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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA deputy Madison County Prosecutor has been fired following her arrest for allegedly driving drunk. Deputy Prosecutor Janine L. Sutton was arrested for operating while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor.
Madison County Prosecutor Thomas Broderick Jr. released a statement Thursday regarding Sutton's termination, saying he was aware the allegations hadn't been proven yet in court but she needed to be fired to "ensure that the public have trust and confidence in the manner that we prosecute cases." It would be inappropriate to have a deputy prosecutor with a pending charge continue to prosecute other people charged with a similar crime, he said, adding that the "alleged inappropriate conduct would have had to occur over a period of time during working hours."
Sutton was involved in a single-car accident in Anderson around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. Sutton admitted to drinking some wine earlier in the day and said she was on prescription medication that may impair her driving if she drinks alcohol, according to the Anderson Police Department's affidavit of probable cause. Sutton failed several field sobriety tests and blew .11 percent BrAC following the crash. When police arrived, she said she had to swerve in order to miss hitting someone who stopped suddenly in front of her. She later asked how her car was damaged because she claimed it couldn't have been from the accident. Witnesses said Sutton was stopped at a traffic light and then simply drove off the road without ever slowing down once it turned green.
Broderick filed a petition for the appointment of a special prosecutor for Sutton's case in order to avoid impropriety. Sutton, 49, was admitted to the bar in 1993, according to the Indiana Roll of Attorneys.
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