Former deputy charged with drug theft

Local News

November 6, 2006

Kelly Foreman The Richmond Register Mon Nov 06, 2006, 08:21 AM EST

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.

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.”

Thomas said Fee was an excellent officer and the incident was “most definitely a surprise.”

“I still consider him a friend,” Thomas said. “I hate that this happened to him, but you can’t do that stuff.”

The grand jury also returned the following indictments Thursday:

• Joseph Carr, 32, of the 700 block of Candlewood Drive, Richmond, second-degree wanton endangerment, theft by unlawful taking worth more than $300, operating on a suspended license. Carr allegedly was involved in a hit and run at the Shell Gas Station on Keeneland Road where he allegedly struck cashier Jimmy Stage with his vehicle in the process of leaving the station without paying for his gas.

If convicted, Carr could be sentenced to up to 18 months in jail.

• Joshua Emerson, 24, of East Bernstadt, and Christopher Denney, 22, of Mt. Vernon, theft by unlawful taking worth more than $300 and third-degree burglary. Emerson and Denney allegedly took about 300 pounds of copper from Novelis Corp. If convicted, each could serve up to 10 years in prison.

• Kevin Jenkins, 34, no address listed, two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second offense. If convicted, Jenkins could be sentenced to 20-40 years in prison, but could only serve 20 years because of a Kentucky law which sets a cap on the amount of time a person can serve in prison.

• Gregory Botkin, 39, of Paint Lick, first-degree possession of controlled substance, second-degree possession of a controlled substance. If convicted, Botkin could serve up to five years in prison.

• Jacqueline Vanwinkle, 37, of the 1200 block of Miller Drive, Richmond, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, aggravated fourth offense, operating a motor vehicle while license is suspended or revoked. If convicted, Vanwinkle could serve one to five years in prison.

• Darren S. McMaine, 26, of the 260 block of Bend Road in Waco, cultivation of marijuana, five or more plants. If convicted, McMaine could serve one to five years in prison.

• Eric D. Brewer, 32, of Lexington, second-degree fleeing or evading police, second-degree wanton endangerment, operating a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above 0.08, speeding. If convicted , he could face up to two years in jail.

• Dustin Lee Allen, 27, of the 290 block of Baldwin Road, Berea, second-degree fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest. If convicted, Allen could be sentenced to up to two years in jail.

A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.

Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.

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