News from September 21, 2006 issue

Davidson jailed for 60 days
Like any other felon, Steve Davidson was taken straight to jail from the Crittenden County Courtroom last Thursday following formal sentencing by Circuit Judge Rene Williams.
When Davidson’s attorney Andrew Coiner asked the judge for special treatment for his client, requesting that Davidson be allowed to report to jail in Murray the next day, Judge Williams said no. She said Davidson “is no different than anyone else standing in front of this bench and he will not be treated any differently.”
With that, Davidson, 63, the former Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year, was hauled away to jail to serve 60 days of a 10-year sentence for stealing money from the Crittenden County Economic Development Corporation.
Davidson’s fall from grace began last winter when new economic development director, 25-year-old Lee Conrad, found discrepancies in the group’s financial records. State police were notified and a lengthy investigation found that more $236,000 had been embezzled from the economic development authority which gets its funding from taxpayers and private investors.
Last month, Davidson pleaded guilty to 15 felony counts of theft and one felony count of identity theft. Each charge stemmed from unlawful use of the CCEDC’s credit cards from 1999 through 2005 while Davidson was its president and CEO.
Davidson admitted to using the credit cards to buy or spend $210,000 on inappropriate transactions. Investigators said he purchased jewelry, cigars, theater and sports tickets and lavish dinners at resorts and casinos across the country, all on the CCEDC’s tab.
During sentencing Judge Williams told Davidson that he had “let down his friends, his family and his community.”
Davidson was accompanied in the courtroom by his wife, Carlin, and three other family members.
Davidson made restitution of $200,000 and will pay the remaining $10,000 in monthly installments once he gets out of jail. He brought two cashier’s checks to court last week. One $75,000 check was made out to the CCEDC and another for $75,000 was made to State Auto Insurance Company. The insurance company had already paid the economic development group that exact amount because the CCEDC held a fidelity bond (dishonesty insurance policy) on Davidson while he was its director. Such fidelity bonds are not uncommon.
Davidson also forfeited a $50,000 cash bond which he posted after being arrested last spring. That money will also go to the CCEDC to make restitution for the stolen money.
Judge Williams made points regarding two issues. First, she said that the Department of Corrections places inmates in particular jails, and that the court has nothing to do with it as reported previously. Davidson’s incarceration will be completed at the Murray-Calloway County Jail. Secondly, Judge Williams said she wanted to include in the court record that she had received five letters. The letters she said apparently were solicited by Davidson. Some of the letters included a copy of the letter Davidson allegedly sent to friends and associates encouraging them to write letters to the judge, apparently to seek leniency during the sentencing phase of the case.
Judge Williams said that of the five letters she received, one was from out of town and supported leniency for Davidson. She said the other four urged a heavier sentence than the one recommended by the prosecution.
Coiner, Davidson’s attorney, said his client expected the judge to stick to the terms of the plea agreement, although she could have reduced or increased the time Davidson would have to serve in jail.
“You always hope, and Steve would have liked to have had it all probated, but a deal is a deal and the judge stuck by it,” Coiner said.
Coiner said he did not know that Davidson was soliciting letters of support from others in the community. He did say that several other letters, “a stack about an inch thick,” according to Coiner, were provided to the probation and parole office during the pre-sentencing phase, all in support of Davidson.
While Davidson’s jail time will be completed by Nov. 11, other troubles stemming from the case may continue. Mike Harrod, assistant director of the special investigations division of the Kentucky Department of Revenue, said there will likely be some tax consequences for Davidson.
“I can’t speak to this case specifically,” Harrod said, “but in embezzlement cases what the state goes on is the amount that is ordered for restitution.”
Harrod said Davidson will have to file amended tax returns for those years when he took money but failed to disclose it on his tax return. There is a 50 percent civil fraud penalty that is applicable in such cases, Harrod said.
Information from embezzlement cases are forwarded to the state, Harrod said, so it will be only a matter of time before the tax consequences of Davidson’s plea catch up with him.
Based on the $210,000 settlement, Davidson could owe up to $51,330 in interest and penalties for back taxes he owed to federal, state and local governments.
For sale signs went up in front of Davidson’s house a few days before his sentencing. His attorney has said that he is looking for a job and has some leads in Marion that he will follow up on once his time is served.
The Murray-Calloway County Jail is a 115-bed facility constructed in 1996. Inmates have access to an in-house law library and library cart privileges. Commissary is offered at least once a week so inmates may purchase hygiene and paper items or snack foods and drinks, according to information online.
Visitation is held on Wednesday and Saturday 8:30 a.m., to 10 a.m. These visits are conducted through glass and are limited to one 15-minute visit per day, according to MurrayLink.Com.
The web site also said that permitted property includes clothing that is white or gray made of cotton material with no hoods, velcro or slip on shoes, one soft back book, 10 stamped envelopes, 10 photos and any prescription medication or glasses. Money must be in the form of cash or money order. Inmates may receive mail at the jail. Inmates are not allowed to receive calls at the facility nor does the jail take messages; however, inmates may make collect calls.
The jail offers a work release program, but it’s not clear at this time if Davidson will be enrolled in the program.
After Davidson is released from jail, he will be on supervised probation for five years which includes strict supervision by a probation officer. During that time, he will not be able to leave the area or move without notifying his probation officer and will be subject to random searches and testing of his person or home by the probation officer.


Six face jail time for drugs
Six people will be formally sentenced in the coming weeks on drug trafficking charges stemming from undercover investigations in Crittenden County over the past two years. Each agreed to plea agreements offered by the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
Sentencing for Jonathan Allen, Jeff Asbridge and Lonnie R. Moore will be Nov. 9 in Crittenden Circuit Court. Commonwealth Attorney Zac Greenwell is recommending a three-year sentence on charges of trafficking a controlled substance for Allen, 22, and five years for two cases against Asbridge, 36.
Oliver Williams, 35, Richard Sutton, 48, and Lee Ann Tabor, 27, will be sentenced by Circuit Judge Rene Williams Oct. 12 on amended charges of trafficking in a controlled substance.
Greenwell is recommending 10 years and shock probation for Williams, and a five-year sentence and shock probation for Moore. They would have to serve at least 90 days in jail before receiving shock probation.
Sutton’s agreement includes a 7-year sentence for two cases to run concurrent with no probation.
The plea agreement for Tabor includes a recommended six-year sentence, with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office opposing parole.

Tip leads to trafficking arrest
Quick thinking by a local businessman took a convicted felon and suspected drug trafficker off the streets last week. Marion Police received a tip from a local businessman who was in another merchant’s shop last Thursday and witnessed an unruly couple talking to the store attendant. The man appeared highly intoxicated, according to reports. A description of the vehicle was provided for police who stopped the car in the city hall parking lot minutes later. Carlos E. Garrett, 51, of Dycusburg was arrested on five charges, including trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, having an open beer in the vehicle and possession of a concealed deadly weapon. Police say they found scales, 12 grams of meth, a “slapjack,” pin-type projectile weapon and a hunting knife. They said Garrett was a convicted felon who was paroled from prison in July after serving 31 months of a seven-year sentence. He was taken to Hopkinsville and lodged in the Christian County Jail.