OTTAWA — A court hearing for Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Curry and one of his deputies will be 11 a.m. March 6 in Franklin County District Court. Curry and Jerrod Fredricks were arrested Wednesday and each was charged with suspicion of interference with a law enforcement officer. Curry was also charged with official misconduct. They are both free on bond. However, according to court documents, as a condition of their bonds, they cannot carry firearms, nor can they contact witnesses who will be subpoenaed. That includes some members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation special agent James Bridges, Ottawa Police Capt. Adam Weingartner and former Franklin County Attorney Heather Jones. Court documents charge that on or about May 30, 2012, Curry unlawfully used confidential information available to him as an official for private gain or to harm another, and made a false report to a law enforcement officer to impede an investigation. The court complaint charges Fredricks with making a false report to a law enforcement officer to impede an investigation last October. Under state law, Curry continues to serve as sheriff despite the arrest. However, the department said neither Curry nor Fredricks appeared in the office Thursday. Undersheriff Steve Lunger was in charge of the office Thursday. Franklin County Attorney Stephen Hunting called for Curry’s immediate resignation Wednesday afternoon after Curry and Fredricks were arrested by KBI agents Wednesday afternoon. Hunting said he has filed ouster proceedings against Curry. “The decision to file the petition for ouster was not one that was made lightly,” Hunting said during a press conference this afternoon. “However, after my review of the evidence provided to me by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Shawnee County District Attorney’s office and in light of the criminal charges filed by the special prosecutor the petition for ouster is appropriate and it is necessary.” They were booked into the Wyandotte County jail. Hunting declined to provide details about why they were arrested. It’s the first time a Franklin County sheriff has been arrested, Hunting said. Under state law, while Curry is in custody, Franklin County Clerk Janet Paddock acted as the sheriff while Curry was in custody, Hunting said. He said he briefed Paddock, Lunger and County Administrator Lisa Johnson Wednesday afternoon after the arrests about the law and to work out procedural matters, but said it became a moot point once Curry posted bond. Regardless of what happens, the department will continue to do its day-to-day duties as it always has, Hunting said. The case will be handled by a special prosecutor Todd Hiatt from the Shawnee County District Attorney’s office, Hunting said. Hunting appointed the Shawnee County office as a special prosecutor in September to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. He said the investigation is on-going. He declined to say if there would be additional arrests in connection with the case. To listen to the press conference in whole click the play button below: [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/81220480″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 4 p.m.; updated 6:30 p.m.; updated Thursday, Feb. 28, 11:28 a.m.; updated 1:30 p.m.
