Nichols pleads guilty to theft

The former deputy director of the Bedford County Emergency Management Agency could be facing a sentence of eight to 12 years after pleading guilty Wednesday to embezzling more than $60,000.

Eugene Nichols will learn what his punishment will be on July 20 when a sentencing hearing will be conducted by Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler.

Eugene Nichols enters an open plea of guilty Wednesday to a Class B felony, which could result in a sentence of eight to 12 years. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Nichols was facing a 70-count indictment after being accused of 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.

He made an open plea of guilty to a single count of theft over $60,000 -- a Class B felony that carries as much as an eight- to 30-year sentence.

But since Nichols has no previous criminal record, his punishment would fall into the range of eight to 12 years, according to Nichols' attorney Richard Dugger.

The remainder of the charges -- 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 -- were all dismissed.

The investigation into the embezzlement was conducted by the state comptroller's office, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations assisted with the matter.

The case 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.