Prosecutor, administrator leave Lafayette DA’s office
Two people long associated with the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office ended their employment last week.
Keith Stutes, an assistant district attorney who prosecuted some of the most high-profile murder cases in the 15th Judicial District in the past decade, retired effective Sept. 1, according to District Attorney Mike Harson.
Barna Haynes, Harson’s long-time office administrator who was placed on leave without pay in March, resigned Aug. 28, Harson said in an email response to The Daily Advertiser’s inquiry.
Harson placed Haynes on unpaid leave in March after the FBI confiscated files that dealt largely with traffic-related offenses like OWI, or operating a vehicle while intoxicated. At the time, Harson declined to say whether her suspension was directly tied to the investigation.
Instead, Harson said the suspension was not a reflection of any wrongdoing on the part of Haynes, but he considered it the appropriate action under the circumstances.
Harson said Haynes did not give a reason for resigning and he does not know if her decision or if Stutes’ decision are related to the FBI investigation.
Shortly after the FBI visit, Stutes launched a related internal investigation, reportedly looking into whether some charged with OWI had forged documents showing they completed their required community service work. The findings of his investigation were forwarded to the proper authorities but have not been made public.
09/15/2012 at 9:31 am |
[...] FBI’s investigation of the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s office in Lafayette has resulted in the resignation of Barna Haynes, DA Mike Harson’s longtime office administrator, after she had [...]