Pubdate: Fri, 23 Mar 2007
Source: Daily Review (PA)
Copyright: 2007 The Daily Review
Contact:  http://www.thedailyreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1015
Author: CJ Marshall
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n359/a07.html?5015
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n369/a02.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

SOLICITOR EXAMINING SHERIFF'S GRANT

Bradford County solicitor Jonathan Foster reported Thursday that he 
is looking into the federal grant received by the sheriff's office to 
combat the local methamphetamine problem in the area.

Foster said that he would probably be able to provide a legal opinion 
about the grant in about a week. The solicitor said he has already 
contacted the sheriff's office on the matter, but has not yet 
received a reply from the sheriff.

Bradford County Sheriff Steve Evans applied for the $246,000 grant in 
August 2006 to assist his office in certain anti-methamphetamine 
efforts. The grant was eventually received through Congressman Don 
Sherwood's office.

However, the matter recently became a campaign issue when former Troy 
police Chief Greg Hostettler -- who is running as a Republican 
candidate in the May primary against Evans -- claimed that the 
sheriff had "misrepresented" certain facts when he applied for the 
grant. Hostettler has contended that Evans indicated in the grant 
application that the money would be used by his office for law 
enforcement in regards to methamphetamine. Hostettler has insisted 
that -- according to certain cases in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court 
- -- a sheriff and deputies cannot be considered law enforcement 
officials. Hostettler has also pointed out that the Bradford County 
Sheriff's office has -- since 2004 -- been prohibited by the district 
attorney and Pennsylvania Attorney General's office from filing criminal cases.

Evans responded to Hostettler's contentions by saying they were 
"false," explaining that his office had assisted the Pennsylvania 
Attorney General's office until around September 2006. The sheriff 
also insisted that his office still has the authority to make 
drug-related arrests, explaining that he and has deputies have been 
working with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration for the past 
six months.

Foster explained on Wednesday that he will be speaking to the 
sheriff, the commissioners, and a number of other people about the 
grant. Before he makes a decision, the attorney explained, he also 
wants to look at the grant application. One of the issues he's going 
to take into account, Foster said, will be the definition of the 
sheriff's powers as they've been interpreted by the court.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman