News
Meigs Co. Deputy Indicted on Robbery, Other Felony Charges
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
Posted on:
A Meigs County Sheriff’s Office deputy on administrative leave has been indicted in Athens County Common Pleas Court with three felony charges.
Brody Davis, 26, is charged with robbery, grand theft when property is a firearm or dangerous ordinance, tampering with records and dereliction of duty. All charges are felonies with the exception of dereliction of duty, which is a second-degree misdemeanor.
Davis was arraigned Tuesday and was released after posting bond which was set at $30,000 with 10 percent permitted.
According to the indictment filed on Monday, Davis took a Savage Model 64, .22 caliber pistol owned by Charles Hudnall on or about May 9, 2014. The robbery charge carries a firearm specification which could add a year to any imposed prison sentence if Davis is convicted.
Davis is also alleged to have falsified a police report, knowing that he was facilitating a fraud against Hudnall. The offense of dereliction of duty alleges that as a law enforcement officer Davis negligently failed to perform a lawful duty in a criminal case or proceeding.
Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith said that Davis is not employed as a deputy in Athens County.
Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn stated that the charges stem from a case which originated in Meigs County which Davis was investigating in Athens County. At the time of the alleged incident, Smith stated, a stolen vehicle from Meigs County was located in Athens County and Davis came to retrieve the vehicle.
The case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and was presented to the Athens County grand jury within one week of the prosecutor’s office receiving it, according to Blackburn.
A news release by Meigs County Sheriff’s Office states that the office received a citizen’s complaint on an officer with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office in reference to an allegation of misconduct and theft. Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney Colleen Williams was contacted in regards to these allegations and the decision was made for an outside agency to investigate the criminal allegations and an internal investigation would be conducted by in-house staff as well.
Davis has been on paid administrative leave through the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office since April 22 and will remain on leave at this time according to a news release.
A pre-trial hearing in the case is scheduled for June 15 before Judge Patrick Lang.