03142004 - News Article - Court reopens while probe continues - SCHERERVILLE: Schererville judge starts hearing cases as FBI investigates previous operation - ROBERT CANTRELL

Court reopens while probe continues
SCHERERVILLE: Schererville judge starts hearing cases as FBI investigates previous operation
NWI Times
Mar 14, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/court-reopens-while-probe-continues/article_43567afb-9418-5c03-9763-581461d08ef5.html
SCHERERVILLE -- The FBI continues to compile information from the Schererville Town Court even after the court resumed operations March 1, two months after it was closed.

A special task force is looking at voter fraud issues in Schererville, and the operation of the town court under former Judge Deborah Riga from 1999 to 2003.

In an unprecedented move, investigators asked new town court Judge Kenneth Anderson to close the court for two months while the investigation was conducted.

Investigators took all seven computers out of the office, along with several 2003 accounting books and other information.

Anderson said last week he has gotten all of the computers back but he doesn't expect to have the 2003 record books returned.

"They've given us access to the books so that we can complete reports," he said. "We've started new 2004 record books. The FBI was here today (Thursday) asking for some other information. They wanted a file folder but I'd like to get a receipt for that. They intend to come back on Monday or Tuesday in furtherance of that investigation."

Anderson said he has not been given any information about how the investigation is progressing.

"They just ask for information and I ask for a receipt," he said.

To date, no grand jury indictments related specifically to the operation of the court have been returned.

Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter said last week the State Board of Accounts is finalizing the audit of the records, and they expect that to be completed fairly soon.

"The joint task force, my office and the prosecutor's office is now working with the U.S. Attorney General's office as we continue the investigation," he said, declining to comment on the people being interviewed.

Meanwhile, Schererville's town court has been busy.

The court reopened this month, and Anderson said court calls have been heavy.

"We've had lots of people," he said. "We're hoping to get back on track for the two months that we were closed. All of the staff are working very hard. It's harder to be closed than it is to be open because when you're closed you get a backlog. When you're open at least you're getting things resolved."

Attorney Andy Tanzillo came before the Schererville judge for the first time this week.

"From our perspective, things went fine," Tanzillo said. "It started on time. He called the cases. He asked all the right questions of the state and the defendants. I understand this had been his first real court call because the cases had been deferred."