GOVERNMENT
**Marion, KS** – Special prosecutors announced on Monday that they intend to file criminal obstruction of justice charges against former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody. This decision follows an investigation into warrant searches conducted on the Marion County Record newspaper and its publisher, Eric Meyer, concerning the retrieval of public information.
In a comprehensive 124-page report, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett and Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson concluded that the staff of the Marion County Record committed no crimes during their activities. As of now, formal charges against Cody have not yet been filed, and it remains unclear whether the prosecution will pursue a felony or misdemeanor charge.
Cody, who resigned from the Marion Police Department less than two months after the controversial raid, faced suspension by Marion Mayor David Mayfield prior to his resignation. The investigation revealed that Cody mobilized his police force along with Marion County sheriff's deputies to execute warrant-based searches of the newsroom and the homes of Meyer and City Council member Ruth Herbel.
The report criticized the Marion police under Cody's leadership for conducting a flawed investigation, leading to incorrect assumptions that Meyer and reporter Phyllis Zorn had committed identity theft or other computer crimes. The newspaper was looking into allegations regarding a local restaurateur, Kari Newell, and her past DUI conviction, utilizing publicly available records to verify the information.
The raid ignited a national dialogue about press freedom and the rights of journalists. Tragically, the day after police searched Meyer's home, his 98-year-old mother, Joan Meyer, passed away. Meyer attributed her death to the stress induced by the raids. While the report acknowledged the distress caused to Joan Meyer, prosecutors determined that the officers were not criminally liable for her death.
The report also noted that there is probable cause to believe Cody obstructed an official judicial process, as key evidence was not submitted to investigators in a timely manner. Additionally, there were implications of improper communication between Cody and Newell following the raid.
If charged with a felony, Cody could face up to nine months in prison, while a misdemeanor charge could result in up to a year in jail.
This case continues to unfold, with significant implications for the future of press freedom in America.
In a comprehensive 124-page report, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett and Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson concluded that the staff of the Marion County Record committed no crimes during their activities. As of now, formal charges against Cody have not yet been filed, and it remains unclear whether the prosecution will pursue a felony or misdemeanor charge.
Cody, who resigned from the Marion Police Department less than two months after the controversial raid, faced suspension by Marion Mayor David Mayfield prior to his resignation. The investigation revealed that Cody mobilized his police force along with Marion County sheriff's deputies to execute warrant-based searches of the newsroom and the homes of Meyer and City Council member Ruth Herbel.
The report criticized the Marion police under Cody's leadership for conducting a flawed investigation, leading to incorrect assumptions that Meyer and reporter Phyllis Zorn had committed identity theft or other computer crimes. The newspaper was looking into allegations regarding a local restaurateur, Kari Newell, and her past DUI conviction, utilizing publicly available records to verify the information.
The raid ignited a national dialogue about press freedom and the rights of journalists. Tragically, the day after police searched Meyer's home, his 98-year-old mother, Joan Meyer, passed away. Meyer attributed her death to the stress induced by the raids. While the report acknowledged the distress caused to Joan Meyer, prosecutors determined that the officers were not criminally liable for her death.
The report also noted that there is probable cause to believe Cody obstructed an official judicial process, as key evidence was not submitted to investigators in a timely manner. Additionally, there were implications of improper communication between Cody and Newell following the raid.
If charged with a felony, Cody could face up to nine months in prison, while a misdemeanor charge could result in up to a year in jail.
This case continues to unfold, with significant implications for the future of press freedom in America.
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