FORMER DEPUTY HIRED AGAIN

Ex-Kansas Lawman Had Been Accused Of Falsifying Evidence

COLUMBUS, Kan. - A Cherokee County sheriff's deputy who resigned amid
allegations that he falsified information in criminal cases has taken a new
oath as a deputy in the same county. Roger Wormington on Jan. 15 signed the
oath, administered by Karen Cannon, deputy county clerk.

"I, Roger Wormington, do solemnly swear that I will support the
Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of
Kansas, and faithfully discharge the duties of deputy sheriff, so help me
God," the oath reads.

Sheriff Bob Creech could not be reached Monday to clarify what role
Wormington might serve in his department.

Another employee in the county clerk's office said Wormington is not an
employee on the county payroll.

County Attorney JoAnna Derfelt dismissed more than 20 cases in which
Wormington was lead investigator. Most were drug cases. The dismissal
motions cited lack of credible evidence after Wormington had been accused
of falsifying evidence. Derfelt did not return a call Monday seeking comment.

A Kansas Bureau of Investigation probe of Wormington recommended that he
not be charged with any crime. Derfelt did not file any charges against him.

In a court hearing last week, former Deputy Mickey Rantz testified it was
during the investigation of former County Treasurer Sharon Carpino that he
first suspected Wormington might be falsifying information.

Judge John White asked about the rest of an informant's agreement Rantz
said Wormington prepared for Carpino. The judge said the missing pages
appeared to detail promises the sheriff's department made to Carpino in
return for her acting as an informant.

The judge gave the prosecutor until 5 p.m. Friday to find the missing
pages, if they can be found. The judge rescheduled the hearing for Feb. 22.

Carpino has filed a $1 million lawsuit in federal court against Cherokee
County, Wormington, Rantz and Creech for allegedly violating her civil
rights by concocting a case against her.

That lawsuit is on hold until her criminal case is resolved, her attorney said.

Carpino faces one remaining felony drug possession charge. The judge
dismissed two other drug possession charges during her preliminary hearing.
The judge said there was no way to link traces of methamphetamine found in
her trash directly to her.

Wormington resigned from the Sheriff's Department on Sept. 5, 2000. That
was the day the first case was dismissed after an attorney alleged
Wormington falsified a probable-cause affidavit to obtain a search warrant.
Wormington's information was inconsistent with information on a Columbus
police officer's written report in that case.

Wormington could not immediately be reached for comment at the Galena
restaurant he owns.