Indiana Prosecutor Is Fired For Withholding Exculpatory Evidence

In a relatively rare move, Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Trista Hudson has been fired for her blatantly unethical conduct in the withholding of exculpatory evidence in the prosecution of Eric Knowles (left), 39, for child molestation. Recently, evidence was discovered that one of two purported victims made up at least part of the accusations in a child molestation case. Hudson also serves on the Valparaiso City Council.

To his credit, Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel made the decision. Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa then ordered Knowles released immediately from jail on his own recognizance.

Hudson’s problems however are not over. Alexa is referring the case to the Indiana Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Commission for an ethical review.

Defense counsel have long complained over the withholding of evidence and the failure of judges to hold prosecutors accountable in such cases. This is one such case where both the chief prosecutor and the court took due process very seriously and acted in accordance with those core legal values.