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Henry County to seek ‘outside help’ in reimbursement of Deputy Lopez
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT - The three-member Henry County Board of Supervisors supports compensating Deputy Carlos Lopez for his legal fees. The question is, at least, according to Supervisor Chad White, where the money will come from.
At last Thursday’s meeting on Dec. 11, the Henry County Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 to seek an outside legal opinion regarding reimbursing Deputy Lopez, who is seeking $20,000-$30,000 to help pay legal fees related to his recently settled Brady-Giglio trial decided in his favor. Marc Lindeen offered the motion and Chad White seconded it. Steve Dietrick voted no, for fear the inquiry would only serve to further delay Lopez’s reimbursement.
“2.5 years is a long haul,” said Dietrick, “Not just from a financial aspect but from an emotional aspect [...] We need to step up.”
The decision came after heated debate and multiple public comments. Not a soul present who commented spoke against Lopez, with all in attendance stating their desire to see him reimbursed. The question was the time frame, and the source of the money. It was also hoped that a third-party lawyer, detached from the emotions of the case, may provide sounder judgment than the County Prosecutor or the Board themselves.
With much trepidation, White cited the necessity of repaying Lopez the right way, through the correct legal channel. White specifically feared opening the county up to a lawsuit, should the funds be appropriated improperly.
“We have the whole county to think about,” White said, “If we get sued by three different lawsuits, that is three times more than what it should be. [...] I’m good with paying him, getting that done, but we gotta make the right steps to move forward to that. [..] Yes, we may spend a couple thousand more dollars on legal advice, but we are gonna have legal advice that supports the county’s position to make a reimbursement!”
Donna Byers, a local citizen in attendance, likened the seeking of legal counsel to “pouring sand down a rathole”... something that would be of no value, a waste of time. There are no estimates on how long these legal inquiries will take.
Some precedent has been set. Earlier this year, the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors voted to reimburse Jefferson County Sheriff Bart Richmond for his legal fees. In March, Richmond requested just under $41,000 from the county to pay fees from litigation with the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office to have his name removed from the Brady-Giglio list. The supervisors approved that request on a 2-1 vote with Joe Ledger and Lee Dimmitt voting in favor, and Susie Drish voting against.
After remarks by his wife, Beth Lopez, Deputy Lopez himself appeared before the Board, citing the desire for closure.
“I’m at the point now in my life, when I look in my two daughters’ eyes, my two sons’ eyes, and my wife’s eyes, all I see are scars,” he said. “This incident has created scars for my entire family that we will never heal from. I do hope the decision is made that we are paid back, but keep that in mind. I get to spend the rest of my life looking at those scars.”
Call Marilyn Higgins at 319-368-8895 or email her at marilyn.higgins@southeastiowaunion.com
