SSentinel.com Serving Middlesex County and adjacent areas of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck since 1896 Vol. 118, No. 20 Urbanna, Virginia 23175 • August 16, 2012 Two Sections • 75¢ Abbott convicted of bribery; not guilty of misusing public funds, embezzlement by Tom Chillemi the trial began on August 9. arettes and beer used during under- the check and give him the $120 The Virginia Attorney General’s cover investigations. He added the because he would be traveling. Former Middlesex Sheriff Guy L. Offi ce authorized the investigation in state would not reimburse him for Abbott instructed Ellis to fi ll out Abbott was found guilty in Middlesex 2009, and the case was prosecuted by these expenses. “I was taking it as a time sheet and he would be paid Circuit Court on Wednesday, August assistant attorney generals Shannon repayment,” he said. through the sheriff’s offi ce. 15, of two counts of bribery that Dion, Ann Reardon and Benjamin Sampson testifi ed that Abbott told During his testimony, Abbott said, occurred in 2004 and 2006 and Katz. him he had been working on sheriff’s “I do not deny” the action. Abbott involved two of his deputies. Bribery Charges department cars and not getting paid, explained he transferred Ellis, for Judge Paul F. Sheridan found Judge Sheridan found Abbott and Abbott felt like he was due the accounting purposes, from being Abbott not guilty of 8 charges that not guilty of a bribery charge that $800. “off-duty” to “on-duty” while work- he knowingly misused “asset forfei- involved Michael E. Sampson II, Judge Sheridan said in dismiss- ing at VMS that night. Abbott noted ture” account funds in purchasing currently the chief deputy of the ing this charge that the presence of his offi ce already had on-duty offi - items such as meals for deputies and Middlesex Sheriff’s Offi ce. Samp- a deposit slip does not indicate “a cers at VMS. law enforcement offi cers, and equip- son has been a Middlesex deputy and covert act.” Ellis testifi ed he followed Abbott’s ment. Judge Sheridan also found investigator since 1994, except for a Abbott was convicted of the brib- instructions reluctantly, and that Abbott not guilty of one other brib- 2-year stint in the military. ery charge that involved borrow- he was a new employee and did ery charge. Sampson testifi ed that on March ing $300 from Sampson. Sampson not know what would happen if he Abbott remains free on bond pend- 31, 2006, Abbott gave him a $1,200 testifi ed that Abbott gave him a did not do so. Ellis also testifi ed he ing sentencing on October 11 at 10 check drawn on the asset forfeiture $700 asset forfeiture check as drug was concerned since his wife was a a.m. account, which contains funds from investigation overtime payment, and Middlesex dispatcher and they both Abbott took the witness stand on property seized from drug cases. told him to keep it all and he would could lose their jobs. Tuesday, August 14, attempting to Sampson said he was due overtime deduct the extra money from Samp- Abbott testifi ed he would not have defend his actions that led to indict- for working on major cases as part son’s comp time balance. Sampson fi red them, “and they knew it.” ments on 25 felony charges related of multi-jurisdictional drug task said he had expected the amount to In making his ruling, Judge Sheri- to fi nancial expenditures, property force. be $400 because he had worked a dan said the deputies complied with disposal and three counts of bribery At the same time Sampson was similar amount of hours. Abbott’ requests involving money while he was sheriff. given the check, Abbott also gave Sampson said he then got a call because they sought their “com- Abbott, 56, served three terms as Former sheriff Guy Abbott him a BB&T bank deposit slip and from Abbott asking to borrow $300. manding offi cer’s high opinion.” Middlesex Sheriff, from 2000 through told him to keep $400 of the $1,200 Abbott testifi ed on Tuesday he Asset forfeiture funds 2011. He lost the 2011 election. mission as the executor of an estate. check, but to deposit $800 into had no recollection of borrowing the One charge that Abbott faced Abbott has been forced to remain Sheridan also dismissed three Abbott’s personal account, which $300 or of the $700 check. involved a $100 payment to silent since the Virginia State Police counts involving Abbott’s disposal of he did. “I was a little uncomfortable Judge Sheridan said in his ruling Middlesex County information raided his offi ce and seized records two boats and a car acquired through with it, because it’s not my place to there was some question of Abbott’s technology employee Kevin Gentry in March and June of 2011. a military surplus program; and his handle someone else’s money,” said intent to repay the money he bor- for working on his own time on In August 2011, a special grand use of the sheriff’s “asset forfeiture Sampson, who also testifi ed he told rowed. Abbott’s “personal” computer. jury indicted Abbott on 18 charges of account” to pay for $100 Christmas Abbott later how he felt about the The second bribery conviction Abbott explained the computer also misuse or misappropriation of public bonuses for 21 employees in 2003, but transaction. “It just didn’t make involved testimony from current was used in his sheriff’s duties, and assets, four counts of embezzlement, not for himself. The judge also threw sense to me.” Middlesex Deputy Lt. Jim Ellis, that he could have purchased a new and three counts of bribery. out a charge that Abbott improperly Regarding the $800 deposit, who testifi ed he had worked in May computer for $700 without repercus- However, on Tuesday following used the forfeiture account to buy a Abbott testifi ed he didn’t know the of 2004 “off duty” for the Virginia sions, but he was trying to save the motions made by Abbott’s attorney, $421 suit for an investigator to wear deposit was made, but he asked for Motor Speedway (VMS). His pay- county money. Craig Cooley, to “strike” charges, to court. the money because he had used per- check for that work was brought to Abbott also testifi ed he saved the Judge Sheridan dismissed 10 Two other charges related to the sonal money “from my pocket” to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Offi ce for county money by having volunteers charges. Dismissed charges included asset forfeiture account expenditures fi nance drug investigations, making disbursement the following week. two counts related to Abbott’s com- were withdrawn by the prosecutor as controlled drug buys and buying cig- Ellis said Abbott asked him to cash (See Sheriff, page A8) School offi cials tweak design of sports complex by Larry S. Chowning The Middlesex County School Board voted Monday to make adjust- ments in the design of the Syd Thrift Sports Complex to include 7 acres of adjacent land recently purchased by the county. The new plan calls for a full-size athletic practice fi eld to be built on the site, 90 parking spaces, and an emer- gency road that will access the sports complex from Routes 33/17 business in Saluda. The new plan also turns the location of the soccer fi eld 90 degrees; angles the baseball fi eld so the evening sun will not be directly in the eyes of bat- ters; and adjusts the location of the septic fi eld, said school superintendent Dr. James Lane. Although not in the plan, Dr. Lane said the purchase of the 7 acres now allows enough space on school prop- erty for construction of a sports fi eld house if funding were to become avail- able in the future. In July, the county board of super- visors appropriated $150,000 plus closing costs to purchase the adjacent land. The actual price tag for the 7 acres was $225,000. The Friends of Middlesex County Public Schools donated $75,000 toward the purchase. In related matters, Dr. Lane is reviewing ways to clear the newly- purchased property. The land was once a commercial location where agricul- tural items were bought and sold, and feed and grain were stored. There are old structures still on the property. Dr. Lane reported old truck scales on the property are not in working order and there is a vendor willing to remove the scales as an in-kind dona- tion for the scales. The vendor has said he also will fi ll the hole in the The latest schematic drawing of the Syd Thrift Sports Complex at Middlesex High School in Saluda now includes the 7 acres of land (left, ground left by the scales once they are upper corner) recently purchased by the county. (Courtesy of the Middlesex County School Board) removed. However, before a decision is made by the school board, Dr. Lane tioned the school superintendent to board agreed to allow the business of said state authorities told him school priation of $23,715 to pay the fi rst said he wants to study this matter make sure the hole is fi lled with appro- Diane’s Beauty Box to continue to rent property on school grounds could be installment to Bay Design Group for further. priate fi ll dirt. the building on the grounds for $200 rented. the schematic design work on the Board chairman Elliott Reed cau- In another related matter, the a month for at least a year.