District Attorney Ashley Wright says there is no actionable evidence to pursue charges in the steroids investigation.
Sheriff Richard Roundtree answered media questions Monday afternoon, saying his officers “have been cleared” and he looks forward to “putting this behind us.”
VIEW ENTIRE D.A.’s REPORT HERE:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/283022200/RCSO-STEROIDS-REPORT
VIEW RCSO REPORT HERE:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/283027041/RCSO-Issues-Their-Own-Steroids-Summary
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Brandon Paquette’s arrest last year started a lot of talk about steroid use by Richmond County deputies. His arrest came after narcotics officers searched his residence and found steroids, authorities said.
Key points in the report:
- Paquette initially named nice officers he had sold illegal steroids to: Joel Danko, Mark Chestang, Larry Bracken, Julio Concepcion, Ricky Palocsik, Michael Swint, Matthew Perkins, Jose Ortiz and David Sward.
- Later, Paquette said he had sold indirectly to P.J. Hambrick, Joey Michau, Greg Meager and William “Jerry” Jarrett.
- He later named others to whom he had dealt steroids who he believed were no longer employed by the sheriff’s office: Danny Stenger, Seth Giddens, Tony Toole, Sylvester Rosier, Tim Rzasa, Jeff Johnson, Rodney Williams and Mike Hodges.
- A lie detector test was given to Paquette and he showed no signs of deception when confirming that he sold to RCSO officers.
Yet, the district attorney said there was no sufficient evidence to find any evidence of criminal wrongdoing to allow for charges. Many officers took drug tests and passed, with the exception of P.J. Hambrick, who resigned from the sheriff’s office and confessed to purchasing from Paquette.
Wright’s conclusion:
“In this investigation, the allegations are almost wholly uncorroborated. The evidence and witness will likely be impeached at trial.. The presentation of unreliable or incredible evidence is against the rules of professional conduct. As a result, there is no actionable evidence to be considered at grand jury. There is probability of conviction based on the evidence adduced in this investigation. For this reason, no further action will be undertaken with respect to this investigation.”
Brandon Paquette’s arrest last year started a lot of talk about steroid use by Richmond County deputies. His arrest came after narcotics officers searched his residence and found steroids, authorities said.
On Oct. 16, a search warrant at Paquette’s home turned up the illegal drugs. He has pleaded not guilty to controlled substance possession with intent to distribute and weapon possession.
He later made accusations that he supplied steroids to local officers for 10 years. The case was turned over to the GBI and the state agency turned its results over to the district attorney’s office in March.
District Attorney Ashley Wright said she would review the findings and determine if criminal charges were warranted.
Three members of the narcotics unit resigned since Paquette’s arrest, including lead steroids investigator Jason Kennedy, who quit to work for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Mike Swint resigned days after Paquette’s drug bust.
Last week, Paquette was sentenced Thursday to a year in prison after being convicted of battery in a road rage case from June 2014. In that case, Taiwo Olanipekun said Paquette pulled him out of his vehicle assaulted him on June 6, 2014. The victim suffered swelling, knots and bruises.
Also, Paquette’s brother, Cameron “Ryan” Paquette, was charged last October for allegedly threatening Richmond County Narcotics Investigator Joel Danko. Authorities say he threatened to bash in Danko’s head and rape his wife.
The post Steroids Case Revealed: No Charges! appeared first on AugustaCrime.com - Richmond, Columbia, and Aiken County Jail - Reports & Mugshots.
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