Published: July 12, 2007 11:46 pm         

Parke official pleads not guilty

Attorney: Full truth will exonerate 53-year-old county councilman

INDIANAPOLIS — An attorney for a Parke County official accused of sexual misconduct with a minor said his client will be exonerated “ … when the full truth comes out.”

Roger Fisher, 53, of Rockville faces up to 31 years in prison and up to $30,000 in fines if convicted on charges of felony sexual misconduct with a minor and possession of narcotics.

Fisher appeared in Marion County Superior Criminal Court Division 2 on Thursday to face the charges.

“There are two sides to this situation,” said his attorney, Richard Kammen, after proceedings. “We’d ask people to indulge [Fisher] with the presumption of innocence. Let the system play out and await the results of his trial.”

Fisher, a longtime public official in Parke County, served as auditor and clerk for eight years each, and currently serves on the County Council.

His future with the council will depend on the outcome of the case, according to Parke County officials.

Fisher was arrested by Speedway Police after he was found Sunday in a Motel 6 on the west side of Indianapolis with a 15-year-old boy. Court documents stated that Fisher told police he thought the boy was 18, but that the boy told police he had told Fisher his actual age.

Police had received a call from a woman who saw the pair enter the motel room, and was concerned about the boy’s welfare. When police arrived and knocked on the door to the room, Fisher told them he was there alone, but then admitted there was someone hiding in the bathroom.

Police found the boy naked from the waist down, lying in the bathtub covering himself with a pair of pants, upset and crying, according to the document.

The charges allege Fisher admitted to police to engaging in oral sex and fondling with the victim. Police also found Fisher in possession of hydrocodone, a painkiller, according to the charges.

Fisher and the boy met on a telephone chat line and had been corresponding by phone for months, according to the affidavit.

Fisher is out of jail on $20,000 bail. His jury trial has been scheduled for Oct. 1.

Fisher declined comment outside the courtroom Thursday.

Deb McKee can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or deb.mckee@tribstar.com.