Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Dan Hampton made his last public speech before the primary election Thursday night when he spoke to the North Webster Lions Club.
Hampton reviewed his experience as a deputy prosecutor in Allen County over the past four years, citing criminal cases he tried including rape, murder, attempted murder, stalking and gang-related crimes.
Hampton said he left Kosciusko County in 1994 after losing the election to David Kolbe to "gain experience to increase my effectiveness as a prosecutor." And he said he fulfilled his promise to the voters that he would return in 1998.
Hampton said the crimes he prosecutes in Allen County may be new to Kosciusko County, but they are not new to him.
"What would happen to us in Kosciusko County if we elected someone who is still learning as a prosecutor?" Hampton asked the club.
He cited a 1995 case prosecuted by Charles Waggoner, another Republican candidate for prosecutor, that resulted in a mistrial because of an error in evidence rules. The judge ruled a rebuttal witness for the state was not disclosed in time to the defense. Charges against the defendant were later dismissed.
"That's what happens with a prosecutor who doesn't have experience," Hampton said.
Waggoner said in a phone interview this morning that Hampton did not provide the public with all the issues of the case. Waggoner said a witness came forward after the state rested its case in the trial, and Waggoner properly disclosed her to the judge and defense. Although the defense should have known about her before the case, Waggoner said the prosecution didn't know about her evidence until the trial took place, and he properly disclosed her when he found out.
He admits the judge called a mistrial, but said it was because of a ruling that went against the prosecution. Waggoner said he agreed to the mistrial at the time because he felt it was better to retry the case than let it be appealed if the defendant was convicted.
Hampton also said that while Waggoner has years of experience in law enforcement, Hampton questions his prosecuting experience.
Waggoner disagreed. Waggoner said he thinks his law enforcement experience is "valid and valuable" to a prosecutor. He said his experience is "very valuable to me in my prosecuting and gives me a very good foundation."
"He's very qualified to be a deputy prosecutor, but not qualified to be prosecutor because he's still learning," Hampton said.
Waggoner said that if Hampton is "trying to bait me into talking" about Hampton's problems, "I'm not going there."
Hampton went on to describe his own experience in several areas Kosciusko County is now developing.
Hampton said he worked with the sexual assault response team in Allen County and looks forward to helping the new team begun a few months ago in Kosciusko County. The sexual assault response team gathers evidence in sexual crimes and helps the prosecutor develop his case against a suspect.
The new juvenile detention center planned to be built in Pierceton is also good for the county, Hampton said. "It's going to be a very strong asset and very positive in our fight against juvenile crime."
Hampton said while the center is new to the county, "it is not new to me," as he worked with the juvenile system in Allen County.
"It is really moving us forward in criminal justice in the community," Hampton said of the planned center.
Hampton answered questions about illegal gambling machines in clubs, saying as long as the state rules the machines are illegal, he will keep them out of the county.
He also said he will continue a tough stance on drunk driving and be consistent. "Everyone arrested and convicted of drunk driving went to jail," Hampton said of cases in his history in the Kosciusko County prosecutor's office. He said treatment and counselling would be provided, but those convicted still had to be punished.
