Post by KC on Nov 8, 2006 23:37:31 GMT -5
A former Madison County sheriff’s deputy was named in an indictment Thursday in Madison Circuit Court on charges that he stole drugs from the sheriff’s department.
Deputy James Fee, 37, is charged with theft of a controlled substance, a felony punishable by one to five years in prison upon conviction. Fee allegedly took three hydrocodone tablets from the evidence locker of another deputy sheriff, according to the indictment.
“He indicated he was taking it for his wife because she had an operation of some type,” Madison County Sheriff’s Detective Bruce Thomas said. “I don’t know what it was, but her doctor wouldn’t prescribe her any more medication and she needed some.”
The sheriff’s department issued a press release in reference to the indictment which states Sheriff Dude Cochran ordered an investigation after the theft was made known to him Aug. 23. Cochran was unavailable for comment Friday.
“James Fee was immediately put on suspension pending out come of the investigation,” the indictment reads. “In the meantime, Sheriff Cochran had consulted with the county attorney and the decision was made to either terminate or have Mr. Fee resign. Mr. Fee ultimately chose to resign.”
Thomas said Fee never returned to the department after he was suspended, but his resignation wasn’t official until Aug. 30. Fee had been a deputy with the sheriff’s department since 1997, Thomas said.
Fee was subsequently hired at Transylvania University as a security officer, but never began his employment, said Sarah Emmons, director of public relations for Transylvania. When asked if the termination of his employment had anything to do with the pending charges, Emmons said it is the university’s policy not to comment about why employees are no longer employed there.
Fee reportedly did not try to hide the theft, but instead told the officer he had taken the drugs, Thomas said.
“He (the deputy) had noticed the lock had been tampered with,” Thomas said. “Then that deputy came back and inventoried his locker and noticed that the drugs were gone.”
www.richmondregister.com/localnews/local_story_310082159.html?keyword=topstory
Deputy James Fee, 37, is charged with theft of a controlled substance, a felony punishable by one to five years in prison upon conviction. Fee allegedly took three hydrocodone tablets from the evidence locker of another deputy sheriff, according to the indictment.
“He indicated he was taking it for his wife because she had an operation of some type,” Madison County Sheriff’s Detective Bruce Thomas said. “I don’t know what it was, but her doctor wouldn’t prescribe her any more medication and she needed some.”
The sheriff’s department issued a press release in reference to the indictment which states Sheriff Dude Cochran ordered an investigation after the theft was made known to him Aug. 23. Cochran was unavailable for comment Friday.
“James Fee was immediately put on suspension pending out come of the investigation,” the indictment reads. “In the meantime, Sheriff Cochran had consulted with the county attorney and the decision was made to either terminate or have Mr. Fee resign. Mr. Fee ultimately chose to resign.”
Thomas said Fee never returned to the department after he was suspended, but his resignation wasn’t official until Aug. 30. Fee had been a deputy with the sheriff’s department since 1997, Thomas said.
Fee was subsequently hired at Transylvania University as a security officer, but never began his employment, said Sarah Emmons, director of public relations for Transylvania. When asked if the termination of his employment had anything to do with the pending charges, Emmons said it is the university’s policy not to comment about why employees are no longer employed there.
Fee reportedly did not try to hide the theft, but instead told the officer he had taken the drugs, Thomas said.
“He (the deputy) had noticed the lock had been tampered with,” Thomas said. “Then that deputy came back and inventoried his locker and noticed that the drugs were gone.”
www.richmondregister.com/localnews/local_story_310082159.html?keyword=topstory