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Special Prosecutor Will Decide If Charges Will Be filed Against Lyons Marshal

Last updated on Saturday, December 8, 2012

(BLOOMFIELD) - A special prosecutor assigned to investigate allegations against Lyons Town Marshal Ron Sparks says a decision on whether criminal charges will be filed will come in about 10 days.

Nick Schneider, of the Greene County Daily World reports, Bloomington attorney Barry Brown was named special prosecutor by Greene Circuit Court Judge Erik Allen in mid-November after Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw made the request.

On Thursday morning, Brown told the Greene County Daily World he was briefed on the Sparks case in the last 48 hours.

"I have very little information and I am beginning to launch my investigation," Brown stated. "In 10 days to two weeks we'll have some kind of decision. It's not a terribly complicated case in terms of the facts, so it is something I should be able to work out soon."

The nature of the investigation remains a mystery with no specific details of the nature of the allegations in the court document or discussed by the special prosecutor.

Brown said Indiana State Police Det. Brian Smith, assigned to the Bloomington Post, is the lead investigator in the case.

"We're moving forward," Brown said. "I'm involved and Det. Brian Smith is involved and we are working toward some kind of resolution."

The county prosecutor pointed out in his motion requesting the appointment of a special prosecutor that since Sparks has been a police officer in the county for several years, he felt the appointment was necessary to avoid the appearance of any impropriety.

In his order on Nov. 15 appointing Brown to the case, Judge Allen noted that the length of the appointment will be "sufficient to fully investigate the matter and prosecute the case, if offenses are charged."

The Lyons Town Council meet in an executive session Nov. 27 to discuss the alleged "misconduct" against the town marshal, but no public action has been taken.

Lyons Clerk-Treasurer Kim Flynn says there is no scheduled discussion about the allegations against Sparks at the regular town council meeting set for Dec. 11

Sparks, who has been employed by the town since Oct. 14, 2004, remains on duty.

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