Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jun 2003
Source: Jefferson City News Tribune (MO)
Copyright: 2003 Jefferson City News Tribune
Contact:  http://www.newstribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/845
Author: Stephen Foutes, News Tribune
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

15 FREED IN ISENBERG CASE; ONE ARRESTED AGAIN

Fifteen Jefferson City residents charged for drug sales and/or
possession were released from probation terms Thursday morning in Cole
County Circuit Court.

Judge Thomas Brown III granted the motions for release, previously
were filed by the county prosecutor's office.

Prosecutors decided to drop charges against the 15 defendants in the
wake of an investigation involving Michael Isenberg.

Isenberg, 28, formerly worked as an undercover narcotics investigator
with the Cole County Sheriff's Department. On Wednesday, he pleaded
not guilty to three perjury charges filed against him in May.

According to the prosecutor's office, Isenberg was charged for
allegedly telling the court he was present when drug transactions took
place. However, prosecutors say they have evidence indicating he wasn't.

All the defendants released from probation Thursday morning previously
pleaded guilty to criminal charges filed against them based on
Isenberg's investigations. The charges date back to 2001 and involve
everything from sales of marijuana to possession of oxycodone,
morphine and methamphetamine.

At the proceeding, the prosecutor's office formally dropped the
charges.

One defendant, Jason Carwile, 20, Jefferson City, was released from a
probation term but was promptly arrested for an outstanding warrant
for failing to appear on an unrelated stealing charge.

"You look like you are destined to repeat," Brown said before
Carwile's arrest. "You need to look inside yourself. The next time
you're in here, that door will close."

Also released from probation terms were: Delores Jones, 44; Matthew
Johnson, 20; Sarah Baker, 23; Gregory Vincent, 19; Donald Timbrook,
41; Jeremy Alls, 25; Marvin Nicholson, 45; Barnard Reed, 32; Gary
Reed, 21; Stephon Stanley, 30; Diedre Essex, 34; Robert Koeningsfeld,
66; Tatum Polk, 23; and Kimberly Martin, 24.

Brown reminded the defendants to take advantage of the break given
them.

"You're getting an opportunity here to put a mistake behind you,"
Brown said.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake