Summary:
- Court documents reveal details of police raid on Marion County Record.
- Allegations revolve around journalist's unauthorized access to a business owner's driving record.
- Police claim access involved impersonation or false pretenses.
- Confiscated items returned to newspaper's attorney due to insufficient evidence.
- Newspaper's attorney asserts journalist's right to access information for verification purposes.
- Kansas Bureau of Investigation continues to probe potential state law violations.
The attorney for Marion County Record has released probable cause affidavits detailing the rationale behind a recent police raid. The documents aim to provide evidence justifying the issuance of a search warrant. The case revolves around allegations that a Marion business owner's driving record was illegally accessed by a journalist from a state website.
Evidence of Unauthorized Access
Court documents shed light on the ongoing saga involving Marion County Record, a local newspaper in Kansas. The attorney for the paper has now made public the probable cause affidavits that underscore the grounds for a recent police raid. These affidavits are crucial in demonstrating why law enforcement believed a search warrant was warranted.Driving Record Dilemma
The heart of the matter lies in the driving record of a Marion business owner. It is alleged that a journalist associated with the newspaper accessed this information from a state website without proper authorization. The newspaper's publisher has stated that the access was part of a fact-checking process triggered by a tip. The paper's legal representative has adamantly maintained that no wrongdoing occurred.Allegations of Impersonation
Within the document, the police chief contends that the act of downloading the driving record either involved impersonating the record's subject or providing false reasons for seeking the information. This prompted the police to seek a warrant, citing potential charges related to computer crimes and identity theft. As a result of the investigation, law enforcement confiscated computers, personal cell phones, and a router from the newspaper's premises.Return of Seized Items
Subsequent to the police action, the confiscated items were returned to the newspaper's attorney. This move came after the county prosecutor determined that the available evidence was insufficient to warrant the seizure. However, questions have been raised regarding the timing of the affidavit's filing and whether it occurred before the raid took place.Defending the Journalist's Actions
The newspaper's attorney issued a statement asserting the journalist's right to access the driver's license record for verification purposes. Both Kansas state law and U.S. federal law, according to the attorney, support the journalist's actions. The attorney emphasized that the journalist's intent was not related to identity theft or unauthorized computer access but rather fulfilling her professional duties.Investigation Continues
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is still actively investigating whether the newspaper's actions violated any state laws. The outcome of this investigation will likely have significant implications for the ongoing dispute.The situation remains complex as the newspaper defends its journalist's actions and the legal system seeks to determine whether any laws were indeed broken.