Former Prosecutor Convicted By Federal Jury
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
A federal jury today found former prosecutor
TJ Hively of Batesville guilty on one count of racketeering and
four counts of mail fraud.
A co-defendant and Hively`s former law partner, Butch Ketz, was
found guilty of one count of racketeering and two counts of mail
fraud in the six-week old trial.
But the jury couldn`t reach a verdict against a third defendant
-- bail bondsman Gary Edwards -- and the judge declared a mistrial
on those charges and additional ones that jurors couldn`t decide
against Hively and Ketz.
The three men were accused of pressuring criminal defendants to
turn over property and money in exchange for leniency. Federal
prosecutors say Hively turned his office into a criminal
enterprise.
Hively would not comment as he left the courtroom.
Ketz` attorney said he was very surprised at the verdict. He
said he didn`t think the government had proven its case against his
client.
Edwards` lawyer said he was pleased that the jury considered
their defense and obviously weren`t convinced by the government`s
case.
