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Montco DA Apologizes For Remarks About Contractor, Later Exonerated

By Brad Segall

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- The Montgomery County district attorney's office has reached a settlement with a Radnor, Pa. contractor who was falsely accused of ripping off a Jenkintown church more than five years ago.

When he was arrested and charged with failing to pay subcontractors on a project at the Salem Baptist Church, DA Risa Ferman used words like "despicable" and "low" to describe Walter Logan.

But after further investigation, those charges were dropped a year later.

Now, the 65-year-old businessman has received an apology and an undisclosed financial settlement.

Logan says it's been a tough road for his family.

"We spent forty years building a business and building good character, and in virtually one day that all changed," he told reporters today.

 

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(Contractor Walter Logan, center, with his wife and his attorney, Mark Tanner. Photo by Brad Segall)

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Ferman's office issued a statement saying, "There's no credible evidence that Mr. Logan ever stole anything from Salem Baptist Church and we retract any statements to that effect."

Published reports peg the settlement at more than $1.6 million.  A civil case brought by Logan against the church is still pending, and scheduled to go to trial in September.

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