Federal and International

United States Attorney’s Office Announces Indictment of Clark County Sheriff


New Albany-(ENEWSPF)- Joseph H. Hogsett, United States Attorney, announced the indictment of Daniel N. Rodden, 60, Jeffersonville, July 29. Rodden was indicted for seven counts of making a false statement and one count of counseling the destruction of evidence in a federal investigation.

On May 14, 2013, Rodden, the elected sheriff of Clark County, allegedly provided a prostitute with official law enforcement credentials and an official deputy’s badge of the Clark County Sheriff’s Department so that the prostitute could obtain a government employee rate at a hotel in Louisville, KY. Rodden allegedly met the prostitute at the hotel on May 29 in a bedroom and engaged in a sex act with the prostitute.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) identified Rodden as it was conducting an investigation concerning wire fraud and enticing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution. FBI agents and Task Force officers interviewed Rodden in May and June of 2014. Over the course of three interviews, Rodden allegedly told FBI agents that he did not give the prostitute government credentials, did not pay to have sexual relations with her, and did not contact her and instruct the prostitute to destroy evidence of their encounter.

“Our message has been consistent but bears repeating: if you violate the public trust, our Public Corruption Working Group will find you, will investigate you, and will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” said Hogsett.

This investigation is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Working Group (“PIWG”), a collaborative effort between federal state and local law enforcement agencies to rid Indian of the “culture of corruption” that too often deprives citizens of proper representation. This prosecution comes as part of a joint effort between the Indiana State Police, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“FBI investigations seek out truth in the interest of justice and integrity is a bedrock principal of law enforcement. Truth and integrity are essential for those in public office,” said Special Agent in Charge W. Jay Abbott.

Anyone who has information to share about public corruption matters is encouraged to contact the Public Integrity Hotline at 317-229-2443.

According to Senior Litigation Counsel Bradley Blackington, who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government, Rodden faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment for counseling the destruction of evidence and five years for each count of making a false statement.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: FBI.GOV


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