Cases Handled By The Law Offices of Tony Zirkle

Experience and Cases Handled

COMMUNITY PROSECUTOR November 2000-May 2001

Focus:

Drug dealing, obscenity, Internet & computer crimes, prostitution, RICO, liaison to police dept. for search warrants, general crime prevention, etc.

John's school established: March 2001

Assisted the investigation and search warrant preparation for a bust of the first chop shop sting in 15-years (Approximately 100 auto theft cases solved)

Successfully obtained a search warrant and seized a computer used to download child pornography from the Internet

Grand Jury Experience:

November 2000, solo prepared and presented a 19-count indictment on issues involving pandering obscenity, racketeering, money
laundering and conspiracy to commit RICO

True bills were handed down on all 19 counts presented

Solo Trials:

Over *** solo trials in 1999-2000.

Typical Felonies Handled:

(Jury Trials): Drug Dealing (Cocaine), Promoting Professional Gambling, Criminal Recklessness (Drive-by Shooting), Resisting Law Enforcement, Intimidation, Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Pointing a Loaded Firearm, Felony Possession of a Firearm, and Operating While Intoxicated (misdemeanor)

Cases that have not gone to a Jury:

Racketeering (Pandering Obscenity), Civil RICO Forfeitures, Money Laundering, Conspiracy to Commit RICO, Obstruction of Justice, Habitual Prostitution, Child Seduction, Promoting Prostitution, Maintaining a Chop Shop, Habitual OWI, Robbery, Burglary, Criminal Gang Activity, Interstate Custody Violation, Dealing in a Sawed-off Shotgun, Repeat Drug Dealing (Marijuana), Impersonation of a Public Servant, Serious Violent Felon in Possession of a Handgun, Habitual Felony / Substance / Traffic Offenders, Escape, Fraud, Credit Card Fraud, Forgery, Theft, Residential Entry, Battery by Bodily Waste, Auto Theft, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Receiving Stolen Property, etc.

Records Held:

Most Felony Jury Trials (12) in the yr. 2000 among 22 Prosecutors
Undefeated in Solo Completed Jury Trials (10-0) [1 Hung/1 Mistrial]
Most Trial Convictions in one afternoon (6 separate bench trials)
Heaviest Case Load (4th largest felony load (190) while Directing the Traffic & Misdemeanor Division)
Most DUI Convictions in 1999-2000: (8-1)

Awards:

2000:

'Make My Day Award' for the Record Number of Jury Trials and for Lack of Fear in the Courtroom

1999:

'Prosecutorial Award' for Aggressive Prosecution

RACKETEERING CASES CHARGED/INDICTED and HANDLED

Indiana v. Olling (Goalie Entertainment Area Manager)
Indiana v. Ptak (Goalie Entertainment Regional Manager)
Indiana v. Robert Henderson (Owner of Little Denmark Bookstore)
Indiana v. Edwin Balanow (Co-Owner of Pleasureland Museum)
Indiana v. Shirley Balanow (Co-Owner of Pleasureland Museum)

Handled a several month undercover investigation and directed the simultaneous serving of search warrants on four (4) adult book stores

Prepared & served a second search warrant on the Goalie store

Utilized use immunity to secure employee's testimony

South Bend Tribune Top Stories RSS Feed
News from South Bend Tribune

Lower drinking age gaining support :Holy Cross president joins others who say it's time to rethink law.
Eighteen-year-olds can help choose the president of the United States. They can get married, go to war, and be tried as adults. But they can't walk into a bar anywhere in the United States and buy a beer.

South Bend man sentenced in 2006 beating
SOUTH BEND -- A 19-year-old South Bend man who pleaded guilty in the 2006 beating of Tyrone Neely was sentenced this week to placement in a community corrections program after he pleaded guilty to that and another crime he committed while out on bond.

ND Football Q & A with Bob Wieneke
Irish Sports Report editorial coordinator Bob Wieneke answers questions about Notre Dame football in a live chat Wednesday at noon.

Man who used Cameroon teen like slave loses appeal
DETROIT (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of a Michigan man who brought a 14-year-old to the U.S. from Cameroon and treated her like a slave.

St. Joseph County Child Support Division recognized for improvement
SOUTH BEND -- The Child Support Division of the St.

Amid Obama-Bayh buzz, Biden says he's 'not the guy' for VP
The breathless buzz of expectation that a running mate announcement from presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., could come as early as Wednesday has some hanging on a single pronoun.

Michigan shoplifting suspect crushed in compactor
DELTA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Michigan authorities say a shoplifting suspect died after being crushed in a trash compactor where she was hiding.

If Obama taps Bayh, they win, then what? :Scenarios differ on how Senate seat would be filled.
It's easy to wonder about the odds that Sen. Evan Bayh will be named Sen. Barack Obama's vice presidential running mate.