Prosecutor says request made to avoid conflict of interest
CROWN POINT | Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter on Thursday requested the appointment of a special prosecutor in pending drug cases against Hammond political insider David Woerpel, his wife and two sons.
Prosecutors charged the family in September with possession of marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance, both felonies, after state police said they spotted marijuana plants growing on the family's property.
In a brief announcement released late Thursday afternoon, Carter said the request was being made to avoid a conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety in the case involving Woerpel, 48; his wife, Tina, 45; and their sons, James Woerpel, 25, and Derrick Woerpel, 22.
David Woerpel currently is set to appear in court Monday before Lake Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell, the sister of Woerpel's attorney, John Cantrell, a former law partner to Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. with whom Woerpel is closely aligned.
One of a 60-member governing board established by McDermott in his role as Lake County Democratic Party chairman, Woerpel is 5th District Democratic precinct captain and serves on the Hammond Parks and Recreation Board. Woerpel, a postal worker commonly known as "The Mailman" by followers of Hammond radio station WJOB, co-hosts a radio show with Hammond city worker Steve Fowler, a Hammond Sanitary District commissioner appointed by McDermott.
Tina Woerpel is a former general forewoman of the Hammond Recycling Department, now part of the Hammond Sanitary District. Both Woerpel sons have held city jobs.
Tina and James Woerpel are scheduled to appear Monday but before Lake Superior Court Judge Jesse Villalpando. Court records indicate Derrick Woerpel's appearance before Villalpando has been reset to Nov. 23.
When reached Thursday, John Cantrell said he was not aware Carter is seeking a special prosecutor.
Carter's office did not respond to inquiries from The Times as to what prompted Carter's decision.
Following Woerpel's arrest, Lake County Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez made public a private rebuke McDermott Jr. hurled at him for arresting the mayor's ally.
The mayor had accused Dominguez, his second-in-command, and Carter of "playing politics" following Woerpel's Sept. 10 arrest.
Dominguez released a voice message he said McDermott Jr. had left on the sheriff's cell phone.
McDermott later publicly criticized the sheriff for the disclosure.
You are viewing our mobile site. To see the regular site in your mobile, click here