Special prosecutor named

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Hurley — A special prosecutor has been appointed in the criminal case against former Hurley Fire Chief Darrell Petrusha.

Taylor County Judge Ann Knox-Bauer, who is hearing the case, has appointed Allen Brey to the position.

Brey will receive $80 an hour, according to court documents, including travel time.

“This deviation from the standard special prosecutor rate is necessary due to the difficulty in finding qualified and experienced people willing to take this special appointment where the district attorney has been disqualified and the neighboring counties have express conflicts in the case,” Knox-Bauer wrote in a cover letter for the paperwork appointing Brey.

Petrusha is facing one count of identity theft related to his alleged improper use of a department credit card for personal expenses in the case that started in May 2018.

Knox-Bauer removed Iron County District Attorney Matt Tingstad from the case in November 2020, citing a totality of circumstances that “gave the appearance of impropriety.”

Brey has a “vast and extensive history in the criminal justice system,” Knox-Bauer wrote, with experience as the district attorney in Taylor, Wood and Marinette counties.

A status conference in Petrusha’s case is scheduled for Feb. 16.