tentacles
02-06-2007, 09:54 PM
Link (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070206/NEWS01/70206001/1002)
Louisiana sheriff pleads guilty, resigns
BATON ROUGE, La. – The St. Helena Parish sheriff has resigned after admitting that he worked with a stolen car “chop shop” and had state prisoners work there and as his personal race-car pit crew.
Ronald “Gun” Ficklin pleaded guilty to 17 counts on Monday, an hour before he was to go on trial in federal court. Prosecutors dropped four counts as part of the plea agreement.
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The sheriff sent a letter of resignation to Secretary of State Jay Dardenne shortly after his court appearance, defense attorney Frank Holthaus said.
He is the third St. Helena Parish sheriff convicted of federal charges. Both Eugene Holland and Chaney Phillips served time in prison.
The total maximum sentence would be 95 years in prison and $4.2 million in fines; the judge could also order him to repay money to victims. His sentencing has not been scheduled.
The guilty plea included one count each of trafficking cars with altered motor vehicle identification numbers and of altering VINs. Ficklin also admitted to 14 counts of mail fraud and one of helping a convicted felon possess a firearm.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped four counts – conspiracy, trafficking, VIN alteration and misprision of a felony.
A statement filed with the plea agreement says Ficklin knew for three years that Barry Dawsey was running an illegal chop shop at B&D Auto in Greensburg, but helped and profited from it rather than trying to shut it down.
He had his secretary sign an inspection report on a 1998 silver Chevrolet half-ton pickup truck cobbled together with stolen parts, then sold it to Greensburg Mayor Ken Carter six years ago, the statement said.
Ficklin also put state inmates housed in the St. Helena Parish Jail to work in Dawsey’s shop.
After Louisiana Probation & Parole officers discovered the practice, Ficklin used the prisoners in his own shop and as the pit crew for his race car, dubbed The Bounty Hunter.
In March 2000, Ficklin also bought a new 12-gauge shotgun from Wal-Mart for Mitch Tidwell — a friend who had been convicted of felony burglary. Tidwell and Ficklin frequently went turkey hunting together with the gun until it was seized when Tidwell was caught spotlighting for rabbits in October 2002.
When U.S. District Judge James Brady asked the sheriff whether he was pleading guilty because he is guilty, Ficklin said, “Yes, sir; that’s true.”
Later, Ficklin asked Brady whether he would accept a “no contest” plea, in which defendants deny wrongdoing but agree not to fight the charges. Holthaus told the sheriff, “The short answer to that is, ’No.”’
Jeffrey Blough, a 41-year-old Denham Springs mechanic, has sued Ficklin, alleging the sheriff prolonged his imprisonment and forced him to repair cars in the middle of the night for School Board trustees, police jurors and a librarian the chief deputy wanted to date. Blough is seeking $11 million in damages and $20,000 in back pay. That case is on hold pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Holthaus said Ficklin decided against going to trial after learning details of the testimony expected against him.
The investigation that began after Washington Parish deputies arrested Keith Bell of Franklinton in the summer 2001. Bell was driving a stolen Chevrolet truck and towing a stolen GMC Suburban. Agents said his wife also had a stolen Cadillac that was traced to Dawsey.
Dawsey was caught in a stolen pickup truck containing Ficklin’s badge. Tidwell buried leftover stolen parts in his yard in Greensburg. Both pleaded guilty, served time and were expected to testify against Ficklin.
Louisiana sheriff pleads guilty, resigns
BATON ROUGE, La. – The St. Helena Parish sheriff has resigned after admitting that he worked with a stolen car “chop shop” and had state prisoners work there and as his personal race-car pit crew.
Ronald “Gun” Ficklin pleaded guilty to 17 counts on Monday, an hour before he was to go on trial in federal court. Prosecutors dropped four counts as part of the plea agreement.
ADVERTISEMENT
The sheriff sent a letter of resignation to Secretary of State Jay Dardenne shortly after his court appearance, defense attorney Frank Holthaus said.
He is the third St. Helena Parish sheriff convicted of federal charges. Both Eugene Holland and Chaney Phillips served time in prison.
The total maximum sentence would be 95 years in prison and $4.2 million in fines; the judge could also order him to repay money to victims. His sentencing has not been scheduled.
The guilty plea included one count each of trafficking cars with altered motor vehicle identification numbers and of altering VINs. Ficklin also admitted to 14 counts of mail fraud and one of helping a convicted felon possess a firearm.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped four counts – conspiracy, trafficking, VIN alteration and misprision of a felony.
A statement filed with the plea agreement says Ficklin knew for three years that Barry Dawsey was running an illegal chop shop at B&D Auto in Greensburg, but helped and profited from it rather than trying to shut it down.
He had his secretary sign an inspection report on a 1998 silver Chevrolet half-ton pickup truck cobbled together with stolen parts, then sold it to Greensburg Mayor Ken Carter six years ago, the statement said.
Ficklin also put state inmates housed in the St. Helena Parish Jail to work in Dawsey’s shop.
After Louisiana Probation & Parole officers discovered the practice, Ficklin used the prisoners in his own shop and as the pit crew for his race car, dubbed The Bounty Hunter.
In March 2000, Ficklin also bought a new 12-gauge shotgun from Wal-Mart for Mitch Tidwell — a friend who had been convicted of felony burglary. Tidwell and Ficklin frequently went turkey hunting together with the gun until it was seized when Tidwell was caught spotlighting for rabbits in October 2002.
When U.S. District Judge James Brady asked the sheriff whether he was pleading guilty because he is guilty, Ficklin said, “Yes, sir; that’s true.”
Later, Ficklin asked Brady whether he would accept a “no contest” plea, in which defendants deny wrongdoing but agree not to fight the charges. Holthaus told the sheriff, “The short answer to that is, ’No.”’
Jeffrey Blough, a 41-year-old Denham Springs mechanic, has sued Ficklin, alleging the sheriff prolonged his imprisonment and forced him to repair cars in the middle of the night for School Board trustees, police jurors and a librarian the chief deputy wanted to date. Blough is seeking $11 million in damages and $20,000 in back pay. That case is on hold pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Holthaus said Ficklin decided against going to trial after learning details of the testimony expected against him.
The investigation that began after Washington Parish deputies arrested Keith Bell of Franklinton in the summer 2001. Bell was driving a stolen Chevrolet truck and towing a stolen GMC Suburban. Agents said his wife also had a stolen Cadillac that was traced to Dawsey.
Dawsey was caught in a stolen pickup truck containing Ficklin’s badge. Tidwell buried leftover stolen parts in his yard in Greensburg. Both pleaded guilty, served time and were expected to testify against Ficklin.