New trial date set for three ex-police officers

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New trial date set for three ex-police officers

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jun 30, 2008 at 4:22 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 30, 2008 at 4:22 PM EDT

HAMMOND — A new trial date has been set for three former Michiana law enforcement officers charged in a police corruption case.

Former South Bend police office Jamie Buford and former St. Joseph County officers Andrew Taghon and Ryan Huston are scheduled now for a two-week jury trial beginning Feb. 2 in federal court in Hammond.

The trial originally had been set to begin Sept. 8, but was postponed by Judge Philip P. Simon, in part, because Huston hired an additional attorney to assist in his defense.

The three ex-officers are charged in a federal indictment that accuses them of using their positions and skills as police officers to commit wire fraud by selling stolen property for which money was transferred electronically to bank accounts. Other charges involve illegal sales of drugs and guns.

All three men have denied the charges and are free on unsecured bonds awaiting trial.

The three ex-officers were indicted last October along with a fourth man, Daniel Alvarez, who has since pleaded guilty to selling two stolen guns and agreed to testify for the prosecution.

The defense has until Aug. 11 to file its requests to suppress certain items of evidence.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 12:33 PM Anon wrote ...

Burn out is a problem, but most DON'T ever cross the line. Ignorant comments on here make it hard to want to go out and do the job. I do it every day because I love what I do despite some of the idiots that post here.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 2:48 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Goethe, well i'm assuming to cope with the burnout, cops choose to cross the line and become shady. When they get tired of arresting the same criminal for possessing drugs, he simply takes them and the money, and doesn't do paperwork. Then lets the criminal go free only to do it all over again.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 2:25 PM Goethe wrote ...

I don't understand how cops manage to avoid burn out. All they can do is make arrests. They never really make a difference until someone commits mass slaughter and has to be sent away for life. How do cops cope with arresting the same woman beater, the same drunks, over and over again, always just maintaining the status quo? I could only be a cop if I knew that if I arrested someone for beating a woman, that one problem would be dealt with once and for all, not just processed through the sys.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 1:37 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Anon- Blah blah blah with your innocent until proven guilty crap. As an officer who prob has more details to this case, i'm sure you know as well as i do that they WILL be convicted. I just don't get how there have been so many dirty cops here in our community. Just makes a citizen wonder, how many more are there?

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 12:36 PM Anon wrote ...

to Anonymous 1059, yes, I am an officer and proud to be one despite this crap. I work hard every day to keep people safe. IF these guys are convicted, I hope they get the max sentence, but they haven't been convicted yet. They are entitled to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law just as everyone else is.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 11:23 AM Brandy Snap Jackson wrote ...

This is so funny I dont even understand it. The police people are the ones that catch bad guys right! They cant be in a court or jail unless they're giving evidence or interrrogationing a perp about a new case that only they have deatails about from inside the killers mind. Police are the good guys this is so silly someone must have misdentified them for perpetraitors. If they sold anything it was probably to put gas in their flashy light cars to chase bad guys. this is so FUNNY! Wowwee

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 10:59 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Anon what happens with the thugs are the police, what's your answer for that one mr. smart guy? always sticking up for them eh. you apparently are one too huh. too bad for you.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 10:57 AM when wrote ...

When will this end? This case has been going on forever now. And from what I hear a lot more officers are going to go down with them. It's too bad. Who do you trust in this city anymore.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 10:27 AM bottom line is wrote ...

these cops are hot

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 9:56 AM WHAT THE??? wrote ...

What in the heck does I/N Tek have to do with these 3 cops???

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 9:49 AM Anonymous wrote ...

"Free on unsecured bonds awaiting trial", isn't that nice, these thugs are walking the streets - anyone else would have been in jail from day one. Makes me sick to my stomach. Don't you just feel so secure and safe in the city of So. Bend when you can't even trust the ones who are supposed to "serve & protect"? That department certainly does need a complete overhaul.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 8:15 AM Anon wrote ...

to Anonymous 1224AM, The SBPD is a very dedicated department and doing everything they can within the law to control the thugs that are running this city. They can only arrest them, then it is up to the prosecutor's office and the judges to actually convict and punish them.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 12:39 AM I/N Tek wrote ...

There you go. I rest my case. Losers. Come on out to Tek and try to catch as many of us as you can. Problem is, you'll probably land in jail before you make it out here.

Tuesday, Jul 1 at 12:24 AM Anonymous wrote ...

The South Bend police department certainly needs an overhaul. There are way too many issues and crime is too high. While I know there are many honest police out there, the problems in South Bend are clear to see. Why is the mayor not doing anything about this?

Monday, Jun 30 at 10:37 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I went to school with Ryan at LaSalle and now all the cops from our school are dead or in jail. Corrections is a bad move for LaSalle Grads. Criminals seems to do well on the otherside of the law. Go Lions

Monday, Jun 30 at 10:34 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Jamie Buford took $600.00 from me several years ago during a traffic stop. He said I shouldn't have that type of cash on me. He did also keep a little weed i had and didn't take to to jail so hey. Thanks Buford.

Monday, Jun 30 at 10:18 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I hope that Buford get his butt kicked in prison. He was a very abusive officer. I hope the inmates make sweet love to him.

Monday, Jun 30 at 6:17 PM Kevin wrote ...

shame on them

Monday, Jun 30 at 5:22 PM Bud wrote ...

It's time that the bad cops get caught and go to trial. Hopefully if they are guilty they will do time.

Monday, Jun 30 at 5:13 PM In God We Trust wrote ...

There's more out there that you all need to watch out for

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