Probe shuts down town court
Investigators confiscate computers; new judge asked to revamp procedures
NWI Times
Jan 3, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/probe-shuts-down-town-court/article_b2662c48-ef8e-5d92-b129-e1431668bb73.html
SCHERERVILLE -- As a grand jury continues its investigation into public corruption in Lake County, it has asked the Indiana State Board of Accounts to investigate the Schererville Town Court operations during the time Deborah Riga was judge from 1999 to 2003.
As a result, the state has asked that new town court Judge Kenneth Anderson delay operation of the court for 60 days, signaling the first time a court has been closed.
Anderson, sworn-in Thursday, spent Friday overseeing the removal of seven computers from the court office in response to a subpoena served on him in the morning.
"This came as a surprise to me," he said, adding he got a call from Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter asking him to be present at a meeting on New Year's Eve.
"They didn't inform me what they were looking for, but they said there were significant reasons for them to remove computers and have the State Board of Accounts come in for a substantial audit," Anderson said.
The special task force is composed of representatives from the Lake County Prosecutor's office and the Indiana Attorney General's office and is working closely with the Indiana State Police and the Indiana State Board of Accounts.
Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter said a complete audit and thorough investigation of the town court is appropriate.
"The charge of the grand jury obviously includes voter fraud issues. We think it's important to have a thorough and complete audit of operations but at this time, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to be more specific."
Although Carter didn't name anyone in particular, he said the investigation will focus on the administration of the court.
"I can't say who may or may not be targets. I am not confirming that anyone is a target," he said.
"Judge Anderson has agreed to assist with the investigation as far as allowing the task force and the State Board of Accounts access to information with regards to the proceedings during that four-year period," Carter said.
"We appreciate the judge's cooperation. It's an extraordinary step to shut down a court for a significant period of time, but it is essential for the criminal justice process to work in Lake County and that's why it's being done," Carter said.
Riga could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, Anderson said letters will go out to people with pending cases before the town court moving them to March or April. He said new cases also will be set for that time. However, he said court staff would be available to accept the payment of tickets.
Anderson said officials also told him they want him to revamp the court's procedures and accounting procedures.
"The attorney general's office and the State Board of Accounts gave me the names of other courts that they consider to be models," Anderson said. "I will be talking to them. My staff will go to visit them and review their procedures. We will reopen in March modeled after these courts."
Anderson named two of the models as the Lowell Town Court with Judge Thomas Vanes and the Hobart City Court with Judge Bill Longer.
A statement released Friday regarding the investigation also said the physical site of the court would be closely monitored and every effort would be made to protect the interests of the town while the investigation was under way.
Schererville Town Manager Richard Krame said he does not know a lot about the investigation.
"I understand there is a lot behind this but I haven't really been told what it is," he said.
This continuing investigation of the Schererville Town Court is the most recent in a series of legal issues involving the office.
During the May primary, Riga won re-election by 11 votes, but her nomination was reversed by a recount judge who disqualified 23 absentee ballots following charges of voter fraud. The judge declared Anderson the winner.
The grand jury already has heard testimony from dozens of Schererville residents regarding the town judge race and will likely hear more as the investigation continues.
Before that, the Indiana State Board of Accounts conducted a routine audit of the town court's financial books for the years 2000 and 2001, turning up what Riga called then a minor problem.
According to the report, eight traffic tickets had been reclassified from state infractions to Schererville infractions, allowing the town court to keep the money for the town. The State Board of Accounts ordered the court to repay $950 for the eight tickets resolving the issue.
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