Pubdate: Fri, 16 Jan 2004
Source: Daily American Republic (MO)
Copyright: 2004 Daily American Republic.
Contact: P.O. Box 7, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902
Website: http://www.darnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1859
Author: Michelle Friedrich
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm ( Corruption - United States)

DOBBS: SHERIFF USED PRISONER LABOR FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT

Allegations of stealing and illegal use of prisoner labor by Butler
County Sheriff Bill Heaton are now being investigated by the Missouri
State Highway Patrol. Those accusations, along with ones involving
possible obstruction of justice/potential receiving stolen property,
were made earlier this week by former Sgt. Mark Dobbs, a 10-year
veteran of the Butler County Sheriff's Department.

Dobbs was terminated by Heaton less than an hour after delivering a
letter to the Butler County Prosecuting Attorney's office requesting
an investigation into his allegations against the sheriff.

Dobbs said he, along with his fellow deputies, have been concerned
about Heaton's alleged theft of custom tires and wheels that were
taken off the Drug Abuse Resistance Education van prior to it being
sold at auction in May.

In March, the van was seen up on blocks without its tires in the
underground garage at the sheriff's department. An older model pickup,
owned by the sheriff, was also parked inside the garage during this
same time.

Dobbs said prior to the D.A.R.E. van being sold, and even after that,
the deputies had reason to believe the tires allegedly had been put on
Heaton's truck. "This was everyone's concern," Dobbs explained.
"Everyone was shocked and at the same time offended."

The D.A.R.E. van, according to Dobbs, was paid for through private
donations by individuals in the community.

The van reportedly was originally donated to the county by Ellington
Telephone and had been used as the county's evidence van since the
late 1990s.

When a new used van was put into service for use by Evidence
Technician Donwell Clark, D.A.R.E. officers, Kellis Thompson and Scott
Wiggs, approached the sheriff about Clark's old van, earlier newspaper
reports said.

At that time, Thompson and Wiggs suggested creating an "easily
recognizable" vehicle for use in the D.A.R.E. program, which they
taught at the county's schools. The van was first used for D.A.R.E. in
the fall of 2001.

Money for the striping came from the department's D.A.R.E. fund, which
is made up of donations from the community, the officers said at the
time.

Bootheel Sign Company did all the graphics on the van, while Plaza
Tire helped in the purchase of new tires for it, the officers said
then.

The van, according to Dobbs, had "high dollar custom tires (and
wheels). They were very distinctive."

When the tires were removed from the van and allegedly put on Heaton's
truck, "no one approached the sheriff," Dobbs said. "There was no
doubt among anybody around where (the wheels and tires) came from."

Although the deputies didn't approach the sheriff, they did approach
then Chief Deputy Rick Sliger, Dobbs said.

"Sliger approached him (Heaton) and told him it was not a good idea to
have them on his pickup," Dobbs explained.

At some later point after that alleged discussion between Heaton and
Sliger, the wheels were returned to the Butler County Justice Center,
Dobbs said. At this time the location of the tires is reportedly unknown.

"It's sad because those were bought by private donations to inspire
children to resist drugs by enhancing the look of the D.A.R.E. van and
that some sheriff would have the audacity to put them on his vehicle,"
Dobbs said. "I think the biggest concern is if someone in that
position would be doing something like that and is bold enough to put
(the wheels and tires) on his truck, what is going on that we don't
even see?"

If the county was doing away with the van, then "in all reality, those
(tires and wheels) should have gone to the sheriff's sale (in May)
like everything else did," Dobbs said.

In addition to the alleged theft of the D.A.R.E. tires, Dobbs has
accused Heaton of stealing seized property.

Due to the ongoing investigation, Dobbs declined to identify any of
those specific items.

Dobbs' final allegation concerns Heaton's use of prisoner
labor.

Heaton, according to Dobbs, has had trusties allegedly doing manual
labor in and around his house; mowing and doing yard work at his
house; helping him with building projects at his house, including work
on a roof; setting up and breaking down camp sites in Wayne County;
painting campaign signs; and overhauling an engine on his pickup in
the justice center garage.

When Heaton was asked about the use of inmates on Tuesday morning, he
said, "and they were paid." At that point he terminated the interview,
but seconds later added, "We take (good) care of our inmates around
here."

Since that time, Heaton has declined any further comment, citing the
ongoing investigation and advice from his attorney.

If the inmates were paid, Dobbs questions how the pay was
determined.

"It's not like (the inmate) would get a chance to negotiate a wage,"
Dobbs explained. "He could be paying them 50 cents an hour and it be
borderline slavery. If you're going to work them, how about having
them pick up trash on some of the county roads.

"He's setting the wage and telling them they are going to do the
work."

One trusty, who was trained as a mechanic, allegedly overhauled the
engine in Heaton's pickup, Dobbs said.

"(That trusty) showed me he had $700 on his person when he was
released," Dobbs said. "If you've got a mechanic to do the work for
$5, $6 or $8 an hour, I'm sure there's a lot of people who would like
to set their own pay wage and pay no taxes, Social Security or
workers' compensation (on the person)."

One inmate, according to Dobbs, was injured while allegedly working on
the roof at Heaton's house in August.

According to a statement from Kneibert Clinic, the county paid $418
for the inmate to be treated for possible injuries to his shoulder,
chest, spine and sternum. The statement further indicated the injury
was the result of possibly "slipping, stumbling or tripping."

The county was also billed for a follow-up visit at the jail by a
nurse practitioner.

When the trusties allegedly worked outside the jail, "sometimes, the
deputies are ordered to put them in their patrol car and take them out
to his house (to work)," Dobbs explained. "Sometimes he (Heaton) puts
them in his personal vehicle and takes them out there."

Although Dobbs never transported any of the prisoners himself, "I
personally know other deputies who did (and didn't question it) for
fear of (losing) their job." According to the Missouri Sheriff's
Association's Executive Director James Vermeersch, he wasn't aware of
any standards set in regard to use of trusties.

Vermeersch believed it was "all in the providence of the sheriff and
chief jailer" as to how and for what trusties could be used. He
referred further inquiries to the Missouri Attorney General's office.

"Due to the status of the current situation down there, this is a
matter that is now under a criminal investigation, and we're not going
to be able to put forth" any applicable laws, explained Scott Holste,
spokesman for the Attorney General's office. "I'm afraid we just can't
weigh in with any kind of answers at this point." Whether the trusties
were paid or unpaid, "they're still running about," said Dobbs, who
described security as being loose.

"They had free (reign)," Dobbs explained. "They could have gone
anywhere."

Concerns were raised among the deputies when an employee at a downtown
liquor store called one day to say a trusty was there attempting to
buy liquor, Dobbs said.

Another was allowed outside the jail where he allegedly had "sexual
contact with his significant other," Dobbs said.

Further, another jail trusty allegedly went on a "float trip" and no
one knew, Dobbs said.

Still another was seen talking on an evening television news report
about the methamphetamine problem in Butler County, Dobbs said.
Officers knew he was supposed to be in jail at the time and were
shocked to see him on TV that night, he said.

"He was in street clothes and was inadvertently represented as a
citizen of the general public," Dobbs said.

"Anytime you have prisoners coming and going from a jail and no
officers around because they are out on the road taking calls, then
you have serious security flaws within your jail," Dobbs explained.

According to Dobbs, there is "no way" to prevent contraband from
coming in to the jail "with security as loose as it is for these folks."

Dobbs doesn't believe there is anybody, "not one person, a sergeant or
any supervisor, who has been told to watch the trusties or supervise
them."

If the trusties are working on a project, then the department's
maintenance man will supervise them, Dobbs said. "Day in and day out,
no, there really isn't anyone that I know of," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake