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St. Clair prosecutor might seek probe of coroner

BC-IL--Subpoenas-St Clair County,131

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly says the county coroner might be committing a crime by serving subpoenas without a license.

The Belleville News Democrat reports (http://tinyurl.com/czlatfq ) that Kelly is ready to request a special prosecutor to look into the matter. He says coroner Rick Stone has served hundreds of subpoenas without a license.

The state Department of Professional Regulation fined Stone $10,000 in September, but it hasn’t been paid. Serving subpoenas without a license is a Class A misdemeanor.

Kelly says the department hasn’t responded to a letter regarding a criminal investigation. A spokesman would not tell the newspaper whether the department would cooperate.

A private lawyer paid Stone between $25 and $50 to serve hundreds of subpoenas to people who allegedly owed money to a local hospital.

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