x
Breaking News
More () »

TBI: Two former Fentress Co. deputies indicted after one sells department AR-15 and other uses county funds for fuel

Derek C. Richards, 42, turned himself in Thursday and was booked into the Fentress County Jail on $1,000 bond, according to the TBI.

A former Fentress County Sheriff's Office deputy is charged with official misconduct after authorities say he sold his agency-issued AR-15 rifle for personal gain.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said a grand jury indicted Derek C. Richards, 42, last week. He turned himself in Thursday and was booked into the Fentress County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Richards doesn't work at the Sheriff's Office anymore.

Authorities began investigating in October after "the Fentress County Sheriff's Department discovered possible misconduct," according to information from TBI spokeswoman Leslie Earhart.

"During the course of the investigation, agents determined that Richards, while serving as a deputy for the Fentress County Sheriff's Department, sold his agency issued AR-15 rifle for personal gain," Earhart's statement reads.

The semi-automatic rifle has been recovered.

Credit: TBI
Derek Richards, former Fentress County deputy

Another former FCSO deputy is facing charges after authorities said he tapped into public funds for personal use.

TBI said Johnny Dishman, 50, used a county-issued fuel card for personal use. They also said he was no longer employed by the sheriff's office, and that he has been charged with fraudulent use of a credit card, a count of theft of over $2,500 and official misconduct.

Investigators found that he spent at least $8,856.53 in fuel for his personal vehicle. Most of the purchases were made when he was not working, officials said.

Investigators also said he admitted to using the county fuel credit card starting "a couple of years ago."

They started investigating Dishman in March 2020, according to officials. On Thursday, he turned himself in, according to officials. He was booked into the Fentress County jail on a $2,500 bond.

Credit: TBI

Before You Leave, Check This Out