(Boise) - Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said today that his office has concluded an investigation requested by Minidoka County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Walker. Wasden said his office will not bring criminal charges against former Rupert Police Chief Ken Fedders or former Rupert Police Officer Juan Martinez.

On July 15, 2004, Walker asked the Attorney General to investigate allegations of unlawful abuse of police authority and bribery that were made against Fedders. The allegations arose from an incident that occurred in May of 2002.

On November 2, 2004, Walker asked the Attorney General to investigate allegations of motor vehicle theft made against Martinez. The allegations arose out of several incidents that occurred between two and four years ago.

"My office was asked to investigate specific incidents involving these two individuals," Attorney General Wasden said. "We have conducted thorough and professional investigations and notified Mr. Walker of our conclusions. Accordingly, the scope of our investigation was limited to the specific incidents."

Deputy Attorney General Stephen Bywater, Chief of the Criminal Law Division, notified Walker by letter of the outcome of the two investigations. "Our investigation has led us to the conclusion that the facts of the case do not rise to the level of a felony and any criminal law violation which has occurred is time barred by the provisions of Idaho Code §19-403, which requires that all misdemeanors be filed within one year of the date of their commission. Accordingly, I am writing to inform you of our decision to decline the case for prosecution by this office," Bywater wrote.