Monday, May 07, 2007

Department of Health Attorney Charged In Fatal Accident

WORKED FOR AIMING HIGHER CAMPAIGN OF MITCH DANIELS
Terry J. Record , a 26-year-old attorney for the Indiana Department of Health and former Daniels' campaign worker, has been charged with driving while intoxicated and causing an automobile collision which claimed the life of 47-year-old Jimmy Cash last night. Record has been charged with a Class C felony and his bond has been set at $100,000. Record reportedly had several drinks at Brad's Brass Flamingo strip club before climbing into his BMW and driving through a red light at the intersection of Southeastern and Pleasant Run Parkway. The Star quotes Record as saying of the man he had just killed, "I hope the guy has insurance to fix my car."
TDW has posted information on another traffic-related charge pending against Record in Daviess County. Prosecutor Carl Brizzi's office today announced Record's case would be handled by a special prosecutor because Record formerly worked as an intern in his office and volunteered with his re-election campaign. According to WTHR, Brizzi's office fired Record after one week on the job because he lied about a prior traffic accident.
The Star writes:

The man accused in a fatal drunken driving crash last night is a lawyer for the Indiana Department of Health, records show.

Police arrested Terry J. Record, 26, on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death in a crash that killed Jimmy R. Cash, 47, near Southeastern Avenue and Pleasant Run Parkway about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, according to police records.

Record, 2600 block of North Meridian Street, was held this morning in the Marion County Jail with bond set at $100,000.

Record is an attorney who works for the state Department of Health, according to Indiana Supreme Court records. Record was admitted to the bar in October, records show.

Record was driving a red 2000 BMW that collided with a 1978 Ford F-150 pickup driven by Cash, police said. Witnesses told police they saw the BMW run a red light, according to the report.Record told officers he had consumed four medium sized drinks at Brad’s Brass Flamingo prior to the crash. Record told officers that the pickup truck’s driver caused the crash, police said, and stated: “I hope the guy has insurance to fix my car.”

Record refused to take a breath test. Police obtained a warrant and drew two vials of Record’s blood to test for alcohol, according to the report.
Record's name may be familiar to people active in the Republican Party and, in particular, the campaign of Mitch Daniels. Record, who has been a contributor in the past for the Indiana Barrister blog site, was recruited by former Daniels Chief of Staff Harry Gonzo to work for Daniels' 2004 campaign according to a biography of him listed at Indiana Barrister. Here is his complete biography from the Indiana Barrister website, which was written before Record completed law school and joined the Department of Health:


Terry J. Record is completing his final year of law school at Indiana University School of Law at Bloomington, with an emphasis on litigation. Dedicated to his local legal community, Record is an active member of the American Bar Association (Law Student Division), Phi Alpha Delta International Legal Fraternity, Christian Legal
Society
, the Public Interest Law Foundation, and the Federalist Society. Admitted to
practice law under Indiana Admissions & Discipline Rule 2.1(a), his experience in both private and public practice under has led him to post a successful 6-1 trial record, encompassing both felony and misdemeanor bench trials. Prior to attending law school, he earned his Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and
Sciences
at Indiana University – Bloomington in History and Political Science, with a Minor in West European Studies.

Hired by Harry Gonzo of Ice Miller to serve as a paid staff member of the 2004 Mitch Daniels for Governor Campaign, Record has long been connected with the landscape of Indiana politics. When not preparing for class, he assists in the preparation of cases for trial for the Hon. David Powell, Prosecuting Attorney
for Greene County
, and drafts constituent letters for review by Rep. Mike Sodrel.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a tragedy. Drinking on a Sunday night, is, not good, if, you work Monday morning. I won't speculate. But, one lost life, one man will be haunted for life, if, he has a conscience.

Anonymous said...

Gary,

The other pending charge is not criminal, as indicated by the IF in the cause number. IF cases are infractions; it was probably a speeding ticket.

Record did work for Brizzi in addition to Daniels, as evidenced by this photo:

http://img108.imageshack.us/my.php?image=recordrl7.jpg

Gary R. Welsh said...

johnny, Thanks for the clarification.

Anonymous said...

I know Terry very well, and have known him for the better part of a decade. Terry is one of the nicest guys around, but at the end of the day his poor judgment killed someone and he'll have to account for that. Unfortunately for him and a number of others, his significant involvement in the Brizzi campaign - and his closeness with other deputy prosecutors - will make this a tricky and very public case. Something tells me we haven't heard the last of it.

Regarding Indiana Barrister, it was by a weird stroke of coincidence that I removed my name from the list of contributors this weekend. I never post there anymore and have actually sold the domain to someone else. But Terry also had not posted there in well over a year, and possibly longer. Nevertheless, he was incredibly active in politics and was a frequent blogger for a number of websites, including those I've created.

Gary R. Welsh said...

Thanks for sharing, Josh. Loved the YouTube clip with you and Izzy.

Anonymous said...

This is truly awful. Regardless of being D or R, (presuming innocence before guilt) if Mr. Record is found guilty he deserves a just and reasonable punishment.

I'm sure someone will bring up the fact he was at a strip joint - fact is he (allegedly) got drunk and killed someone. Doesn't matter whether it was at Brad's or BW3's.

Meanwhile there is now a family having to bury their husband and father.

Anonymous said...

This was a tragedy....the culprit is obviously sick, and needs to spend the rest of his life in the Dept of Correction to teach others...about life, and responsibility

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Gary R. Welsh said...

anon 5:50, I understand your concern about this case because your friend died, but I cannot allow you to post any comment threatening another person.

Anonymous said...

I have known Terry for four years and have always thought he was a nice person. The comment forum on the IndyStar website, which does not seem to be moderated as it is filled with trolls, is overflowing with inappropriate threats toward Terry and his family. Truthfully, and sadly, there are many people who could be in his situation.

I am disgusted that the IndyStar has not disabled comments for this story as they have others. They must enjoy using this tragedy to increase their site hits.

My heart is breaking for Mr. Cash's family and friends. I can only imagine how they must feel. No one deserves this. I hope they are able to find justice for their loved one.

Anonymous said...

A number of years ago a young Harvard Law graduate working in Phoenix was involved in a fatal accident while DUI and received 8 years in prison.