Danny Presgraves' Sentence Approaching its End

Presgraves in office, approximately 2008, from PN&C.

Last week we had news from the PN&C that the former sheriff of Page County, Danny Presgraves, had been moved from a federal minimum security prison in Massachusetts, where he served most of a 19 month sentence as the outcome of a racketeering case. The link to the PN&C article is below; Presgraves is now at a residential reentry center in the Baltimore area and is scheduled for release in June, about two months early. As a result of his plea, he will also have two years of probation after his release, must pay restitution to victims, and pay a fine of $1,000.


It’s been a while since I posted on the topic, but I found the link to the Washington Post article, also below, to refresh my memory of this situation. The Post recaps the original indictment:

“The 22-count indictment, returned in October 2008, accused Presgraves of accepting a $500 bribe to protect cockfighting at a pit known as Little Boxwood, sexually harassing a dozen female employees and using inmates from the jail to work on his and relatives' properties. The indictment also said he conspired to deal marijuana, tipped off a local company about the federal investigation, embezzled $86,410 -- including money extorted from the jail's pay phone vendor -- and attempted to launder about $200,000 through complex bank transactions.”

Presgraves pleaded guilty to some of the charges, which resulted in his sentencing. The Post also quoted his attorney after the sentencing, as follows:

“Today, Danny Presgraves acknowledged his wrongdoing and apologized to the citizens of Page County," his lead attorney, Charles E. James Jr., said afterward. "While recognizing the harm Danny has caused, the court also considered his entire life's work as a law enforcement officer."

Page County has certainly moved on from these events, we have a new sheriff in town and all, and hopefully the economy’s turnaround is started to be felt in more ways. So we can also hope that Danny has turned the corner after this experience.

http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=56017&CHID=42
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/19/AR2009121902206.html

Presgraves' Sentencing

It has been a while since I posted anything about the Sheriff Presgraves affair. I wanted to wait a bit so that I could get a better feel for the facts of the case – especially if it went to trial, although I never expected it to. With 22 counts indicted, potential fines in the millions of dollars, and the prospect of decades in federal prison, Presgraves plead guilty to only two charges in August. He admitted that he had used inmate labor illegally and had tried to persuade witnesses to lie about his conduct.

I read the Harrisonburg paper and a Washington Post site for more details, where I learned that last Friday, a federal judge sentenced [Presgraves] to 19 months in prison a fine of $1,000. He forfeited $75,000. Compared to what he was up against, it isn’t much, frankly – the Post adds a note: “Despite the lenient sentence, federal prosecutors say the prison term sends a message to public officials.”

While following the case, I found the twists and turns very interesting, and when Jerry Kilgore, a former Virginia attorney general and candidate for governor, joined Presgraves’ defense team, I thought it was unusual. Then I learned more about the Sheriff’s political activities, now summarizing from the Post:

“After first winning office in 1999, Presgraves handily beat back challengers and cozied up to some of Virginia's most prominent Republicans, including former governor George Allen, former attorney general Jerry W. Kilgore and Rep. Eric Cantor, now the House minority whip." (I found an AP photo linked in a previous post of Presgraves and Cantor together - and there is information about exchanges of campaign contributions easily found online.)

“When President George W. Bush went to Shenandoah National Park to give a speech in 2007, Presgraves was front and center to welcome him.”

Presgraves is a colorful local character, and he has his fans as well as his detractors – there seems to be a wealth of accomplishments mixed in with all the bad news in this story – but now he is a federal convict. There just isn’t any excuse that can be made for this behavior or for his crimes. Yet, he’s young enough, at 47, that he could learn a lesson from all of this, and return to public life as a role model for the good, but not in any official capacity. That’s the outcome I’ll hope for, anyway.

Getaway Friday

A quick post today, we have a busy weekend planned and I have a lot to do to make sure I can get on the road early.

The big event is the Page Valley Fair, which we'll go to tonight: http://www.pagevalleyfair.org/index.html. We missed it last year due to some work deadlines - but not this year.

I'm looking forward to the demolition derby - ever since I heard they have one I have been trying to make it out for this, and at last the stars have aligned. Here is a photo from the Fair's site...if I recall correctly, there will be six classes or so of races, a couple of hours of fun!

One other Page County news event of note - former Sheriff Presgraves is scheduled to give his plea today in H-burg. I don't expect to hear much about this until our return Sunday night. If his case goes to trial, that will likely be newsworthy for a few months this fall.

Signing off until Monday - have a good weekend!

A few updates on the Presgraves affair

Reviewing an article in last week's Page News and Courier, there have been a few new developments in the case against former Sheriff Presgraves:

• a second indictment, for false statements during the investigation, has been filed
• the former sheriff will go to trial on the original 22 charges on September 16 in Harrisonburg
• the Presgraves' home in Page County is for sale

The first indictment on 22 counts was the product of a long and circuitous investigation. I suppose it is easy to understand that a false statements charge could be made. Still, I prefer to leave all of this as "alledged" crimes until the trial. They are accusations until he's had his day in court.

The paper does get a bit sensational in its description of the Presgrave house for sale, going as far as to list the address! It is newsworthy, at the end, as there is an allegation in the original set of charges that the former sheriff illegally used inmate labor for home improvements. Here is the listing, taken from the Weichert.com site:

MLS PA7049999: Distinctive 10+acre secluded country-style compound. 5,440 s/f, 3BRs/3.5BAs with large game/recreation room. MBR w/private balcony. Sprawling covered pavilion w/summer kitchen; 2 ponds w/fountains/decks; large event area w/outdoor grills and baths-perfect for weddings,etc.; separate guest quarters; 2 garages for up to 12 cars; extensive landscaping. Unique property! Dimensions approx.

The Hawksbill Cabin will continue to follow this story as it develops.

...a Presgraves-Cantor connection?

There was a recent national article that linked 7th District Congressman Eric Cantor to Page County’s former Sheriff Danny Presgraves. In my rush to post this morning, I forgot to mention that I had come across the Harper’s article by Ken Silverstein (it’s been referenced in both the Harrisburg and Page County papers); I’ll summarize its content here and end with a link back to it.

Also, the caption on the accompanying photo (I’ve lost the link to its source, but everything in today’s post came via a Google search on “Cantor + Presgraves”) should read, “Former Page County Sheriff Daniel W. Presgraves talks with Virginia's 7th District Congressman Eric Cantor during a local Republican rally in August 2003.”

Before I begin the summary of the Harper’s article, I did a quick check on “watchdog.net” about Presgraves’ contributions to Cantor. I found that he gave a total of $3,600 to Cantor’s cause between 2002 and 2006. The Harper’s article mentions these contributions as well as those of fellow indictee Chester William Fannon III, who subsequently pled guilty to “making nearly $9,000 in illegal conduit political contributions,” and is subject to a maximum sentence of a year in prison and a $100K fine. According to the Harper's article, Fannon gave Cantor a total of $500 during 2006 and 2007.

In the DNR’s (and Page News & Courier's) earliest reporting, the list of Presgraves’s charges included the following: diverting $39K from the US Customs Service and $47K from PayTel to an escrow account, and making small deposits totaling $100K in a structuring scheme between 2001 and 2004. Note that these are charges, alledged crimes, yet to be tried.

However, these activities overlap with the Cantor contributions, and the saying “Politics makes strange bedfellows” comes to mind. I am not saying that at the start of all of this the Congressman would know whether he has a problem here, but it seems prudent now that the case is well underway to make sure those records are scrubbed before the trial. There is inevitable scrutiny ahead.

The Harper’s article is entitled “Congressman Cantor and Cockfighting.” Here is an extended quote, the link follows:

The Middleburg man first hauled into federal court the same day as former Page County Sheriff Daniel W. “Danny” Presgraves has pleaded guilty to making illegal political contributions in relation to cockfighting. Chester William Fannon III, 47 at the time of his October arrest, entered into a plea agreement in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville on Monday, according to online court records. The one-time president of the Virginia Gamefowl Breeders Association Inc. pleaded guilty to making nearly $9,000 in illegal conduit political contributions, the plea agreement says. That charge carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison and a $100,000 fine…

According to the indictment against him, Fannon had links to the Little Boxwood cockpit near Stanley in Page County. It says Fannon wrote checks to presidential and congressional candidates, and would then get reimbursement from the cockfighting association, in violation of federal law. Corporations are not permitted to donate to federal campaigns.

Both Presgraves and Fannon appear to be fans of House Minority Whip Eric Cantor. The former has made five contributions totaling about $3,500 to Cantor since 2002. The latter gave Cantor checks for $500 in 2006 and 2007. In April, after Cantor was interviewed on CBS, Fannon wrote this note on the congressman’s website:

‘Great interview! I am glad that you made it clear that you don’t want the President himself to fail but only his policys. [sic] Please keep supporting rural values, animal agriculture and the second amendment. The H.S.U.S. is a serious threat to the above mentioned organizations and we need your help.

‘The H.S.U.S. is the Humane Society of the United States, which has been leading an effort to ban cockfighting; and as a Humane Society blogger noted last October, Cantor was one of the very few House members who voted against the felony animal fighting bill.’”

The truth will out. You can find the Harper’s article at http://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/06/hbc-90005080.

The Presgraves Update

It's been a while since I posted on the felony trial of former Page County sheriff DannyPresgraves. He has been indicted on 22 wide ranging charges in a case that was originally set for trial in March but has been postponed.

The most recent news is that the former sheriff has added a new attorney to his expanding defense team, and, quoting H-burg's DNR newspaper, "This attorney brings some star power." He is former Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, who has been a candidate for governor, running against Tim Kaine in 2005. Kilgore is a partner at Williams Mullen, the same firm as Presgraves' previous lead attorney, David Barger, who left the law firm in May.

It is newsworthy that a politician with Kilgore's reputation would represent someone charged in such a high profile case. I'll refrain from speculating on what this signifies, in favor of thinking that it is nothing more than taking advantage of a challenging, high-profile case to rebuild his law career.

Duly noted, however, is all the rumor and innuendo on the internets. For previous reports about this, click on the "Sherrif Presgraves" label below.

Presgraves Trial to Begin Next Week

It’s been a while since I posted on the Sherriff Presgraves saga. There has been news from time to time, but this week has seen a number of updates. In this post I’m summarizing three recent reports from Harrisonburg News Station WHSV. Presgraves is charged with 22 federal counts ranging from racketeering to sexual assault to taking bribes, and if guilty may face imprisonment and fines.

(If you are finding this from a search engine, click on the Sherriff Presgraves label to read previous posts.)

1. Presgraves resigned this week as Page County Sherriff – effective February 28. The trial begins next week in Harrisonburg, Presgraves only asked that he and his wife be covered for the remainder of the year on health insurance as a severance package – a request that was granted.
2. This puts the wheels in motion for a special election to choose who will serve the remainder of his term…the election will be held in November. It also makes the petition issue moot – a petition was developed and submitted, but rejected on technical grounds. A revised version was in the works, but not much progress has been reported on this.
3. The senior deputy is filling in for now. He told the reporters that he has no intention of running for sherriff.

Following the developments of this case has been interesting. Page County is fairly close to evenly divided in their opinions about what should happen. Many are very loyal to the Sherriff, while others want to see this over with. And quite a few were angry that he was in a suspended with pay status while waiting for the trial.

Progress on all fronts this week. Keeping an eye on this.

Presgraves Update

There has been a little bit of reporting lately on the continuing saga about Page County Sheriff Presgraves. The latest developments are that a federal jury trial is set to begin March 16, but his defense team wants his trial on 22 charges of alleged corruption delayed. The charges include racketeering and sexual assault, which may make for a complex case, but Presgraves attorney also is calling it a “voluminous” case, according to reporting in H-burg’s Daily News and Record (DNR), reported by Jeremy Hunt.

As of Friday the motion to delay the trial was denied. Still pending is a decision about where to hold the trial – it’s been moved out of the county and will likely be held in H-burg or Roanoke. Also, a new petition to remove Presgraves from office is making the rounds after the first one was rejected.

The DNR reported Friday that the new petition is about 50 pages, including the indictment and bond order, and that about 100 people had signed it – 10 percent of the voting population needs to sign for it to be valid, or about 800 Page County residents.

Meanwhile, Presgraves continues to draw the Sheriff’s nearly $100K salary despite the indictment and subsequent orders that prohibit his wearing the uniform, using official vehicles, and even entering the office or meeting with employees.

Frankly, with the Page County paper full of letters to the editor about hard-working folks worried about keeping their homes and facing other challenges from the economic situation we face, seems like a good faith gesture from him waiving the salary, or a new court motion putting him on a leave without pay situation, would be the right thing to do. That’s money that could help a lot of people who probably need it more than him – or reduce the county’s prospective deficits this year.

The Presgraves Saga Goes On and On...

Over the weekend, I took some time to catch up on my Page News and Courier reading – I had about 6 back issues I wanted to get through. The focus of this post was the contents of a cover story, two letters to the editor, and a two-column, full-page editorial on the charges against Sheriff Presgraves.

In several past posts I’ve mentioned the breaking news from October about 22 counts ranging from sexual harassment to stealing sheriff department property. If convicted, the sheriff could be sentenced to 200+ years in prison and more than $2 million in fines.

There are strong sentiments both ways on this – he has his supporters and detractors, as evidenced by a petition to remove him from office and a fund raiser to get some money together to support his defense. By the way, the photo included here is from the paper – it’s often a part of the reporting that appears there.

Since we live in Alexandria and are not Page County voters, our thoughts won’t necessarily be counted in the final outcome on Presgraves. Still - and these are my own thoughts - I come down on the side of not paying him while this process works itself out. That doesn’t mean he’s out of office. I think it would be most efficient to suspend him without pay.

In a November 20 editorial, the paper headlined with “Resign, Mr. Presgraves” and subtitled the article with “Page County Sheriff has Lost Credibility.” On the sexual harassment charge, the article mentions that prosecutors allege that Presgraves told some victims to “take it to the grave.”

The letters to the editor alternatively support a referendum to remove him from office, or encourage him to “admit wrongdoing and stop wasting people’s time and money.” Finally, the article I read is about the rejection of the petition to remove Presgraves, signed by 800+ Page County voters, for various shortcomings. The petition’s sponsor has vowed to revise and resubmit the petition.

From other reports, we know that the county has needed consultation from the sheriff to complete the development of its law enforcement budgets – a process that keeps him out of direct contact with the responsible staff by allowing only written communication back and forth.

This is an example of how the case clearly has a potential impact on public safety and effective law enforcement in the county. Suspending without pay would allow the county to obtain a well-qualified replacement while the sheriff’s case goes to trial and is resolved.

Page County Sheriff News - the saga continues

In a blog post last month, I referenced the recent indictment of the Page County sheriff on 22 counts, ranging from taking bribes to sexual harassment. The charges are quite serious and carry a potential penalty of as much as 304 years in prison and fines of up to $2-million if the sheriff is convicted. Right now, the sheriff is out on $50K bail, but not allowed to work, wear the uniform, or use the cruiser; he is on some kind of administrative leave that allows him to receive his salary of approximately $100K per year while he is in this status.

Unraveling all of the activities involved in processing this case would take a couple of entries, but there has been news of late. I’ll summarize from a variety of sources, including Harrisonburg’s Channel 3 and the Page News and Courier.

The first item is the status of the petition to suspend the sheriff while the case plays out. Understandably, a number of county residents are upset that the sheriff pulls full pay during this episode – the median family income in Page, per the 200 census, is just about $40K annually – and a petition was circulated for removal, gaining 800 signatures. However, there were technical issues with the petition – it wasn’t written to match the charges, among other things, and it has been thrown out.

A second group of Page County citizens organized a legal defense fund for the sheriff. There’s not been much reporting on how much they raised, or how much the defense is estimated to cost.

The County is going through budgeting exercises right now, and an allowance has been made to gain the sheriff’s insight on the process. His communication - written only - with the staff is indirect, and must be filtered through a third party. The irony of this was not lost on the reporters, who noted that among the prosecution arguments was the issue that the sheriff was charged with using the budget of this office for personal gain.

In the Kite Hollow cock fighting ring case, an issue that is connected with the sheriff through these charges (he is alleged to have received bribes from the parties involved), sentencing for some of the operators has taken place, and jury selection for one of the defendants is just getting underway.

A last highlight of the day was the hearing yesterday in H-burg to change the venue of the trial, potentially to Roanoke, because of extensive publicity on the case. That decision is awaiting the results of the jury selection in the cock fighting case.

More to come, of course. The original post on the topic is linked below.
http://hawksbillcabin.blogspot.com/2008/11/sheriff-was-indicted.html

The Sheriff was Indicted...

Well, they have this election going on, but since I recently mentioned the indictment of Page County sheriff Presgraves, I suppose that for the benefit of my non-local readers I should recap all of this. Cynically, we could all look at this as a stereotypical event of small town corruption, it certainly fits the bill.

I mentioned that the 22 indictments carry a penalty of as much as 304 years in prison and fines of up to $2-million if the sheriff is proven convicted. The indictment documentation should be easy find with a Google search for “Page County sheriff indictment” – meanwhile here is a summary:

· 6 counts of obstructing a law enforcement investigation
· 4 counts of obstructing investigation by a federal grand jury
· 4 counts of violating the civil rights of female subordinates at the Page County Sheriff’s Office
· 2 counts of making false statements
· 2 counts of conspiracy
· 2 counts of mail fraud
· 1 county of money laundering
· 1 count of violating federal racketeering laws

This story seemed to have broken over an investigation of an allegation that the sheriff took a bribe to “look the other way” about a cockfighting enterprise, by coincidence only about a mile from the Hawksbill Cabin. The US District attorney was quoted as saying, “the cockfighting issue is just the tip of the iceberg.”

For now, the Sheriff has posted a security bond and returned to Luray. He has been instructed not to wear the uniform, perform any duties, nor to drive a cruiser while awaiting trial.

No doubt, this is a long story just getting started. I’ll post on it from time to time when there is news.