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Greg -> RE: RED FOX SETTLEMENT (4/25/2008 11:33:52 AM)
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One of 'em is still out there:
http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080110/NEWS04/801100384/1003/NEWS02
..and just in case you're wondering: (all public info)
The former Windham County Sheriff who was convicted of stealing public funds has landed a new job that could put her back on the public payroll. Less than a month after former Sheriff Sheila Prue admitted pocketing taxpayer funds, she could soon be helping criminal defendants fight their charges at taxpayer expense. A private law firm that handles some public defender work plans to hire the former sheriff as an investigator at public expense, and legal experts say it is both legal and ethical.
Prue pled guilty to felony embezzlement and two misdemeanors for stealing $36,000 of public funds and some publicly-owned property. She was sentenced to repay the money-- which she did with the help of anonymous donors-- and to serve 80 hours of community service.
Standing by her and behind her that day in court, was Brattleboro lawyer Margot Stone, a friend and private attorney whose law firm is paid by the state to defend some low-income criminal defendants. Stone confirmed today that her firm is prepared to hire the former Sheriff-- at public expense-- to work as an investigator on some of those public defender cases, on a case-by-case basis. Stone says she sees "no ethical problem at all."
Defender General Matt Valerio oversees the program that hires lawyers for the poor. He says it's insensitive to the residents of Windham County to hire the former sheriff so soon after her conviction.
"If you're referring to ethical problems, as a violation of the Attorney's Code of Ethics, I do not see any problems," said Charles Martin. He is responsible for determining how public funds are spent for private firms contracted by the state to defend low-income defendants. Martin says the law firm has the right to hire Prue-- but there may be problems.
"My concern would be that if Ms. Prue could not perform the full investigative functions because of issues of going into the States' Attorney's office, or some other type of issue which would require a greater expenditure of funds for services of an investigator. Then I would have difficulties with that because it would simply cost more money," Martin explained.
Windham County State's Attorney Dan Davis is not happy with the arrangement. He has indicated Prue will not be given access to files in his office. It's unclear if Davis has the legal authority to do that. We should also point out that another member of the law firm that hired Prue has announced that she will run against Dan Davis in November.
Brian Joyce - Channel 3 News
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