Former Gibson Co. sheriff Chuck Arnold pleads guilty; avoids prison time

GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A former Gibson County sheriff originally charged with more than 100 counts entered a guilty plea Friday.

Chuck Arnold

Chuck Arnold will not see prison time and instead was sentenced to 10 years of probation and must pay restitution.

Arnold was indicted in December 2015 along with 11 other people involved in his administration as a result of a TBI investigation. He had originally pleaded not guilty.

All but 23 counts against Arnold were dismissed.

Arnold was initially indicted on 113 counts including four counts of theft over $10,000, 55 counts of official misconduct, nine counts of theft over $1,000, one count of forgery, one count of theft of $500 or more, one count of attempted theft of $1,000 or more, two counts of attempted theft of $10,000 or more, one count of conspiracy to obtain controlled substance by fraud and 39 counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud.

Arnold lost his bid for re-election in August 2014 after serving two terms.