Page County's sheriff was arrested at his Luray home and charged with diverting $100,000 in public money into his private accounts, putting jail inmates to work for him and pocketing bribes from a cockfighting operation.

In a 22-count federal indictment, Sheriff Daniel W. Presgraves, named rural Page's Citizen of the Year in 2006, also is accused of sexually harassing, sexually assaulting or intimidating a total of 12 of his female employees, and obstruction of an investigation.

The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 300 years.

"It's a very sad day when we have to stand before you to report that a federal grand jury has found sufficient cause to return an indictment against an elected public official," Julia C. Dudley, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said at a news conference in Charlottesville.

A federal magistrate released Presgraves from custody on a $50,000 bond, ordering him not to talk to anyone in the sheriff's department while he awaits trial.

"He's still technically the sheriff, but he's got no responsibilities," said Thomas J. Bondurant Jr., criminal chief in the U.S. attorney's Roanoke office.

Presgraves, 46, has been sheriff since Jan. 1, 2000, and last year he handily beat three opponents to win re-election as a Republican.

The indictment was handed up by an Abingdon grand jury.

Prosecutors said the investigation into Presgraves began when an informant suggested the sheriff was taking bribes from the Little Boxwood cockfighting pit in return for staying quiet about the illegal operation. The operators of the pit have been charged with cockfighting-related crimes. Some have pleaded guilty; one awaits trial.

In the course of the federal investigation, Dudley said, agents unearthed what she called a "pattern of sexual assault, sexual harassment, money laundering, witness intimidation, acts of dishonesty and obstruction of justice." The sheriff is also accused of accepting cash, gift cards, and the use of machinery and free labor for personal projects from an unnamed corporation in exchange for tipping off corporate officers about any other agency's investigation.

The indictment also says that, from 2001 to 2004, Presgraves deposited more than $100,000 in cash into his personal checking accounts.

Update 11/18/08:  Federal prosecutors are seeking to move Page County Sheriff Daniel W. Presgraves' trial on racketeering and other charges to U.S. District Court in Roanoke.

In a motion filed in Harrisonburg, the U.S. Attorney's Office said the jury pool could be tainted because of extensive publicity the case has received.

A 22-count indictment unsealed Oct. 23 charged Presgraves with racketeering, conspiracy and other charges stemming from accusations that he took bribes in exchange for promising not to interfere with a cockfighting ring.

The indictment also accused Presgraves of intimidating potential witnesses.

Presgraves has pleaded not guilty and remains free on $50,000 bond.

Update 12/18/08:  A man accused of bribing the Page County sheriff has pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Albert Taylor, 66, of Luray entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg. Five other charges were dismissed.

Prosecutors say they expect Taylor to testify in the federal racketeering case against Page Sheriff Daniel W. Presgraves.

Taylor was indicted in September 2007 after a raid at a cockfighting pit known as Little Boxwood near Stanley.

Taylor admitted that he paid a $500 bribe that was eventually deposited into Presgraves' election campaign account. Presgraves said the payment was a political contribution.

Taylor's sentencing is set for April 23. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Update 3/2/09:  A rural Virginia sheriff has stepped down while a judge agreed to delay his trial on nearly two dozen federal charges that include racketeering and conspiracy.

Page County Sheriff Daniel W. Presgraves said in a letter to the county supervisors that he would resign at the end of last week.

Meanwhile, an order filed in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg continued the trial to Sept. 16. Presgraves' attorney, David G. Barger, had filed a motion in U.S. District Court last week seeking a continuance in the trial that was scheduled to begin March 23.

Barger said he needed additional time to prepare for what is expected to be a lengthy trial, with the prosecution expected to call about 100 witnesses.

Barger also said Presgraves recently had neck surgery and would be better able to sit through a long trial if he were fully recovered.

The defense attorney said in his motion that Presgraves resigned to allow Page County citizens to elect a sheriff who is not precluded from performing his duties.

U.S. Attorney Julia C. Dudley opposed a delay in the trial, noting that the defense has had since Oct. 22 -- the date the indictment was returned -- to prepare its case.

The Page supervisors agreed to Presgraves' request to pay his and his wife's health insurance premiums through the end of the year.

The sheriff, who was first elected in 1999, earned more than $97,000 a year.

Reference:

The Richmond Times-Dispatch