CHARGES AND COUNTERCHARGES SWIRL AROUND SCOTT CITY MAYOR

SCOTT CITY -- Mayor Larry Forhan and the publisher of a Scott City newspaper have accused each other of wrongdoing, amid continuing controversy at city hall.

N.W. "Bruesstar" Bell -- who operates Bell Marketing in Cape Girardeau and publishes the Scott City paper -- has accused Forhan, a former employee, of tampering with the company's computer data and equipment.

Bell has filed a complaint with the Cape Girardeau Police Department. The complaint has been turned over to Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County's prosecuting attorney.

Forhan, in turn, contends in Small Claims Court that Bell owes him money for work he performed while an employee of Bell Marketing.

Bell's newspaper has been sharply critical of Forhan in recent weeks over the controversial firing of a police officer. Its May 31 edition carried a front-page headline that read: "Pure and simple it's politics: Mean, Dirty, Cheap politics."

Even some council members have been critical of the mayor, contending he's wrongly meddled in the operations of the police department.

There's been talk of impeachment, but even Forhan's critics on the council say that's unlikely.

Councilman Ron Oller, who has been critical of the mayor, said he views the dispute between Forhan and Bell as a private matter at this point.

But he said, "If Mr. Forhan is guilty of the allegation against him, he should step down."

That's a view shared by Councilman Kenny Holder Jr., who works for Bell's newspaper.

"If he (Forhan) is guilty of it, and if he is going to be charged with it, then he is a criminal like every other criminal, and he shouldn't be serving the city," said Holder.

The dispute between Bell and Forhan surfaced on May 4, when Bell filed a complaint with the Cape Girardeau police.

In that complaint, Bell alleged that Forhan tampered with computer data and equipment belonging to Bell Marketing, 728 Broadway, between April 8 and April 25.

"We conducted an investigation and turned it over to the prosecuting attorney's office," said police Sgt. Carl Kinnison.

Swingle said Friday that his office is still investigating the case.

"No charges have been filed against anyone. At this point, it is improper to comment on facts in the case," Swingle said.

On May 10, six days after the complaint was filed by Bell, Forhan lodged a complaint against his former employer in Small Claims Court.

Forhan is seeking $545 for four days work and sales commissions he says he is owed, plus court costs.

A court clerk said Bell was sent a summons by certified mail, but it was returned because the publisher refused to sign for it.

The clerk said the summons now would be served by a sheriff's deputy if Forhan goes ahead and pays the cost of such service.

The initial summons called for the case to be heard on June 23 in Jackson, but that court date likely will be changed since the summons has yet to be served, the clerk said.

Forhan had little to say publicly Friday about Bell's accusations. "My attorney has advised me not to respond to false allegations," the mayor said.

Forhan's attorney, John Heisserer, said: "I've advised him not to make any statement at this time. But the allegations made by Mr. Bell are false and unfounded, and I am confident the prosecuting attorney will reach the same conclusion.

"Mr. Forhan is anxious to talk about it all, and will do so at the appropriate time," Heisserer said.

Bell could not be reached for comment.

Forhan started working for Bell as general manager in late November. He held that job until February, when he took a position doing computer work for the company. He left the firm in early April.

Holder said he doesn't know about the legalities of tampering with computers. But he said that when Forhan left, Bell Marketing experienced some computer problems.

"I know that our billing system was totally fouled up. I know that our papers were put way behind because of the way the subscription lists were made.

"I know that he had passwords for a lot of computer programs, and we couldn't get into the programs without the passwords," said Holder.

"The fact is, when he did leave, it hurt the newspaper," Holder said.

Political Editor Jim Grebing provided some information for this story.