SHERIFF: FORMER DEPUTY COULD BE REHIRED

Allegations Politically Motivated, Officer Says

COLUMBUS, Kan. - Cherokee County Sheriff Bob Creech said he is keeping his
options open regarding the possibility of rehiring former Deputy Roger
Wormington. "I'm not ruling it out," Creech said. "He is a commissioned law
enforcement officer. I don't have any immediate plans to hire him. If
there's an opening and he's available, I would consider him."

Wormington on Jan. 15 swore a new oath to serve as deputy sheriff in the
county, but he is not currently a county employee.

Creech said every member of his department swore a new oath around the same
time, and he asked Wormington to do so as a matter of routine.

"He has never lost his commission" as a deputy, Creech said. "I had my
entire department sworn in."

Wormington resigned Sept. 5, 2000, amid allegations that he falsified
information in several drug cases. County Attorney JoAnna Derfelt dismissed
more than 20 cases in which Wormington was the lead investigator, but she
did not charge Wormington with any crime.

A Kansas Bureau of Investigation probe of Wormington at the time
recommended that no charges be filed.

Creech defended Wormington's past performance.

"The allegations were politically motivated," Creech said. "They were made
by known drug users and their defense attorneys just months before the
general election."

He said the KBI, the Kansas attorney general and a special prosecutor,
Steven Angermayer, all cleared Wormington of wrongdoing.

He called Derfelt's dismissal of drug cases in which Wormington was
involved "convenient."

"To me, it's ridiculous," Creech said.

"He was the best drug investigator this county ever had."

He repeated his contention that the allegations against Wormington were
nothing but politics.

"The corruption in this county was able to take him down," Creech said. "He
stepped down voluntarily because he knew it was election time."

Derfelt is on maternity leave and was not available for comment.

Sharon Carpino, former county treasurer, has filed a $1 million lawsuit in
federal court against the county, Wormington, Creech and former Deputy
Mickey Rantz, alleging they violated her civil rights by falsifying
evidence against her in a drug case. The judge in the case has dismissed
two of three felony drug possession charges against Carpino.

Her civil lawsuit is on hold, pending resolution of her criminal case.

During a Jan. 25 hearing on pretrial motions, Rantz testified that he began
to suspect the validity of information that Wormington gave him during the
Carpino investigation. The judge halted the hearing to allow Angermayer
time to locate missing pages of an informant's agreement that Wormington
prepared for Carpino.

Wormington, who owns a restaurant in Galena, did not return calls seeking
comment.