Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Restitution

NASHVILLE, TN — Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold pleaded guilty Wednesday to three federal crimes related to his connection with an e-cigarette distributor which sold vaping materials to inmates at the jail he supervised.

Arnold, who has been jailed in Kentucky since his pre-trial release was revoked after an alleged domestic incident involving his wife over Labor Day weekend, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, honest services fraud and extortion. Each count carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and, under the terms of the plea agreement, federal prosecutors did not offer a sentence recommendation; however, Arnold did agree to pay $52,500 in restitution to Rutherford County.

Arnold is scheduled for sentencing May 8, but U.S. District Court Judge Kevin Sharp said he would consider a request by his attorney's to expedite that hearing.

Arnold, along with his uncle John Vanderveer and chief administrative deputy Joe Russell were indicted bin May by a federal grand jury on charges of illegally profiting through JailCigs, a company which sold e-cigarette paraphernalia to inmates at the county jail. The trio's trial was scheduled for February 7. Russell is expected to enter a guilty plea Friday. There is no indicate Vanderveer intends to do the same, however.

Arnold's guilty plea renders moot a civil ouster suit filed by a dozen Rutherford County residents which would have removed him from office. Arnold has been suspended as sheriff since mid-November and last week, the Rutherford County Commission appointed Mike Fitzhugh to serve as interim sheriff until the August 2018 election.

According to federal prosecutors, JailCigs generated $156,975 at the county jail. None of that money was shared with the county government.

Image via Grayson County, Ky. Detention Center