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Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe plans to call for at least four more special prosecutors over the next year.
He also said he plans to file several formal complaints with the Warsaw Police Department asking why alleged improper incidents are being allowed to occur.
Kolbe asked for special prosecutors to investigate and try cases that create a conflict of interest with him.
The first case will involve an investigation into the prosecutor's primary election. John Whiteleather of Whitley County is expected to be the special prosecutor.
It is alleged two candidates violated election laws by entering polling places on election day. Kolbe cannot investigate the case because he was the third candidate in the election and it would be a conflict of interest.
Kolbe said Richard Brown of Fulton County was appointed prosecutor against Angela Frye, a Winona Lake woman charged with prostitution who goes to trial in July. Kolbe is listed as a defense witness in the case and cannot prosecute Frye.
Another special prosecutor was assigned to investigate an alleged incident of voter fraud in the May 5 primary. It is not known if the prosecutor has accepted the appointment.
Kolbe said after the election that his office received a challenge of Wilfred Blessing, who was allegedly not a resident of Kosciusko County when he voted in the primary election. Again, Kolbe cannot investigate the case because he was a candidate in the election and it would cause a conflict of interest.
Marc A. Morrison, chief deputy prosecutor of Marshall County, was assigned to be the special prosecutor. He will receive a copy of the petition and an oath of acceptance to return if he accepts the position.
Kolbe also said he wants to call a special prosecutor to investigate the activity of two police officers involved in the Frye case. Kolbe was involved in that initial case as well.
Additionally, Kolbe complained about the Warsaw Police Department allegedly investigating his role as a special prosecutor in a murder trial in Madison County. Kolbe alleges a Warsaw officer called Madison County to ask for information on Kolbe. When the Madison prosecutor refused to cooperate, Kolbe said, two police officers went to the Madison County courthouse to copy court reports.
Another incident Kolbe wants to see investigated involves a Warsaw police officer who allegedly fired shots at a suspect's car tires in an attempt to stop her and arrest her in January.
The cost for the special prosecutors will come from the court-ordered services budget in Kosciusko Circuit or Superior court.
Charlene Knispel, Kosciusko County auditor, said when the special prosecutor is appointed, he will bill the county. That amount then must be approved by the judges and comes from the court-ordered services budget.
Knispel said $20,000 is budgeted in 1998 for the court-ordered services budget.
