By LOHR McKINSTRY
ELIZABETHTOWN — New Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague says she will open a mystery safe found in her office once law-enforcement authorities are on hand.
"I have not and I will not open that safe without the proper personnel being present," Sprague said. "And I do not have the combination."
The electronic-combination safe was found in the District Attorney's Office when Sprague took office after the first of the year. She defeated previous DA Julie Garcia in the November election.
Sprague said she believes the safe contains forfeiture money from drug cases, and she wants Sheriff Henry Hommes and State Police to be present when it is opened to verify the contents.
Garcia, now in private practice in Westport, said she left a list of what is in the safe in her office before she left. She said the safe contains more than $7,000 in drug-asset forfeiture money that was in an evidence locker when she took office from former DA Ronald Briggs.
Sprague said Assistant District Attorney Michael Langey was given a combination that might fit the safe, but she wants everyone there before trying it.
Sprague said she also found a $1,400 check from 2008 that was never cashed.
"We'll do what we have to to get that reissued," Sprague said.
The check was from State Police to the DA and was probably forfeiture money, she said.
Sprague said she and her staff are removing old files to make more room in the office.
"We're cleaning out files from the early '80s to the present day to restructure the office."
She told the County Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee that she still needs furniture for the office, which is located in the lower level of the County Courthouse.
"I walked into an office with no furniture. I want to thank those who donated furniture to me."
"I'm curious as to where the furniture went," Supervisor Roby Politi (R-North Elba) said.
Sprague said that when Briggs left office, much of his furniture was given to other departments.
"The desk was Ms. Garcia's personal desk, which she took with her. They pulled in DA McDonald's old table, and I used that."
John McDonald Sr., who was district attorney until retiring in the early 1990s, often worked at a table instead of using a desk.
Sprague said she's now gotten her own desk but still needs furniture.
"We have filing cabinets that are falling apart, literally."
Board of Supervisors Chair Randy Douglas (D-Jay) said he's going to work on getting Sprague some furniture.
E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com
