Pubdate: Thu, 11 Apr 2002
Source: Lawrence Journal-World (KS)
Copyright: 2002 The Lawrence Journal-World
Contact: http://www.ljworld.com/site/submit_letter
Website: http://www.ljworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1075
Author: Joel Mathis

DRUG INFORMANT'S TAB INCLUDES PAYMENT FOR RENT, BEER, FOOD

Douglas County investigators paid a drug informant's rent, helped him buy 
birdhouse supplies and a six-pack of beer, according to documents unveiled 
Wednesday by a Lawrence attorney.

But what has attorney John Frydman angry is that testimony from the 
informant, Justo Culian, helped keep Frydman's client Lee Sanders in jail 
for three months that Sanders could have been free. Prosecutors on Monday 
dismissed aggravated kidnapping charges against Sanders.

Frydman, who has practiced here 17 years, said it was the first time he has 
seen proof that Douglas County investigators pay informants.

"I think it's a misuse of our tax dollars," Frydman said. "I think it's 
laughable."

The county's top law enforcement officer said paying informants is rare but 
sometimes necessary. And prosecutors say Sanders may not yet be off the 
hook - they want to delay charges until another trial in the kidnapping 
case is settled.

"A judge has made the decision that we had enough evidence to proceed," 
said Assistant Dist. Atty. Dave Zabel.

Lee Sanders, 34, was not available for comment. He was arrested in January 
with Lionell Sanders, 23, Quincy Sanders, 20, and Kim Sanders, 23.

The family members were charged with kidnapping Culian on Jan. 3 and taking 
him to an apartment where they accused him of being a drug informant. 
Lionell Sanders was accused of hitting Culian during the incident.

Frydman said Culian had little credibility, in part because Culian had been 
hospitalized for mental illness and substance abuse before becoming a 
confidential informant last fall for the Tri-County Drug Unit. The unit 
consists of officers from law enforcement agencies in Douglas, Jefferson 
and Franklin counties.

Frydman produced for the Journal-World drug unit expense reports provided 
by prosecutors during the discovery phase of court proceedings.

The reports show the unit reimbursed Culian $600 for rent between October 
and December, at the same time he made at least seven "controlled" drug 
buys on behalf of investigators. The unit also paid Culian $41.55 for some 
other expenses at the time, including the purchase of birdhouse materials 
and a six-pack of beer.

After Culian was attacked, investigators paid another $404.26 to put him up 
in a motel and buy food.

Paying informants raises doubts about the credibility of drug 
investigations, Frydman said.

"The problem with doing something for money - when you're otherwise 
homeless - is that you have to deliver or you're useless," he said.

Douglas County Sheriff Rick Trapp oversees the drug unit locally. He would 
not comment on the Culian case.

But he said payments to informants are rare and never contingent on 
convictions. Instead, the payments reimburse informants for living expenses 
incurred during investigations.

"Particularly if it's a long-term investigation, we need to keep them in 
the area and provide them with a means to live," Trapp said.

Informants are rarely clean-cut, Trapp said.

"These are individuals who are not of the most savory character," he said. 
"You have to utilize people who can interact with these" drug suspects.
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