Ex-lawmaker Oxley to face charges
Police: Ex-lawmaker lied to avoid arrest
By Jon Murray and Francesca Jarosz
Posted: July 2, 2009. Read Comments(17) RecommendE-mailPrintShare.A
A .9:20 AM -- Report: Oxley surrenders
Former Democratic candidate Dennie Oxley II surrendered this morning at the City-County Building on charges he impersonated a state lawmaker to avoid arrest, WRTV (Channel 6) reported.
EARLIER -- Ex-lawmaker Oxley to face charges
A former state legislator and recent candidate for lieutenant governor faced misdemeanor charges Wednesday in an incident in which he is accused of pretending to be an active lawmaker to avoid a public-intoxication arrest.
The incident involving Dennie Oxley II at a Downtown Indianapolis gas station last week quickly attracted attention, and Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi opted to seek criminal penalties.
A police officer arrived about 1 a.m. Friday at the Citgo station in the 400 block of East Ohio Street to find Oxley, 38, walking away while a 21-year-old woman lay facedown on the ground, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The former Democratic state representative from Southern Indiana had glassy eyes and slurred speech and was carrying a pair of high-heeled shoes, police said.
Police searched Oxley's wallet and found an old ID card identifying him as a state representative, the affidavit says, and Oxley claimed to be serving in the General Assembly's special session.
Officers released Oxley to a friend, court documents say, because the Indiana Constitution offers legislators limited immunity from arrest during a General Assembly session.
Marion Superior Court documents that leveled charges of impersonation of a public servant and public intoxication against Oxley gave no details about his relationship with the woman.
She was a former intern for Indiana House Democrats and was working behind the scenes during the special legislative session, which ended Tuesday.
The woman's uncle, Rep. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, said she had been staying at his condo, across Ohio Street from the gas station.
Prosecutors don't expect to charge her. She was taken to a hospital because of her condition, Brizzi said.
"Mr. Oxley was the one who betrayed her trust," Brizzi said
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