PONTIAC ? After five days of testimony, 20 pieces of evidence and 2? hours of deliberation, a jury of his peers May 29 found former Oxford Police Chief Gary Ford ‘not guilty? of two felony counts of larceny by conversion.
The ex-chief was accused of cashing two $1,000 donation checks intended for a 1999 police golf outing and recognition ceremony that never occurred, depositing $300 into his personal Oxford Bank account and receiving $1,700 back in cash.
Although the donors were repaid in full in August 2000 by Devil’s Ridge Golf Club ? to which the donation checks were made payable to ? the prosecutor argued Ford was never given permission by the contributors or the golf club to cash and deposit the checks into his personal account.
‘We’re very, very happy and pleased,? said Ford’s defense attorney Christopher Andreoff.
Asked his reaction to the verdict, Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton simply replied, ‘Disappointed.?
‘The jury spoke,? said Oxford Township Supervisor Bill Dunn of the verdict. ‘You have to live with the decision and move on. I’m just glad it’s over.?
‘I was quite frankly surprised because I thought Paul Walton put together a really good case, but when somebody’s fate rests in the hands of a jury, you get what you get,’said Oxford Village President Steve Allen. ‘Any time you turn somebody’s fate over to a jury, anything can happen. Nothing surprises me anymore.?
Although Ford won this battle, it’s not the end of the ex-chief’s troubles with the law.
On Sept. 2, Ford will again stand trial before Oakland Circuit Court Judge Patrick J. Brennan on one felony count of misconduct in office and one misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duty.
If convicted, the ex-chief faces up to five years in prison on the felony charge and up to one year in jail on the misdemeanor charge.
Both charges stem from a Jan. 5, 1999 incident in which Ford allegedly ordered an Oxford Police dispatcher to notify former Oxford Officer Kelly Sexton ‘of his request to immediately terminate the criminal investigation and arrest of Martin Scypinski on drunk driving charges,? according to the arrest warrant.
According to the criminal complaint, Ford allegedly ordered Scypinski’s release because he was a ‘personal friend as well as a supporter of the Oxford Police Millage.? Asked if he believes he will be equally successful in Ford’s second criminal trial, Andreoff replied, ‘You never know with litigation.?