Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Miscellaneous Blogs -> The Pullins Report

Miscellaneous

: The Pullins Report

Has a Political Coverup in Knox County Been Uncovered?

By The Pullins Group LLC

Something is definitely starting to smell here in Knox County.  And his name is Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher.  In 2008 the Ohio Ethics Commission concluded that Knox County Commissioner Bob Wise had violated several Ohio laws concerning his placement of Wise Choice Propane LPG tanks at the Knox County Airport.

The letter can be found here.

In the letter the OEC finds that Wise violated the law but recommends no prosecution after discussion with Wise's fellow elected official Prosecutor John Thatcher.  Two things jump out.  First, the Ohio Ethics Commission has no discretion to recommend against prosecution when a violation is found.

(C)(1)(a) If, upon the basis of the hearing, the appropriate ethics commission finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the facts alleged in the complaint are true and constitute a violation of section 102.02, 102.021, 102.03, 102.04, 102.07, 2921.42, or 2921.43 of the Revised Code, it shall report its findings to the appropriate prosecuting authority for proceedings in prosecution of the violation and to the appointing or employing authority of the accused. If the accused person is a member of the public employees retirement board, state teachers retirement board, school employees retirement board, board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, or state highway patrol retirement board, the commission also shall report its findings to the Ohio retirement study council.

ORC 102.06

Second, and more importantly, Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher had a legal and ethical duty to step aside and request an independent prosecutor.  In a recent case that involved a Delaware County Commissioner, a visiting judge was appointed and the matter was prosecuted by a team of special prosecutors.

This is even more reason for why a special prosecutor needs to be appointed in Knox County.

Full post as published by The Pullins Report on February 12, 2010 (boomark / email).