Two special prosecutors announced on Monday that they intend to bring criminal obstruction of justice charges against former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody following a raid on the local newspaper office last year. The prosecutors have not specified whether Cody will be charged with a felony or a misdemeanor, as they are still working on the case with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
The raid on the Marion County Record and the home of its publisher, Eric Meyer, took place on August 11, 2023. The prosecutors’ report highlighted that the Marion police, under Cody’s leadership, conducted a flawed investigation that led to incorrect accusations of identity theft and other computer crimes against Meyer and reporter Phyllis Zorn. It was revealed that Cody obstructed the investigation by withholding crucial information from investigators in September 2023.
The raid gained national attention and sparked a debate on press freedoms, as Marion is a small town with a population of around 1,900 people. Cody resigned as police chief in early October, and the materials seized during the raid were returned to the newspaper staff. Tragically, Meyer’s 98-year-old mother, Joan Meyer, who co-owned the paper, passed away from a heart attack the day after the raid, which Meyer believes was due to the stress of the situation.
In terms of potential charges, a felony obstruction charge could lead to a maximum of nine months in prison for a first-time offender, while a misdemeanor charge could result in up to a year in jail. The prosecutors concluded that neither Meyer nor Zorn had committed any crimes in their use of an online state database to verify information about the business owner’s driving record. The report emphasized that the Marion police’s investigation was flawed and led to incorrect conclusions.
Overall, the case against former Police Chief Gideon Cody is still ongoing, and the details of the criminal charges are yet to be finalized. The incident has raised concerns about press freedom and the proper conduct of law enforcement agencies in small communities like Marion. The tragic outcome of the raid, with the passing of Joan Meyer, highlights the serious implications of such actions on individuals and their families. As the legal proceedings continue, the community will be watching closely to see how justice is served in this case.
