SHAWNEE COUNTY — The Stafford County Attorney, who helps sends suspects to jail, faces his own legal issue after being arrested Sept. 20 for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol by the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Stafford County Attorney Joe Shepack also serves as county attorney for Ellsworth County. He has served in Ellsworth County since 1992.
A Kansas Highway Patrol spokesman told the Ellsworth Independent Reporter that the Highway Patrol’s arrest report indicated that Shepack, 58, was stopped at 9:27 p.m. Sept. 20 four miles south of Topeka on the Kansas Turnpike. The report indicated that Shepack was cited for failure to maintain a single lane of traffic, and that the suspect declined to try a Breathalyzer test.
Stafford County commissioners are Kurt Fairchild, Shane Stimatze and Clayton Grimmett. Stafford County commissioners have been advised of Shepack’s arrest.
The Ellsworth Independent Reporter indicated just one of three Ellsworth County commissioners was aware of Shepack’s arrest in Shawnee County when contacted by the newspaper.