Judge rejects bid to destroy records in former Westar Energy executive’s case

? A federal judge has rejected a request by a former Westar Energy executive to have his arrest records destroyed because charges against him have been dismissed.

Douglas Lake was a top strategy officer at the Topeka-based utility when he and former CEO David Wittig were charged in 2003 with conspiring to inflate their compensation. Prosecutors dropped charges in August as they awaited a third trial.

Lake wanted all his fingerprints, photographs and records in Justice Department databases destroyed

U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ruled Thursday that Lake offered no evidence of actual lost employment opportunities or prejudice to his economic interests. She says in her order that she understands that the government’s seven-year prosecution had taken a personal toll on Lake, but his claims of damages are speculative.