Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler is taking no interview requests, but his staff says he expects to be working as usual all week.
Tyler told a federal judge on Monday that he’d finish his term as mayor. That’s after he was indicted and arrested on one federal charge of “theft of government services.” The indictment alleges he accepted a $5,000 cash bribe through another city employee to steer city contracts to an unnamed company in Gaston.
At a press conference on Monday, US Attorney Josh Minkler said he was bothered by the fact Tyler would not be stepping down.
“People are presumed innocent until proven guilty…. But our goal is to get this case into a trial to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and to make sure he can never be a public official again," Minkler says.
Tyler did not run for re-election in November. Mayor-elect Republican Dan Ridenour will be sworn in on New Year’s Day.
Tyler did not leave his attorney’s name with his staff answering his office phone.
