DGIF officials indicted: Richmond Times-Dispatch (AP Story)
3 former Va. game department employees indicted
Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 08:24 PM Updated: 09:33 PM
By KRISTEN GELINEAU
The Richmond multi-jurisdiction grand jury indicted former department director William Woodfin Jr. and former game wardens Michael Caison and Terry Bradbery on Sept. 12. The indictments were unsealed Thursday.
Woodfin and board chairman Dan Hoffler, a Virginia Beach developer, resigned in 2005 after a 51-page audit accused department officials of waste, cronyism, misuse of state property and retaliation against employees after it was revealed that Woodfin, Hoffler, Caison and Bradbery went on a 2004 African safari. Although Hoffler eventually picked up the tab for the trip, the audit questioned purchases of hunting gear for the excursion charged to state credit cards.
According to the state audit report, Hoffler gave Woodfin, Bradbery and Caison almost $50,000 worth of gifts. Two watercraft and an all-terrain vehicle owned by the agency were kept at Hoffler's waterfront home on the Eastern Shore, the audit found.
Each of the counts is a felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Caison and Woodfin each face two counts; Bradbery faces one. Hoffler is not named in the indictment.
Bradbery plans to enter a plea of not guilty, said his attorney, Murray Janus.
"I'm not aware that any law has been violated _ I just don't see the offense," Janus said. "The state is not out any money whatsoever. This trip was approved. There was no state time that was used."
Caison's attorney, Craig Cooley, said "Mr. Caison certainly believes he has done nothing wrong _ no criminal act _ and we anticipate taking it to trial."
Joe Owen, attorney for Woodfin, said he plans to file a Bill of Particulars to find out what was done criminally.
"I have yet to see any activity that appears to be criminal in any way," Owen said.
In a statement, Hoffler said he was extremely disappointed to hear of the indictments and said he had cooperated with the investigation.
"I sincerely hope this does not tarnish the reputation of the department, which is without question one of the best in the nation," he said.
Bradbery and Woodfin were served their indictments in court on Tuesday, and were released on $5,000 personal recognizance bonds, said J. Tucker Martin, a spokesman for the attorney general's office. Caison was served his indictment in court Thursday and released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
All three were ordered to return to court Nov. 5, at which time a trial date will be set.
No other indictments are being sought, and the prosecution will be handled jointly by the offices of the Richmond commonwealth's attorney and the Virginia attorney general, Chief Deputy Attorney General William Mims said in a statement.
The game department released a statement noting that Woodfin, Caison and Bradbery are no longer affiliated with the agency, with Board of Game and Inland Fisheries Chairman James Hazel adding: "This issue is now a matter for the courts."
Mims said that as a result of the investigation, his office will propose legislation during the 2008 General Assembly session that specifically targets the game department and the state and local governments regarding the obligation to be "a good steward of our citizens' tax dollars."
Former State Police Superintendent Gerald Massengill was summoned out of retirement by former Gov. Mark R. Warner in 2004 to serve as the department's interim director and to help clean it up. Massengill instituted new controls over the department's accounting procedures and the way its money is spent. He remained in the post until October 2006.
Messages left with the commonwealth's attorneys office were not immediately returned.
Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 08:24 PM Updated: 09:33 PM
By KRISTEN GELINEAU
The Richmond multi-jurisdiction grand jury indicted former department director William Woodfin Jr. and former game wardens Michael Caison and Terry Bradbery on Sept. 12. The indictments were unsealed Thursday.
Woodfin and board chairman Dan Hoffler, a Virginia Beach developer, resigned in 2005 after a 51-page audit accused department officials of waste, cronyism, misuse of state property and retaliation against employees after it was revealed that Woodfin, Hoffler, Caison and Bradbery went on a 2004 African safari. Although Hoffler eventually picked up the tab for the trip, the audit questioned purchases of hunting gear for the excursion charged to state credit cards.
According to the state audit report, Hoffler gave Woodfin, Bradbery and Caison almost $50,000 worth of gifts. Two watercraft and an all-terrain vehicle owned by the agency were kept at Hoffler's waterfront home on the Eastern Shore, the audit found.
Each of the counts is a felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Caison and Woodfin each face two counts; Bradbery faces one. Hoffler is not named in the indictment.
Bradbery plans to enter a plea of not guilty, said his attorney, Murray Janus.
"I'm not aware that any law has been violated _ I just don't see the offense," Janus said. "The state is not out any money whatsoever. This trip was approved. There was no state time that was used."
Caison's attorney, Craig Cooley, said "Mr. Caison certainly believes he has done nothing wrong _ no criminal act _ and we anticipate taking it to trial."
Joe Owen, attorney for Woodfin, said he plans to file a Bill of Particulars to find out what was done criminally.
"I have yet to see any activity that appears to be criminal in any way," Owen said.
In a statement, Hoffler said he was extremely disappointed to hear of the indictments and said he had cooperated with the investigation.
"I sincerely hope this does not tarnish the reputation of the department, which is without question one of the best in the nation," he said.
Bradbery and Woodfin were served their indictments in court on Tuesday, and were released on $5,000 personal recognizance bonds, said J. Tucker Martin, a spokesman for the attorney general's office. Caison was served his indictment in court Thursday and released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
All three were ordered to return to court Nov. 5, at which time a trial date will be set.
No other indictments are being sought, and the prosecution will be handled jointly by the offices of the Richmond commonwealth's attorney and the Virginia attorney general, Chief Deputy Attorney General William Mims said in a statement.
The game department released a statement noting that Woodfin, Caison and Bradbery are no longer affiliated with the agency, with Board of Game and Inland Fisheries Chairman James Hazel adding: "This issue is now a matter for the courts."
Mims said that as a result of the investigation, his office will propose legislation during the 2008 General Assembly session that specifically targets the game department and the state and local governments regarding the obligation to be "a good steward of our citizens' tax dollars."
Former State Police Superintendent Gerald Massengill was summoned out of retirement by former Gov. Mark R. Warner in 2004 to serve as the department's interim director and to help clean it up. Massengill instituted new controls over the department's accounting procedures and the way its money is spent. He remained in the post until October 2006.
Messages left with the commonwealth's attorneys office were not immediately returned.
