Detective Fired After Settlement Reached Over False Charges

By Brad Segall

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The fallout continues from a settlement reached between the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office and a Radnor contractor who was falsely accused of stealing from a Jenkintown church five years ago.

County officials confirm Mary Anders was terminated from her job as a county detective on the same day lawyers for Walter Logan announced a settlement with the DA's office over those false charges.

Anders was assigned to investigate the case in 2009 and according to court documents, she relied on information given to her by the Salem Baptist Church to compile a criminal complaint that was used as the basis to charge Logan.

Logan's attorney says information was provided by his attorneys at the time demonstrating his innocence, but he says Anders never interviewed his client.

Prosecutors dropped the charges against Logan a year later.

The settlement included an apology from the DA and $1.6 million. Anders spent 25 years in the office, first as an investigator, then promoted to detective.

District Attorney Risa Ferman would not comment on the firing, calling it a personnel matter.

In:
• Montgomery County
• Church
• Jenkintown