Former Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Jaeger turned herself in to authorities at the Johnston County Courthouse at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

She faces charges for allegedly participating in the unlawful dismissal of DWI cases. Court papers claim she signed 70 dismissal forms while in office, but that the forms were filed well after she resigned that office in September of 2007. Thus the forms were invalid because she had no authority to dismiss cases by the time the paperwork was presented.

Jaeger had no comment as she entered the courthouse, but her attorney did.

"If anything were done, it were done with the intention of things being done properly, not improperly. And if they were used improperly, they were not used improperly by her," said attorney David Freedman.

The State Bureau of Investigation started to look into the suspicious dismissals of DWI cases in April 2008, at the request of District Attorney Susan Doyle.

A grand jury indicted Jaeger, four attorneys, and a former court clerk Monday.

Jaeger faces three felony counts (obstruction of justice) and two misdemeanor counts (failing to perform duty of office) and one presentment containing 81 misdemeanor counts (failing to perform duty of office).

As to her future, Freedman said: "right now, she's staying away from the limelight. It will be difficult for her to practice law until this matter gets resolved."

He also asked the public to wait for the trial before making a judgment.

"Just because she's a lawyer does not take away her presumption of innocence," Freedman said.

Jaeger has a court date set for May 4.

The attorneys and former court clerk also charged in the case surrendered Tuesday.

They are:

Chadwick C. Lee, Johnston County attorney: 28 indictments containing 65 felony counts (altering official case records, felony obstruction of justice, and conspiracy).

Lee Hatch, Johnston County attorney: 12 indictments containing 30 felony counts (altering official case records and felony obstruction of justice).

Van Sauls, Johnston County attorney: four indictments containing 11 felony counts (altering official case records, felony obstruction of justice, and conspiracy).

Jack McLamb, Johnston County attorney: three indictments containing six felony counts (altering official case records and felony obstruction of justice).

Portia Snead, former Johnston County Assistant Clerk of Court: two indictments containing six felony counts (altering official case records, felony obstruction of justice and accessing a government computer).

They all posted bond Tuesday.

The special prosecution division of the Attorney General's office will prosecute the cases.