Commissioner Pangle to McDonough: Pay back your wages

St. Joseph County commissioner Kathy Pangle made clear she will not consider former county prosecutor John McDonough when the board approves court-appointed defense attorneys for 2022.

During the “commissioner comments” portion of the county board’s meeting Tuesday, Pangle read what appears to be a letter she wrote to McDonough, in response to correspondence she and fellow commissioners received from him, as he is seeking to join the roster.

McDonough is in private practice after losing his bid for re-election in 2020. McDonough, 41, had served as prosecutor for 12 years.

Since that time, he has enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous, following a May 2020 automobile crash in Lockport Township and subsequent arrest on alcohol-related charges.

Pangle prefaced her statement by saying she has family members who have struggled with alcoholism. She understands McDonough has a disease that is difficult, but not impossible, to manage. Pangle also concedes there was a time in her youth when, “I partied, and I drove.”

Even so, Pangle said she recalls a few things about McDonough when she worked as a security guard at the courts building. Some of those memories, she said, are too unsettling to forget.

“I saw, firsthand, many days he did not show up to work even before this issue even happened … I saw the days when he’d report in shorts and flip-flops, only to leave minutes later,” Pangle said. “I saw how some of the employees in his office tried to speak out and make changes, only to lose their jobs, along with the good prosecutors who left.”

Pangle continued.

“I heard you treat and talk to inmates as if they were the scum of the earth … not all people who go to jail are bad people,” she said. “And now you want to defend these very same people? It’s clear to me that it’s all about a paycheck, and you don’t have my support.”

Pangle recalls various county officials asking McDonough, after his arrest, to step down and focus on getting his life in order. Instead, McDonough sought re-election in the August 2020 primary, but was defeated by David Marvin. His term expired Dec. 31.

“But you continued to collect unearned taxpayers’ money until the very end,” Pangle said.

She said some people might agree with her assessment, and others won’t, and either opinion is OK.

“I just want to make my statement public … and I want my constituents and taxpayers to know where I stand,” she said. “You stated, Mr. McDonough, that you (are) deeply sorry. My response to that is to do the right thing, pay back the county and the taxpayers the wages that you collected, even if it has to be in payments.”

McDonough provided a response to Pangle's comments.

“I would like to thank commissioner Pangle for reading my letter, thank her for her service to our community as a county commission and thank her for her continuing prayers for me and my family," McDonough said. "Throughout this entire ordeal, people have found it necessary to make public comments about me. Some have been true, most are not.”

Pangle said she wishes the best for McDonough, reminding him he has a family and friends who love him and have stood by him.

“I pray for your continued recovery,” she said.