Murder Trial Would Have Cost County Plenty

Prosecuting Attorney Rea Culwell said in an interview that she made a strong effort to settle the murder case against Joseph Shuba in part because trials, especially murder trials, are so expen- sive for the county.

According to Columbia County Clerk Lynn Lese- man, court costs and legal defense costs for the Shuba case have already added up to more than $14,000. That doesn't include jail costs incurred by the Sheriff's Of- fice. Shuba has been in cus- tody for nearly nine months.

Columbia County Com- missioner Dwight Robanske said that each year the board of commissioners sets aside approxima...