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A Current Muskegon Appearance of Impropriety

WOOD TV reported one week ago about possible corrupt behavior in the prosecutor's office, where the investigation was being conducted by the Prosecutor, Tony Tague, on junior prosecutors, involving them and a local bail bondsman

Suspended Muskegon prosecutors ID'd: woodtv.com

That story was updated earlier today by the fine reportage of WOOD TV

Tague to AG: Investigate Musk. sheriff: woodtv.com

The basic gist of the problem thus far: Tommy DePung, who owns Bad Boys Bail Bonds Co., along with assistant prosecutor Marc Curtis, assistant prosecutor Kathryn Norton, their spouses and Sheriff's Office and 60th District Court employee Mark Slagle, went on a trip to Las Vegas in mid February. The bondsman accompanied them and picked up the tab.

Decisions by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Office of the Sheriff and the Courts can have a financial impact on a bail bond company. Employees within the Prosecutor's Office are held to a high standard of conduct. It is critical that this conduct not allow for even an appearance of impropriety," writes Tague in a release.

"Although my investigation did not reveal that the gifts received had any influence on their jobs, their actions reflect an incredible lapse in judgment and have created an unacceptable appearance of impropriety. This type of behavior cannot and will not be tolerated as it jeopardizes the independence and integrity of the Prosecutor's Office. By their total lack of judgment, these assistant prosecutors have rendered themselves unfit to continue in their duties as public officials."

Tague said he will also submit a request to the Attorney Grievance Commission to determine if any ethical violations occurred, which could place their licenses to practice law in jeopardy.

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/muskegon_county/two-Muskegon-a...

Those people that work in the legal profession and work for the public sector (such as prosecutors, City Attorneys, their assistants, and even Judges), have a duty to the codes of conduct, the canons of their profession, and in securing the trust of the public they serve by not appearing to have any sort of impropriety in their conduct. Such conduct should be unacceptable to the public they serve under, and should disqualify them from further public service if the conduct is beyond the pale.

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Permalink Reply by AQUAMAN on March 10, 2012 at 12:45pm

I totally agree with PA Tague, he's entirely right, and as such, may be needing a new team of assistants in the near future, I give him high marks and credit, for doing what is right, not expected nor popular. If such appearances of impropriety happened at the Mason County courthouse, would the officials in charge do the same thing? Or would they suppress this unethical type conduct, and let it pass? We may know more Sunday, or before I hope.