MARIJUANA CASE AGAINST OFFICER GROWS

Lincoln Police Officer, Husband May Face Additional Charges

LINCOLN - A Lincoln police officer and her husband, a paramedic, should
anticipate additional and more severe charges after Logan County State's
Attorney Tim Huyett presents evidence of their alleged marijuana growing
operation to a grand jury this week.

The county prosecutor said Monday indictments relating to Cpl. Diana
Short's providing false information to the secretary of state and failure
to renew her FOID card also likely will come Friday.

Diana Short, 45, and her husband, John Short, 41, currently face Class 3
felony charges of manufacture of 30 to 500 grams of marijuana and
manufacture with intent to deliver 30 to 500 grams of marijuana. Both also
are charged with the Class 4 felony charge of production of cannabis plants.

Diana Short also faces a Class 3 felony official misconduct charge, Huyett
said, "for being a police officer growing marijuana in her basement.

"I anticipate there will be some different charges," Huyett said. "And we
will upgrade other charges that currently are on file."

An Illinois State Police drug task force searched the Shorts' home at 501
N. McLean St. on Dec. 15, discovering 15 marijuana plants standing at 4
feet tall. Huyett said officers also recovered four guns - a service
revolver belonging to the Lincoln Police Department and three other
handguns. Neither Diana or John Short had a valid FOID card.

Police arrested the pair Dec. 16 at the Logan County Safety Complex. Both
posted 10 percent of $25,000 bond.

The Lincoln police and fire commission suspended Diana Short without pay
Dec. 21. She submitted her resignation to Police Chief Bob Rawlins the next
day, nullifying the need for a dismissal hearing originally set for today.

Huyett said the most severe charges currently carry a maximum penalty of up
to five years in prison upon conviction. However, all of the charges are
eligible for probation. He anticipates higher maximum penalties after the
filing of new charges.

Huyett said he's awaiting information from the secretary of state's office
regarding evidence that Diana Short provided a false birth date to obtain
her driver's license early and continued submitting that false information
each time she renewed her license.

Huyett said he'll present evidence to a Logan County grand jury Friday.
Preliminary hearings for Diana and John Short are set for Jan. 19. However,
if the grand jury returns indictments, an arraignment will be conducted at
that time, Huyett said.