A former Tennessee sheriff charged with 113 counts of misconduct, theft, and fraud entered a guilty plea on Friday but avoided any prison time.
An audit would later reveal numerous discrepancies in the realm of employee compensation, drug fund accounting, and distribution of prescriptions made out in the names of inmates between July 2013 and September 2014.
“This started out as a concern the current sheriff had when he came into office that there were some items missing,” TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland said at the time. “As a result of that, they found several discrepancies in areas such as employee compensation, monies from the drug fund, and the way that some prescriptions were being handled.”
According to a TBI news release:
Arnold [w]as charged with four counts of theft over $10,000, 55 counts of official misconduct, nine counts of theft over $1,000, one count of forgery, one count of theft of $500 or more, one count of attempted theft of $1,000 or more, two counts of attempted theft of $10,000 or more, one count of conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, and 39 counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
Following the charges, the 58-year-old former sheriff was released on bond, which despite his 113 charges, was set at just $10,000. He was sentenced on Friday to 10 years probation and ordered to pay restitution.
Indictments were also handed down against 11 other current and former employees of the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office at the time Arnold was charged.
According to the TBI news release:
Through the investigation, TBI Agents learned that former Sheriff Chuck Arnold and former Chief Deputy Jeff Maitland allowed employees to be paid for regular and/or overtime hours they didn’t work. Special Agents also developed information that Arnold, Maitland and Terrell… were involved in writing and filling prescriptions for controlled substances in the names of inmates who never received the medication. The investigation further revealed that Arnold removed money from the drug fund for his personal use, and forged documents using another individual’s name.
Sheriff Paul Thomas said the investigation was conducted on his request because he wanted to protect himself from taking the blame, or being accused of covering up, for his predecessor.
“Honestly, the audit I asked for was more for my protection. I just wanted to make sure when I took office what I was responsible for,” Thomas said at the time. “As they were trying to identify my starting point with the last stopping point from the previous administration, they started noticing the discrepancies.”
Aside from Arnold, the complete list of the individuals indicted in December and what they were charged with can be found here. It is unclear what punishment or sentencing they are facing or have faced.
Imagine the consequences facing any ordinary citizen found guilty of similar offenses. And Arnold’s offenses are far worse, having been committed under color of law. How many people did Arnold “bust” during his tenure as a law enforcer?
Where is the justice for them?
Just look at the fat bastard. I guess he’s a hero to the local Krispy Kreme franchise. Fat guys look worse with skinned heads like that, but hair wouldn’t help him any. He’s stone fugly.
Some of the most dreadful places in the country are these seemingly benign, rural, ultra flag-waving stink-holes like Gibson County, Tennessee. They operate quietly, out of the glare of national attention, and are simply awful if you’re not related to Grand-Daddy Hogjaw.
Another particularly rotten Tennessee cesspool (especially for us car folk) not far from Gibson County is Piperton. You’ll do well to stay away from this place.