Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby said today he does not plan to launch an investigation into how the son of former House Speaker Jim Black received contracts to provide pest control at the state's newest three prisons, despite not being the low bidder.

The News & Observer reported Sunday how Black Pest Control had won the business despite other bidders who were willing to do the work for roughly a third of Black's price. Jon Black is the owner of the Charlotte-based company.

Willoughby said he could not launch an investigation because he did not see in the report evidence of a crime, reports Dan Kane.

"At this point, without someone making an accusation that, if true, would be a violation of the law, I'm reluctant to conduct an investigation," he said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Duffy, who prosecuted Jim Black on public corruption charges, said he could not comment on the prison contracts. A spokesman for Gov. Mike Easley said he had no comment.

Read more after the jump.

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