Charge dismissed against contractor in jail project

DETROIT (AP) — A misdemeanor charge has been dismissed against a contractor on a Wayne County jail project that went millions of dollars over budget.

The Detroit News reports that the willful neglect of duty as a public official charge was dismissed Monday in court against Anthony Parlovecchio.

Parlovecchio was accused of not fully informing officials about the project’s cost overruns.

Defense attorney Ben Gonek argued that Parlovecchio never should have been charged because he is not a public official.

Charges were dismissed last month against the county’s chief assistant corporation counsel Steve Collins.

Misconduct in office and will neglect of duty charges still are pending against former chief financial officer Carla Sledge.

Wayne County commissioners voted to cancel construction contracts after the downtown Detroit project went over its budget in June 2013.