Cumberland County District Attorney Dave Freed said Tuesday, he's taking court action to have Carlisle's embattled tax collector permanently removed from office.
When Carlisle's Tax Collector was arrested last summer, the District Attorney said it wasn't as much about the crime as the integrity of the office he had held for only eight months. Once again his integrity has come into question.
George Hicks was taken from Carlisle Police Headquarters last August where he had been processed for selling marijuana. He told reporters about his use of marijuana. "70 hours a week as tax collector with stress as tax collector by myself, and I like to have a little something at the end of the day."
The next week, District Attorney Dave Freed secured a court order limiting Hicks' activities. He was not to conduct any duties of the tax collector, but he is allowed to retain the title and collect the salary until the conclusion of the criminal case.
But, that salary, the title and the elected office could be stripped away even before the start of the criminal trial.
Freed said he wants Hicks removed from the position, because he no longer lives in Carlisle. "You can't serve as an elected tax collector in the Borough of Carlisle when you don't live in the Borough of Carlisle. We believe we have evidence including voter records and registration to show that Mr. Hicks has moved, that he has established a new address in the city of Philadelphia and that renders him in eligible to serve."
Hicks' Defense Attorney, Karl Rominger, said he doesn't know if his client moved. "I don't know the answer to that. I would assume that his residency requirements are met for a job though."
The District Attorney anticipates Judge Christie Lee Peck will schedule a hearing on his motion. At that time the new evidence will be presented, and ultimately a decision on whether to oust Hicks as Tax Collector, will be made.
The judge directed the Borough of Carlisle to assume tax collection responsibilities. A preliminary audit showed $20,000 in tax payments unaccounted for.
Freed says that prompted a more detailed financial investigation, which is still on-going.
When Carlisle's Tax Collector was arrested last summer, the District Attorney said it wasn't as much about the crime as the integrity of the office he had held for only eight months. Once again his integrity has come into question.
George Hicks was taken from Carlisle Police Headquarters last August where he had been processed for selling marijuana. He told reporters about his use of marijuana. "70 hours a week as tax collector with stress as tax collector by myself, and I like to have a little something at the end of the day."
The next week, District Attorney Dave Freed secured a court order limiting Hicks' activities. He was not to conduct any duties of the tax collector, but he is allowed to retain the title and collect the salary until the conclusion of the criminal case.
But, that salary, the title and the elected office could be stripped away even before the start of the criminal trial.
Freed said he wants Hicks removed from the position, because he no longer lives in Carlisle. "You can't serve as an elected tax collector in the Borough of Carlisle when you don't live in the Borough of Carlisle. We believe we have evidence including voter records and registration to show that Mr. Hicks has moved, that he has established a new address in the city of Philadelphia and that renders him in eligible to serve."
Hicks' Defense Attorney, Karl Rominger, said he doesn't know if his client moved. "I don't know the answer to that. I would assume that his residency requirements are met for a job though."
The District Attorney anticipates Judge Christie Lee Peck will schedule a hearing on his motion. At that time the new evidence will be presented, and ultimately a decision on whether to oust Hicks as Tax Collector, will be made.
The judge directed the Borough of Carlisle to assume tax collection responsibilities. A preliminary audit showed $20,000 in tax payments unaccounted for.
Freed says that prompted a more detailed financial investigation, which is still on-going.