Job case produces first felony charge

[ridgerunner]

Transportation official resigns

By Mark Pitsch
[e-mail]
The Courier-Journal

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A top Transportation Cabinet official was indicted yesterday on a felony charge of witness tampering and resigned later in the day at Gov. Ernie Fletcher's request.

Dan G. Druen Jr. is the first official to be charged with a felony in Attorney General Greg Stumbo's investigation of alleged illegal hiring of civil service workers.

And Druen's is the first resignation Fletcher administration officials acknowledge was prompted by the probe. Druen had been the Transportation Cabinet's administrative services commissioner, earning $96,500 a year.

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Under yesterday's indictment, Druen is accused of trying to influence the testimony of his former executive secretary, Cheryl Casey, who has been called before a special grand jury three times -- including yesterday morning.

more:http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050720/NEWS0104/507200448