3 Close to Failed Wayne County Jail Project Indicted

Three people at the center of the the botched Wayne County Jail project have been indicted by a one-person grand jury, Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office said in a statement.

The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News are reporting that indictments were handed down Friday against former chief financial officer Carla Sledge; Steven Collins, a top lawyer for Wayne County; and Anthony Parlovecchio, the former construction manager.

All three face willful neglect of duty charges, a one-year misdemeanor. More serious five-year felony indictments were handed down against Sledge and Collins.

The $300 million jail project was shelved earlier this year after cost overruns surpassed $100 million. Sledge and Collins are accused of lying to the Wayne County Commission and Wayne County Building Project about the project costs.

“This has been a long and arduous undertaking,” Worthy said in the statement. “The one-man grand jury was necessary to ensure that the process was impartial, fair, and free from politics.

“Because the charges were issued as an indictment, this matter will proceed directly to circuit court for arraignment and then to trial. The same law that provides for convening the grand jury also prohibits me from speaking about its proceedings; the details will come out in court.”

The Detroit News said the charges against the three aren’t related to the ongoing federal corruption probe into County Executive Robert Ficano’s administration. Four high-ranking officials have been indicted on bribery and obstruction of justice charges.

The newspaper said, however, that Collins was interviewed in April by federal authorities, who also have sought multiple documents about Parlovecchio.