Post by Critique on Dec 25, 2006 17:31:58 GMT -5
HARTFORD CITY -- A veteran Blackford County sheriff's deputy was arrested Monday after being accused of having sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl.
Sgt. Brian L. Cansler, 48, of Hartford City, is preliminarily charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, one a class B felony carrying a standard 10-year prison term and the other a class C felony with a standard four-year sentence.
Cansler was arrested without incident Monday afternoon at a relative's home in Blackford County by Indiana State Police detective Rob Ricks and Sgt. Darrell Thornburg, Sgt. Rod Russell of the ISP said.
"When there's an investigation involving a public official or a law enforcement officer, that case is treated the same as all the others," Russell said.
State police had the full cooperation of the Blackford County sheriff's department, Russell said.
Ricks was contacted by the Blackford County prosecutor's office on Friday and asked to investigate the allegations against Cansler. Ricks interviewed both the alleged victim and Cansler later that day and turned in his findings to the prosecutor's office on Monday
A Blackford Circuit Court warrant was then issued for the deputy's arrest. The events leading to Cansler's arrest allegedly occurred this month.
Cansler has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of criminal and internal investigations, Sheriff John Lancaster said in a news release.
Cansler was an unsuccessful candidate for sheriff in last May's Republican Party primary.
He was released from the Blackford County jail Monday after posting a $50,000 bond.
Cansler could not be reached for comment at his home Monday night.
www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061219/NEWS01/612190334/-1/buildasx