EMA embezzlement trial delayed until June

Tuesday, May 26, 2009
By Brian Mosely

The trial for a former deputy director of Bedford County Emergency Management Agency accused of embezzlement has been moved ahead to the second week of June.

A scheduling conflict with a drug-related trial means that the charges against Eugene Nichols, who was named in a 70-count indictment last November, will be heard on June 8 and 9.

Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler will preside over the trial.

Nichols, 44, is accused of allegedly diverting a total of $117,000 in funds from the county's Emergency Management Agency to a personal account over a period of several years, according to state officials.

The 70 counts against Nichols include one count of theft over $60,000; 38 counts of theft from $1,000 to $10,000; two counts of theft between $500 and $1,000; two counts of theft under $500; one count of theft between $10,000 and $60,000; and 26 counts of forgery.

The investigation was conducted by the state comptroller's office, and the TBI assisted with the investigation.

The matter was brought to the comptroller's office's attention in last August by Bedford County Finance Director Robert Daniel, according to Roxanna Pierce, communications officer with the state comptroller's office.

Once the comptroller's office made its findings, the evidence was handed over to District Attorney Chuck Crawford, Pierce said. The 70-count indictment was handed down by a Bedford County grand jury last November.

Pierce stated at the time that financial records dating from July 1, 2003, until July 30, 2007, had been examined and that the investigation is still ongoing.

Nichols is free on $75,000 bond and is being represented by attorney Richard Dugger.

Comments

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You wanna know something funny. This guy almost got a job at Davis Estates. Boy that would of been a honey pot since half the residents there don't speak any english.

-- Posted by MSK on Tue, May 26, 2009, at 1:35 PM

You wanna know something funny ? MSK do you personaly have positive proof that this man is guilty of all the accusations made on him...I truly did not think so, and this is why we have a system, as flawed as it is , that says innocent until proven quilty. I guess your above this and all ready know what the future holds....By the way can you give me the winning numbers for next weeks lotto. And what is not funny at all is even if the man is found inocent his life, where he has given to the community, is ruined

BEACHRN(friend of tncamper)

-- Posted by tncamper on Wed, May 27, 2009, at 9:17 AM

I am aware of some of the evidence, I am sure he is going to jail for a while, and I am "POSITIVE" of the proof. He certainly deserves every day in jail that he gets!

-- Posted by nursenurse on Wed, May 27, 2009, at 10:04 AM

With all respect to the Legal System this guy still deserves a Fair Trial, and I'm wondering whether or not he can get a Fair and Impartial Jury in this County after all of the pre-trial publicity.

-- Posted by MyMrMarty on Wed, May 27, 2009, at 10:53 AM

I thought it was funny that Davis estates may have been about to get taken for a ride.

-- Posted by MSK on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 8:38 AM

I thought Davis Estate Kicked all the Somolians out of the apartments because of bedbugs? I assume that is who you are referring to as residents there that don't speak any english.

-- Posted by Momof3&3step&1gran on Fri, May 29, 2009, at 2:56 PM