WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Ex-ATC official's trial postponed

  December 18, 2012 10:54 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The criminal trial of Murphy J. Painter, former commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, has been postponed until April 22. The Advocate reports Painter's trial was scheduled to begin Monday, but U.S. District Judge James J. Brady granted a request for a delay.... more »

• Ex-ATC Commissioner Murphy Painter pleads not guilty Play Video

  June 13, 2012 4:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Former Alcohol Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter entered not guilty pleas in Federal Court today. Painter faces 42 counts of computer fraud, lying to the FBI and aggravated identity theft. He was indicted after a lengthy investigation by the State Inspector General's Office. During the hearing... more »

• Painter scheduled for arraignment on federal charges

  June 13, 2012 10:28 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Former Alcohol and Tobacco Control commissioner Murphy Painter is scheduled to be in federal court for an arraignment this afternoon. He faces 42 felony counts of computer fraud, making false statements and identity theft. He's accused of misusing his authority to run unnecessary background checks on... more »

• Painter released after federal court hearing

  June 5, 2012 10:40 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A federal judge released former Alcohol and Tobacco Control commissioner Murphy Painter on his own recognizance after a hearing over several indictments this morning. On May 23, a federal grand jury handed up an indictment against Painter for charges of computer fraud, making false statements and... more »

• Ex-ATC Commissioner Murphy Painter indicted Play Video

  May 23, 2012 3:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A federal grand jury handed up an indictment Wednesday against former Alcohol Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter. Painter resigned in two years ago. He was the subject of a series of reports by News 2 in the summer of 2010. Our investigation uncovered possible wrongdoing within... more »

• Grand jury indicts Painter for fraud, ID theft

  May 23, 2012 10:29 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A federal grand jury indicted Murphy Painter, the former Alcohol Tobacco Control commissioner, with a number of charges today related to allegations he misused his authority. The grand jury indicted Painter for for computer fraud, making false statements and aggravated identity theft. There were 49 counts... more »

• Ex-ATC commissioner sues for wrongful termination Play Video

  November 28, 2011 4:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Former Alcohol Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter was in court today taking up a lawsuit he filed against the State Inspector General's Office, the Governor's Office and the Department of Revenue. Painter claims he was defamed in the Inspector General's report released last year and wrongfully terminated... more »

• Board denies P. I. license for Murphy Painter

  October 25, 2011 5:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Former Alcohol Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter wants to become a private investigator. Today, a state board denied his application request. The Board determined Painter did not have three years of experience working investigations. The Board said his time as ATC Commissioner did not count since he... more »

• Painter drops out of Sheriff's race, Wiley keeps position

  September 12, 2011 12:28 PM

  ASCENSION - Former Alcohol and Tobacco Control commissioner Murphy Painter has withdrawn from the Ascension Parish Sheriff's election today meaning Wiley will remain Sheriff. Painter dropped out of the race around 10:30 a.m. today. Louis Boudreaux, the other candidate in the race, also dropped out recently leaving Wiley... more »

• Painter Enters Ascension Parish Sheriff's Race

  September 8, 2011 5:51 PM

  GONZALES- Former state Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter is one of two challengers for Ascension Parish sheriff. Painter resigned under scandel last year. He was sued for sexual harassment by a former employee. He's also accused of using a state database to illegally look up information about... more »

• Former ATC commissioner running for sheriff

  September 8, 2011 10:18 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE - Murphy Painter, the former Alcohol and Tobacco Control commissioner who resigned during an investigation into alleged abuse of his powers, qualified to run for sheriff of Ascension Parish today. Painter would take on the incumbent sheriff, Jeff Wiley, as well as Louis Boudreaux of Donaldsonville. The... more »

• Painter defamation lawsuit dismissed in EBR

  July 26, 2011 4:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Attorneys are at odds over the dismissal of a lawsuit against former Alcohol Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter. A State District Court Judge recently signed joint dismissal documents in the matter of Kelli Suire and Murphy Painter. "If you file something in an existing lawsuit and... more »

• State settles lawsuits against former ATC Commissioner

  July 5, 2011 5:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE- News 2 has learned the State Department of Revenue settled four lawsuits within the last 30 days against former Alcohol Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter. The settlements cost you nearly a quarter of a million dollars and all were done out of court. Formal dismissal documents were... more »

• Court finds Painter in violation of restraining order

  February 24, 2011 10:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A Baton Rouge judge found former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter in violation of his restraining order against Kelli Suire after Painter attended a funeral for Suire's aunt. Painter was initially fined $500 for the infraction but the judge suspended that and placed him... more »

• Inspector General releases report on Murphy Painter

  February 17, 2011 1:58 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A report on the investigation into activities of Murphy Painter, the former Commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) was made public this afternoon by the State Inspector General's office. According to the Inspector General's report, Painter illegally accessed criminal and motor vehicile... more »

• Contempt motion filed against Murphy Painter could spell trouble

  February 6, 2011 9:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Court documents News 2 obtained claim former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter violated terms of a restraining order filed against him. A former employee, Kelli Suire, filed the restraining order after documenting incidents of stalking, harassment and intimidation. According to Suire's attorney, Jill Craft,... more »

• Judge reviewing "personal" emails sought by Painter

  January 13, 2011 11:59 AM

  BATON ROUGE – A judge has denied former ATC commissioner Murphy Painter access to the personal emails of a woman he’s accused of stalking. Former ATC employee Kelli Suire filed a restraining order against Painter after his resignation last year. Today the judge said he would review the emails in... more »

• Painter wants emails of woman he's accused of stalking

  January 12, 2011 5:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Ex-Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter wants personal emails from a woman he's accused of stalking. Painter and his attorney, Murphy Foster were in court this afternoon. They filed a public records request to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries last year, demanding all emails from... more »

• Hebert ready to lead ATC office

  November 24, 2010 5:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE- State Senator Troy Hebert says he is ready to resolve some of the problems that have hit the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. Governor Bobby Jindal named Hebert as a replacement for former commissioner Murphy Painter who resigned amid scandal in August. Governor Jindal says... more »

• Hebert new ATC commissioner: effective immediately

  November 24, 2010 9:07 AM

  As we first told you on News 2 at 10 last night, state Sen. Troy Hebert is the new head of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC). Hebert's tenure is effective immediately. He takes over the position that was vacated after former commissioner Murphy Painter resigned... more »

• State IG to bring Painter investigation to prosecutors

  November 16, 2010 4:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE--State Inspector General Stephen Street testified in court today, that his office will bring the criminal investigation surrounding former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter to the District Attorney for prosecution. "We will give what we have, and they will decide to prosecute," Street said. "There will... more »

• State IG will bring criminal investigation into Painter to prosecutors

  November 16, 2010 11:46 AM

  State Inspector General Stephen Street testified in court today, that his office will bring the criminal investigation into former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter to the District Attorney for prosecution. "We will give what we have, and they will decide to prosecute," Street said. "There will be... more »

• Murphy Painter's attorney: allegations of wrongdoing unfounded

  October 6, 2010 5:52 PM

  Allegations of sexual harassment from a former Alcohol and Tobacco Control employee against ex-Commissioner Murphy Painter were unfounded by the Department of Revenue. The documents outline complaints of harassment and Painter allegedly running names in a statewide criminal database. The complaints came from former employee Kelli Suire. According... more »

• Court order signed against ex-Commissioner Murphy Painter

  September 7, 2010 5:34 PM

  State District Judge Todd Hernandez signed an order preventing ex-Commissioner Murphy Painter from going near a former ATC employee until further notice. The restraining order centers around former employee, Kelli Suire. Court documents show Painter showed up at her house on at least one occasion asking inappropriate questions. Suire... more »

• Restraining order signed against Murphy Painter

  August 27, 2010 12:14 PM

  A Baton Rouge judge has signed the temporary restraining order filed against former ATC chief Murphy Painter. The court document forbids Painter, the former commissioner of the Alcohol Tobacco Control office, from going with-in 1,000 feet of an ex-ATC employee. The employee said she fears for her life. Painter allegedly... more »

• Petition for temporary restraining order filed against Painter

  August 26, 2010 5:35 PM

  A petition for a temporary restraining order was filed against former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter in district court today in Baton Rouge. Court documents News 2 obtained show a former ATC employee made it known that Painter made her feel uncomfortable after showing up at her... more »

• Public documents withheld despite request

  August 24, 2010 5:53 PM

  News 2's investigation into former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter ran into some bumps this afternoon after public documents were not made available, despite a public records request. The documents requested involve Painter's calendar. The calendar was provided to News 2 earlier this month, but it appears... more »

• EBRSO taking action against ex-ATC employee

  August 23, 2010 5:02 PM

  An exclusive News 2 investigation which led to the firing of a woman at the State Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control shows even more possible wrongdoing. Pictures News 2 obtained show Pam Salario kept an East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office official placard on her dashboard. The placard... more »

• State Police warned Painter years ago of possible trouble

  August 20, 2010 6:22 PM

  State Police have confirmed to News 2 that workers who monitor the statewide criminal database notified Painter through a written letter two years ago, cautioning him about the use of it. The letter was sent after red flags were raised by how many names were being run in the... more »

• Sources: Employee escorted out of ATC office

  August 18, 2010 10:15 PM

  Multiple sources have confirmed to News 2 a woman at the center of an investigation at the Alcohol and Tobacco Control Office was let go this afternoon. Pam Salario was hired by former Commissioner Murphy Painter last October. Documents News 2 obtained show she listed his home address and... more »

• Former ATC employee reported Painter to IG years ago

  August 18, 2010 4:42 PM

  Less than 24 hours after an exclusive News 2 story aired, another employee has come forward alleging possible violations of state laws by former Commissioner Murphy Painter. Painter stepped down last week amid a string of possible violations of law and ethical standards. A search warrant filed by the... more »

• Painter accused of stalking, obtaining DMV information

  August 17, 2010 9:12 PM

  A warrant shows investigators seized computers, documents, a cell phone and Murphy Painter’s state-issued car. Painter is accused of stalking and using statewide databases to get DMV information. He resigned Friday from the State Alcohol and Tobacco Control Office amid a string of possible ethical violations. As News... more »

• Search warrant filed in ATC/Painter investigation

  August 17, 2010 4:53 PM

  A search warrant was filed yesterday in 19th Judicial Court in Baton Rouge by the Inspector General's office in the ongoing investigation into former ATC commissioner Murphy Painter. The search warrant filed authorized the IG's office to search the ATC office, to look for a desktop computer, laptop computer,... more »

• New documents raise more ethical questions surrounding ATC investigation

  August 16, 2010 6:17 PM

  New documents News 2 obtained are raising even more ethical questions surrounding the investigation into former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter. Painter resigned Friday, amid a string of possible violations of the law and ethical standards. Sources told News 2, the investigation centers around possible illegal background... more »

• Ethical questions raised amid resignation of appointed official

  August 15, 2010 4:23 PM

  Update: Ethical questions are being raised less than 48 hours after a state appointed official resigned. Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter stepped down on Friday. Sources told News 2, the Inspector General's Office removed a computer from the office. Those sources also said the investigation... more »

• Investigation continues into former ATC Commissioner Murphy Painter

  August 14, 2010 7:46 PM

  An investigation by the state and News 2 continues, less than 24 hours after the State's Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner, Murphy Painter, resigned. The State Inspector General's office raided ATC offices last night. Sources close to the investigation told News 2, they took a computer, as they continue... more »

• UPDATED: Former ATC Commish Painter under investigation

  August 13, 2010 8:53 PM

  Murphy Painter, the Commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC), resigned from his position Friday. News 2 was first to report this information shortly after 8 p.m. A news release from the Dept. of Revenue released late Friday evening said that Brant Thompson will... more »