Published: November 20, 2009 09:55 am      

Dewey County sheriff charged with embezzlement

Dewey County Sheriff Carl Freeman was charged Thursday with embezzlement by a county employee.

The felony charge was filed in Dewey County District Court by Assistant District Attorney Gary Combs of Taloga. Freeman is accused of selling a gun held by the Dewey County Sheriff's Office and keeping the money for personal use.

In an affidavit filed by Steve Tanio of the District 26 District Attorney's Office, Freeman is alleged to have sold a .25 caliber, semi-automatic handgun in early November 2007 to a dispatcher for $50. The gun was reportedly seized a week earlier during the investigation of a shooting.

On Nov. 16 of this year, according to the affidavit, Freeman allegedly admitted to Undersheriff Clay Sander, Deputy Jeramy Rogers and James Bailey to selling the gun, saying, "Yeah I did it, I knew it was wrong."

A day later, according to the affidavit, Freeman allegedly contacted the person he had sold the gun to and said he needed to buy it back. On Nov. 18, Freeman allegedly wrote a personal check and paid the person $50 for the gun.

Freeman has allegedly told a county commissioner he would be resigning by Monday, according to the affidavit.

If convicted, Freeman faces up to 10 years in jail plus a fine.