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Prosecutor refuses to press charges against suspect in newspaper theft

By Katie Wang
Daily Staff Reporter

The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office decided yesterday not to pursue larceny charges against a suspect identified in last Wednesday's removal of 8,700 copies of The Michigan Daily.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Burke said the Michigan general larceny statute requires proof that an owner exists for a particular property at the time of the incident.

"Once the Daily has been dropped at the Daily distribution sites, it is the Daily's intention for people to take one," Burke said.

Burke said that although the Daily would prefer students to take only one copy, there are no limitations that restrict students from taking as many copies as they would like.

A police report released Tuesday by the University's Department of Public Service listed LSA junior Wayne Wolbert as a suspect in last week's incident.

Wolbert refused to comment last night.

Daily Editor in Chief Ronnie Glassberg said, "We're disappointed that a technicality will prevent a criminal from being brought to justice under state law."

Glassberg said the prosecutor's decision sets a "very dangerous precedent for free-drop publications across the state.

"The flaw in Michigan law means that any individual can steal a free-drop publication when they disagree with its views," he said.

Glassberg also indicated that the Daily would continue to explore other legal avenues, but it would remain firm in its opposition to using the Code of Student Conduct.

About half of the Daily's press run was removed from campus drop sites last week. In place of the missing Dailys was a sign saying, "The Michigan Daily has been canceled today due to racism."

Although no one has formally claimed responsibility for the incident, a DPS investigation linked Wolbert and several other unidentified individuals to the theft.