Associated Press Writer

By JAMES MacPHEBy JAMES MacPHERSON

A Barnes County jailer who is accused of murder and sexually abusing female inmates has prompted state officials to support criminal background checks for security guards, health care workers and other employees in sensitive jobs.

"Obviously, it's long overdue," said Sen. Larry Robinson, D-Valley City, who called the proposed legislation "aggressive and comprehensive."

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and legislators who are sponsoring the bill - Robinson and Reps. Phillip Mueller, D-Valley City, and Kim Koppelman, R-West Fargo - held a news conference Monday to discuss the proposal.

They said it was prompted by the case of Moe Gibbs, a former Barnes County jailer who is facing a murder charge in the Sept. 13 death of Valley City State University student Mindy Morgenstern. At the news conference, Robinson wore a button with Morgenstern's photo on it.

Gibbs also is charged with sexually abusing female inmates while they slept at the jail. He has pleaded not guilty.

Gibbs had a criminal history before he worked as a jailer, and Stenehjem said present state law does not require criminal background checks for people who apply to be corrections officers.

Mueller said the legislation is "designed to, and will help prevent, such tragedies in the future. Sometimes it takes a tragedy like this to bring light to a deficiency in our statutes."

Criminal background checks, which include fingerprinting, cost $52, and will be paid for by job applicants, Stenehjem said. Fingerprints are required for a national criminal background check, which can be done if authorized by state law.

The legislation would require checks for such jobs as corrections officers, dentists, nurses, social workers and even students working at colleges in "sensitive positions," Stenehjem said.

People who already holds the jobs will not be required to submit to checks. Doctors already are required to submit to criminal background checks, the attorney general said.

Stenehjem said the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation performs up to 7,000 criminal background checks a year. He said the new legislation would more than double that number annually.

BCI has three employees performing the checks, and will likely add more employees to do them, Stenehjem said.

"One employee is needed for every 2,000 criminal background checks," Stenehjem said. Additional positions mostly would be paid for by the fee for the background checks, he said.