Pubdate: Mon, 09 Oct 2006
Source: Athens News, The (OH)
Copyright: 2006, Athens News
Contact:  http://www.athensnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1603
Author: Jim Phillips
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials

WARREN RESPONDS TO SECRETARY'S ARREST IN ATLANTA ON  DRUG CHARGES

Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren said last week  that a 
secretary in his office, arrested Thursday with  her husband in 
Atlanta for alleged drug smuggling, did  not pose any risk of 
compromising ongoing criminal  investigations while she worked in his office.

Members of a multi-county crime task force had informed  Warren over 
the summer that [Name redacted], 33, and  her husband [Name 
redacted], 42, were under  investigation for possible drug offenses.

When he learned this, Warren said Friday, he  immediately directed 
the task force officers to report  their progress to a special 
prosecutor, David L.  Landefeld of Fairfield County.

"I told them, 'Don't tell me any more. Here's a  prosecutor for you 
to talk to. Do your investigation  just like any other investigation.'"

He added that he changed [Name redacted] duties in the office  so 
that she no longer had access to any information  from secret 
investigative grand juries, which could  allow her to compromise 
ongoing investigations.

"When this issue was raised, I took precautions to make  sure she 
didn't get to see secret stuff," he said.

Warren said that he informed one assistant prosecutor  and one 
investigator that the Major Crimes Team had the  [Name redacted] 
under observation, but did not tell any of the  other clerical 
employees who worked with [Name redacted].

The Major Crimes Team announced Friday that it had 
been  investigating the couple since June, on suspicion of  selling 
prescription drugs and smuggling drugs into the  United States from 
Switzerland.

On Thursday the team, working with customs and border  agents and the 
Clayton County Police in Georgia,  stopped and searched the [Name 
redacted] when they arrived  from Switzerland at Jackson 
International Airport in  Atlanta.

After searching the two, officers allegedly found that  [Name 
redacted] had hashish and "white-widow" marijuana  concealed in a 
body cavity, and [Name redacted] was  carrying marijuana seeds he had 
gotten in Amsterdam.

A later search at the couple's Long Run Road home  allegedly found 56 
marijuana plants growing there. The  two were being held in the 
Clayton County jail as of  the time of the press release.

Warren said he is deeply disappointed in his employee.  "I had hoped 
against hope that (the crime team's  suspicion) was all blown out of 
proportion, but I  wasn't about to get in their way," he said. "I am 
truly  disappointed. I really am."

He said that whenever [Name redacted] gets out of jail,  he will be 
discussing her employment status at the  prosecutor's office with her.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine