Judge Sentences Ricky Foxworth to Prison, LIVINGSTON, October 27, 2010 - On the afternoon of October 27, 2010, Judge Robert H. Trapp sentenced Ricky Lynn Foxworth to 5 years in prison. Foxworth will be jailed in the Texas Department of Corrections. Foxworth was convicted on September 8, 2010 of felony theft after a numerous shady deals mainly involving timber and heavy equipment. Foxworth preyed on elderly people and swindled them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars promising them big returns on investments that were never to be after he conned them out of their money. Foxworth sat quietly in the courtroom wearing an orange prison jumpsuit with his hands in handcuffs.
Original story with pictures below.
September 8, 2010: Ricky Lynn Foxworth hears testimony in Judge Robert H. Trapp's Court.
Former Cleveland Police Chief Guilty of Felony Theft, LIVINGSTON, September 8, 2010 - Former City of Cleveland Police Chief Ricky Lynn Foxworth, 52, was found guilty of 2 counts of felony theft in Judge Robert H. Trapp's 411th District Court. Prosecutor Joe Martin with the Polk County Criminal District Attorney's Office was visibly pleased with the ruling. Reports to the DA's Office of allegations from multiple complainants of being swindled out of what amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars led to charges being filed. The shady dealings were supposed to have involved cheap timber, heavy equipment, and cattle. Prosecutor Joe Martin had at least 6 witnesses take the witness stand. Several witnesses recounted how Foxworth conned them into deals based on his words alone and nothing in writing. In general, Foxworth would tell his victims that he needed some money up front and that he could have a quick turnaround selling timber, cattle, or heavy equipment profiting thousands of dollars. Valid checks in the tens of thousands of dollars were written payable to Foxworth's name. After time would pass, the victims would get in touch with Foxworth who would offer varying excuses as to why the deal hadn't yet transpired. In many cases, Foxworth would give his victims checks claiming the payback checks were good and valid, but the checks would come back insufficient funds. Defense Attorney Joe Roth argued that nobody forced these people to do business with Foxworth, and that he was working to pay his victims back. One witness stated after being swindled out of over $30,000 that after chasing down Foxworth for months that he finally "...just gave up". Foxworth was placed on probation in the mid 1990s for theft. Foxworth also faces charges in Montgomery County for his shady dealings. Foxworth is also former Chief Deputy for the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Department. Punishment phase for Ricky Lynn Foxworth is set for October 27th in Judge Trapp's court and he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutor Joe Martin interviews a witness in Judge Robert H. Trapp's 411th District Court in the trial of Ricky Lynn Foxworth on September 8, 2010.
Foxworth and his attorney Joe Roth listen as a witness testifies in Judge Trapp's court.
Attorney Joe Roth (left) interviews his client Ricky Foxworth on September 8th.
If you would like to comment on this story, we'd love to hear from you. Your name will be listed with your comment when it's posted in the Letters to the editor.
