Charles Raymond Shaw, the editor of the newspaper, declined to comment on the grand jury report. "Given what we know now, we certainly would have done something differently," he said. The reporters were not made available to comment.

Kevin Harley, the attorney general's press secretary, said Kirchner faces a preliminary hearing before a local magistrate who will decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial. Kirchner had signed documents certifying that his official use of the 911 Web site was for his work as coroner and that the information would not be released to the public, Harley said.

Kirchner, a Republican, is running for re-election this year. He was elected to the post in 2004.