Officer sought on drug charges   

[DEC. 16, 2004]  Logan County State's Attorney Tim Huyett announced that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Diana R. Short, 46, a corporal with the Lincoln City Police Department. Short is accused, along with her husband, John, of operating a marijuana grow room in the basement of her Lincoln residence.

The accusations arose after the Illinois State Police drug task force sought, received and executed a search warrant for the residence during the late morning hours Wednesday. She is charged in three counts with the production of the cannabis, the intent to deliver the same for profit and the production of cannabis sativa plants.

She is also charged with official misconduct, because even though she was off duty, police officers are prohibited at all times from trafficking in illegal drugs.

Three of the charges are Class III felonies, carrying potential prison sentences of up to five years. The cannabis sativa charge is a Class IV felony, which carries a potential sentence of up to three years in prison. The marijuana charges are also eligible for fines of up to $50,000.

Huyett stated: "At this point in time no further details concerning the background of the arrest warrant will be released, both for the sake of the accused and the law enforcement personnel involved." Huyett expects most of the detail to come out over the coming weeks as the case progresses through the court system.

Huyett also stated that the city police department and the city attorney have already begun the process of suspending the officer, a veteran of seven years, who was recently promoted from patrolman to corporal. He expressed regret that the situation occurred but stressed it also shows that law enforcement, though they may have allegiance for one another, will not accept wrongdoing of this magnitude.

At the time of this press release (11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16) warrants for both Diana and John Short were active.

[News release from Timothy J. Huyett,
Logan County state's attorney]