Formal indictment breaks down all 18 charges against Gibson County Sheriff
GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — We have continuing coverage of the indictment of a West Tennessee sheriff.
Current sheriff of Gibson County, Paul Thomas, was booked this morning facing numerous charges.
After securing the formal indictment, we break down those charges.
According to an indictment by grand jury, Gibson County Sheriff Paul Thomas has been charged with 18 felonies involving six inmates.
The first six charges in the indictment accuse Thomas of allegedly knowingly and feloniously constituting an unauthorized exercise of official power to employ, or use the labor for personal gain of, six inmates under his care and custody, those inmates were named in the indictment as Anthony Bolding, Ronald Cravens, Jonathan Forrest, Mark Smit, William Vestal, and Jeffrey Whyke.
This being a violation of Tennessee Code annotated or T.C.A. 39-16-402, official misconduct.
Charges 7 through 12 in the indictment, accuse the sheriff of, allegedly, “knowingly and feloniously constituting an unauthorized exercise of official power to employ, or use the labor of those six inmates to directly or indirectly provide, profit, or benefit, Alliance Group LLC” the company that sheriff Thomas has partial ownership in.
Again, falling under official misconduct.
Counts 13 through 18 accuse the sheriff of failing to keep the six inmates properly guarded to prevent escape. This, being labeled as official misconduct and also a violation of T.C.A. 41-2-109, care of prisoners.
We reached out to sheriff Paul Thomas who referred us to his attorney for comment.
To view the full list of the indictments, click here.
SEE ALSO: Sheriff Paul Thomas booked into Gibson County jail
SEE ALSO: Attorney confirms Gibson County sheriff faces 18 felony charges
For more news in the Gibson County area, click here.
