan said the public is welcome to make an information request to her or any clerk, but it rarely happens.

The St. John Police Department issues daily emails to reporters with calls for service at their police department, including complaints, firearms permit applications and other routine business. Their log includes details required by law.

 

Some that don’t

Lake Station civilians working at the front desk of the Police Department responded to a request to see the log with resistance, hostility and then a flat refusal.

The woman who sits at the “administration” window said information about daily calls was maintained by the dispatchers and asked, “Who are you?”

 

But Indiana law prohibits public servants from requiring identification to obtain public record.

“So it’s against the law to ask who you are but we’re supposed to give you all this information?” the woman asked. She said only a lieutenant was authorized to release information, and he was in court all week.

After the unsuccessful visit, the Post-Tribune filed a complaint with Pubic Access Counselor Hoage. The city failed to respond, and the state ruled Lake Station had violated the law.

Lake Station Chief Kevin Garber later apologized and said employees have since been informed how to handle such encounters in the future. “I wasn’t aware there was supposed to be a log,” said Garber, who has been chief for less than a year.

All new chiefs are required to attend a week-long certification class within one year of being appointed. Lt. Steven Guthrie, an instructor at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, said chiefs receive an overview of the public access law during the class.

 

Some you just can’t tell

Merrillville police for years have maintained two folders containing what administrators believe to be reports of interest to the area’s newspapers “as a courtesy,” Chief Joseph Petruch said. But asking to see the log as an ordinary member of the public was met with questions.

“Are you with the newspaper? Are you a landlord? Because then we can show you,” said a woman behind the counter. How about just a regular person? “Oh no, not the public,” she said, adding she’d been working there several years and was unfamiliar with the concept of a daily log for the public.

 

Later, Petruch said he was sorry about the confusion.

But the same day, a new Post-Tribune reporter who asked to see the folder left without even a peek.

“Before she hands out the file, she wants to make sure it’s for the paper. We do it as a courtesy,” the chief said. A day after that, reporters were told the policy to view public record was changing. Town attorney John Bushemi said he will review the law and work with the chief to ensure public information is available in the required format.

Hobart Chief White complained to a Post-Tribune editor that maintaining a daily log is cumbersome and time-consuming. Hoage said the law has been around, in some form, since 1983, and police agencies have no excuse to be unaware. If the task is overwhelming, Hoage said, cities should approach their elected state officials to seek a change. “I don’t think it’s too great a burden,” Hoage commented. “It’s not rocket science.”

Steve Key, executive director of the Hoosier State Press Association, recently wrote a column about attempts to obtain public information from police. He notes that authors of the law intended that authorities should help the public obtain the facts they seek. “That fits the intent of the legislature that ‘providing persons with the information is an essential function of a representative government and an integral part of the routine duties of public officials and employees.’”

11232012 - News Article - Another E.C. city employee to face federal charges

Another E.C. city employee to face federal charges

Times, The (Munster, IN)
November 23, 2012 

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=142BFAF255859138&p_docnum=7&p_queryname=1

EAST CHICAGO -- The marina dockmaster of East Chicago is the latest municipal employee to be painted by federal prosecutors into a mosaic of alleged crimes and corruption dating back several decades. 

Richard Reyes, who remained employed last week as the East Chicago Marina dockmaster, was named earlier this month as one of 23 defendants in a sweeping gang indictment, Hammond federal court records and city officials confirmed. 

Federal prosecutors allege in the case the Imperial Gangsters street gang carried out murders and other organized crimes in the furtherance of its drug trade. 

Specifically, Reyes is charged in Hammond federal court with racketeering, conspiracy to deal cocaine and marijuana, murder in the aid of racketeering activity and murder resulting from the use and carrying of a firearm. 

Reyes, who is being held without bond by the U.S. Marshals and tentatively is scheduled to face trial next year, joins a long list of East Chicago civil servants named in organized crime or corruption cases. 

Reyes' Chicago-based attorney Jack Friedlander told The Times his client is innocent and he intends to defend Reyes "vigorously against false accusations." 

But historically, East Chicago city servants accused by federal authorities of illegal activity have a poor rate of acquittal. 

Holdover from corrupt era 

Reyes, who earns $31,368.22 per year as dockmaster, is a holdover employee from Mayor George Pabey 's administration, having been hired in May 2005, city records show. 

In the prior year, Pabey had defeated former Mayor Robert Pastrick. Pastrick's administration ultimately lost a federal civil racketeering lawsuit brought by the Indiana attorney general. 

Though Pastrick never faced criminal charges, a group of three city councilmen, a city controller, a parks superintendent and a city engineer were convicted of federal crimes in the scheme. The group, who collectively became known as the Sidewalk Six, was found guilty of perpetuating a scheme to curry votes by providing free concrete work for city residents. 

Pabey 's victory came with a hope among the city's electorate that reform of corrupt practices would follow. But Pabey , who once served as Pastrick's police chief, is now serving a five-year federal prison sentence following his 2010 conviction for stealing city resources and putting them into home improvement projects in his home in Gary's Miller neighborhood. 

Also convicted with Pabey was former East Chicago engineering supervisor Jose Camacho, who in 2011 was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for conspiring with Pabey to perform work on Pabey 's house on city time and with municipal resources. 

If viewed as a timeline of alleged corruption or crimes, Pastrick and Pabey would be two of the larger dots in a series of East Chicago civil servants caught up in the federal justice system over the past several decades. 

But many of the East Chicago municipal employees indicted over the years have been farther down the pecking order, and several of them have worn a badge. 

Crime with a police shield 

The late 1980s and early '90s marked an era of drug use and dealing in the East Chicago Police Department. 

In the late 1980s, police officers Donald Miller, Paul Muryasz and Thomas Campbell all pleaded guilty to dealing small amounts of cocaine to fellow officers. 

Also in the mid-1980s, seven police officers reportedly failed a drug-screening urine test, with cocaine being detected in one officer and marijuana in six others. 

The department allowed all officers to take a retest, and all seven then tested clean. But tempers flared in the department ranks, with some officers claiming the re-tested policemen had received preferential treatment. 

The police drug scandals did not end with the new millennium. 

In 2005, East Chicago patrol officer Eligah Johnson was charged by federal prosecutors with buying and selling drugs while on duty and in uniform. 

Johnson pleaded guilty to charges of dealing cocaine and a federal weapons-related charge in February 2006, according to court records. 

And Johnson's alleged supplier, East Chicago building inspector Veta Tyner, also pleaded guilty that same year to cocaine distribution, court records show. 

Second chance 

Being convicted of federal crimes doesn't always keep city employees from securing future employment with the municipality. 

In July 1988, police Sgt. Ronald W. Jackson was convicted of five federal felony drug charges, one for possessing cocaine with intent to sell it and four for using a telephone to arrange a drug transaction. 

Federal authorities alleged Jackson moonlighted as a bodyguard for a region drug kingpin. 

Jackson was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. 

Despite his legal troubles, Jackson eventually was rehired by the city -- this time to work in the sewer department. East Chicago officials did not respond to Times requests this week seeking confirmation on whether Jackson remained an employee of the city. 

11232012 - News Article - Another E.C. city employee to face federal charges

Another E.C. city employee to face federal charges

Times, The (Munster, IN)
November 23, 2012

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=142BFAF255859138&p_docnum=18&p_queryname=5

EAST CHICAGO -- The marina dockmaster of East Chicago is the latest municipal employee to be painted by federal prosecutors into a mosaic of alleged crimes and corruption dating back several decades. 

Richard Reyes , who remained employed last week as the East Chicago Marina dockmaster, was named earlier this month as one of 23 defendants in a sweeping gang indictment, Hammond federal court records and city officials confirmed. 

Federal prosecutors allege in the case the Imperial Gangsters street gang carried out murders and other organized crimes in the furtherance of its drug trade. 

Specifically, Reyes is charged in Hammond federal court with racketeering, conspiracy to deal cocaine and marijuana, murder in the aid of racketeering activity and murder resulting from the use and carrying of a firearm. 

Reyes , who is being held without bond by the U.S. Marshals and tentatively is scheduled to face trial next year, joins a long list of East Chicago civil servants named in organized crime or corruption cases. 

Reyes ' Chicago-based attorney Jack Friedlander told The Times his client is innocent and he intends to defend Reyes "vigorously against false accusations." 

But historically, East Chicago city servants accused by federal authorities of illegal activity have a poor rate of acquittal. 

Holdover from corrupt era 

Reyes , who earns $31,368.22 per year as dockmaster, is a holdover employee from Mayor George Pabey's administration, having been hired in May 2005, city records show. 

In the prior year, Pabey had defeated former Mayor Robert Pastrick. Pastrick's administration ultimately lost a federal civil racketeering lawsuit brought by the Indiana attorney general. 

Though Pastrick never faced criminal charges, a group of three city councilmen, a city controller, a parks superintendent and a city engineer were convicted of federal crimes in the scheme. The group, who collectively became known as the Sidewalk Six, was found guilty of perpetuating a scheme to curry votes by providing free concrete work for city residents. 

Pabey's victory came with a hope among the city's electorate that reform of corrupt practices would follow. But Pabey, who once served as Pastrick's police chief, is now serving a five-year federal prison sentence following his 2010 conviction for stealing city resources and putting them into home improvement projects in his home in Gary's Miller neighborhood. 

Also convicted with Pabey was former East Chicago engineering supervisor Jose Camacho, who in 2011 was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for conspiring with Pabey to perform work on Pabey's house on city time and with municipal resources. 

If viewed as a timeline of alleged corruption or crimes, Pastrick and Pabey would be two of the larger dots in a series of East Chicago civil servants caught up in the federal justice system over the past several decades. 

But many of the East Chicago municipal employees indicted over the years have been farther down the pecking order, and several of them have worn a badge. 

Crime with a police shield 

The late 1980s and early '90s marked an era of drug use and dealing in the East Chicago Police Department. 

In the late 1980s, police officers Donald Miller, Paul Muryasz and Thomas Campbell all pleaded guilty to dealing small amounts of cocaine to fellow officers. 

Also in the mid-1980s, seven police officers reportedly failed a drug-screening urine test, with cocaine being detected in one officer and marijuana in six others. 

The department allowed all officers to take a retest, and all seven then tested clean. But tempers flared in the department ranks, with some officers claiming the re-tested policemen had received preferential treatment. 

The police drug scandals did not end with the new millennium. 

In 2005, East Chicago patrol officer Eligah Johnson was charged by federal prosecutors with buying and selling drugs while on duty and in uniform. 

Johnson pleaded guilty to charges of dealing cocaine and a federal weapons-related charge in February 2006, according to court records. 

And Johnson's alleged supplier, East Chicago building inspector Veta Tyner, also pleaded guilty that same year to cocaine distribution, court records show. 

Second chance 

Being convicted of federal crimes doesn't always keep city employees from securing future employment with the municipality. 

In July 1988, police Sgt. Ronald W. Jackson was convicted of five federal felony drug charges, one for possessing cocaine with intent to sell it and four for using a telephone to arrange a drug transaction. 

Federal authorities alleged Jackson moonlighted as a bodyguard for a region drug kingpin. 

Jackson was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. 

Despite his legal troubles, Jackson eventually was rehired by the city -- this time to work in the sewer department. East Chicago officials did not respond to Times requests this week seeking confirmation on whether Jackson remained an employee of the city. 

11162012 - News Article - 2 more Imperial Gangsters plead not guilty

2 more Imperial Gangsters plead not guilty

Post-Tribune (IN)
November 16, 2012 

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Two more Imperial Gangster defendants pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon to racketeering charges after a federal judge ruled that both be held without bond pending their trial. 

East Chicago residents Raymond Campos, 28, and Richard Reyes , 40, are two of the eight new defendants charged in the case last week, and Reyes also is charged with murdering Rene Alonzo in September 2007. 

Campos did not fight his detention, but Reyes ’ attorney, Jack Friedlander, argued that his client should be released despite the seriousness of the charges. 

Friedlander said that a grand jury had already convened on Alonzo’s killing five years ago but that no physical evidence existed then. Friedlander said he suspected the new evidence was testimony from other defendants who wanted to cut a deal with the government in their own cases. 

“I feel the evidence falls quite short,” Friedlander said of the lack of proof that Reyes is a danger to the community. 

He added that Reyes ’ last conviction was 11 years ago and that his only felony conviction was when he was 19. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nozick said those convictions were spread out over drugs, guns and violence charges, which was concerning. 

“He quite simply needs to be detained,” Nozick said. 

U.S. Judge Andrew Rodovich sided with Nozick, and ordered both Campos and Reyes held pending trial. A trial date is set for January, but that is expected to be continued after the announcement last week of a third superseding indictment. 

11102012 - News Article - More federal charges filed against Imperial Gangsters

More federal charges filed against Imperial Gangsters

Post-Tribune (IN)
November 10, 2012 

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Rene Alonzo’s family has waited more than five years to see justice for his killing. 

They, along with the families of three other victims, might finally receive it after the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced an expanded indictment in the East Chicago Imperial Gangsters racketeering case, including numerous murder counts connected to five more killings. 

“It’s been a long time coming,” Richard Alonzo, Rene’s father, said after hearing about the announcement. 

Murder charges 

Federal attorneys had already charged 15 people in the case, most of whom were charged with conspiracy to racketeer and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. The eight new defendants also face the same charges. 

Defendants in the case were already charged with murder counts connected to the killings of seven people. The new indictment adds five more, including: 

Anuar David Paez, killed July 24, 2004, in East Chicago. Ace Cortez, 33, of East Chicago, faces two murder counts in connection to Paez’s killing. 

Guadalupe Trevino, shot and killed as he and a friend were driving past Gary/Chicago International Airport on July 24, 2005. Jason Medina faces two counts of murder in the case. 

Alonzo, shot and killed after he agreed to drive someone to the U.S. Sports bar on Adler Street in East Chicago on Sept. 16, 2007. Witnesses said someone in a red van driving by fired the shots. Richard Reyes , 40, of East Chicago, faces two counts of murder in the case. 

Mario Soriano, killed on March 25, 2008, in Hammond. Julian Guillermo Serna, 23, of Munster, faces two counts of murder in the case. 

The conspiracy count also says that unnamed members of the Imperial Gangsters shot and killed Martin Navarro on July 7, 2004, in East Chicago while the 17-year-old was standing on his front porch. It also says Julius Solis, 23, of East Chicago, murdered Alonzo Cavanoz on May 3, 2009, although no charges were filed specifically in connection with those crimes. 

The indictment details other violent acts by the gangsters, including firebombing the house of a rival gang member and beating someone up because he refused to join the gang. 

Juan Briseno, who already faced 10 counts of murder in connection to five killings, is now also charged with three counts of attempted murder and three counts of using a gun in relation to a violent crime. Another new defendant, Julius Solis, also faces one count each of attempted murder and use of a gun during a violent crime. 

The indictment says Briseno has been in contact with his fellow gang members since his arrest more than two years ago, including telling them how to recruit new members, about the quality of drugs and the possibility that he might meet a new drug connection while in jail. 

“We are determined to rid Northwest Indiana of these (criminals),” U.S. Attorney David Capp said Friday afternoon at a news conference announcing the indictment. 

All the defendants charged with murder could face the death penalty, although a final decision to pursue that sentence would be made by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Officials were supposed to discuss the possibility of doing so for Briseno at a meeting Monday in Washington, D.C. Capp said Friday he still does not have an answer on that but expects one soon. 

Probe to continue 

Capp said the investigation into the Imperial Gangsters remains ongoing. He credited the agencies involved — the FBI, ATF, Gary Police Department, East Chicago Police Department, Hammond Police Department and the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area — for their cooperative work in bringing more charges. He also praised Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nozick, who has been prosecuting the case since it was announced a year ago, for his effort. 

East Chicago Police Chief Mark Becker said recent crime statistics from the FBI featured East Chicago “prominently” and that he had been asked by the media about his reaction to that. 

“A large part of my response is right here,” Becker said, pointing to the surrounding law enforcement officials. “Look at who’s standing up here, and unified we stand up here.” 

Bob Jones, special agent in charge of the FBI office in Indianapolis, said the Imperial Gangsters had waged violence on the community for years. 

“Not any more,” he said. 

Four of the new defendants — Raymond Campos, 28, of East Chicago; Eddie Torres, 42, of East Chicago; Reyes ; and Ace Cortez — were arrested Friday morning. The other new defendants — Salvador Chavez, 33, of Chicago; Darmaile Cortez Sutton, 29, of East Chicago; Serna; and Solis — were already in jail on other charges. 

Capp said the government will move to detain all of them without bond pending trial. 

Family pleased 

Rene Alonzo’s family said the charges won’t bring him back, but they’re still happy to hear someone will be held responsible. 

“It was great,” his father said of hearing the news. “... I always had hope that they would get the guy.” 

He said his son was a hard union worker who was employed with his father and brother at BP. Rene worked every day to provide for his two children and girlfriend, Erica Renee Badillo, Richard Alonzo said. They lived together in Griffith, and he had plans to build a new house. 

“He had no enemies,” Richard Alonzo said. 

Badillo said their children have had to live with the pain of not seeing him again. 

“The pain will always still be there,” she said. “It’s been tormenting my kids to be without their father.” 

11272012 - News Article - Stepdaughter of Lake Station mayor files discrimination claim against city judge

Stepdaughter of Lake Station mayor files discrimination claim against city judge

NWI Times
November 2, 2012 - 7:00 pm 

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station/stepdaughter-of-lake-station-mayor-files-discrimination-claim-against-city/article_0d6531bf-4f60-53bb-82d1-e09610d028b7.html

LAKE STATION | The stepdaughter of Mayor Keith Soderquist has filed a discrimination claim against City Judge Chris Anderson.

Miranda Brakley, who was fired from her court clerk position by Anderson, said the termination was based on retaliation and the fact she is a Hispanic woman.

The claim was filed earlier this year with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission in Indianapolis.

In the claim, Brakley said she began employment with the city of Lake Station on Jan. 1, 2008.

Before being discharged on June 7, Brakely had held the position of deputy court clerk.

In the court filing, Brakley said Anderson told her she was no longer a court clerk because of "trust" issues.

"I had never received any verbal or written write-ups with regard to my job performance," Brakley said in the claim.

Brakley said she was the only woman of Hispanic origin who worked in the court clerk's office.

"I believe that I have been discriminated against because of my sex, female; my national origin, Mexican; and retaliated against for reporting illegal actions in violation of the Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964," Brakley said in the claim.

Karen Bellinger, of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said she could not comment on the case because of confidentiality laws.

Brakley could not be reached for further comment and Anderson declined to comment.

Soderquist said he had nothing to with his stepdaughter's case.

"I neither hired her nor fired her. Those issues are out of my control," Soderquist said.

Anderson filed a suit against city officials earlier this year after the City Council on June 13 transferred two clerk positions out of the judge's supervision and budget and into that of the clerk-treasurer.

One of those clerks was Brakley.

Anderson's supervision of the two clerk positions and related budget were restored on Oct. 28 following an agreed order issued by Lake Superior Court Judge Calvin Hawkins.

Anderson has said he believes the transfer was directly related to him firing Brakley.

Soderquist has continued to deny that allegation.