By Lucky Kidd
MARION, Kan. — Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced today the criminal investigation linked to the Marion County Record will proceed independently and without review or examination of any evidence seized from the paper and two homes by Marion Police under search warrants issued last Friday.
In a statement this afternoon, the KBI says they will work with the Record or their representative to coordinate prompt return of all seized items. To that end, Marion County Attorney Joel Ensey announced he is filing a proposed order directing the return of items seized from the newspaper office and the homes of publisher Eric Meyer and Marion City Council member Rush Herbel.
In a press release, Ensey said following a review in detail of a search warrant application, it did establish probable cause an employee of the Record may have committed the crime of unlawful computer acts.
However, insufficient evidence exists to establish a legally sufficient nexus between alleged crimes reported to involve accessing drivers license and other information of restaurant owner Kari Newell and places searched Friday under the warrants issued by Marion County Magistrate Judge Laura Vian.
