Former Chester County Sheriff Alex “Massive A” Underwood needs a brand new trial after a jury convicted him of public corruption and abuse of energy fees final month.
In courtroom paperwork filed Could 7, Underwood’s attorneys argued federal prosecutors didn’t produce ample proof of the ex-sheriff’s guilt throughout their nine-day trial. They requested a decide to acquit Underwood, 57, or give him a brand new trial.
Underwood and two of his former high deputies, Johnny Neal and Robert Sprouse, had been convicted April 23 of a complete of 23 federal fees that carry as much as 20 years in jail for every man.
Through the trial, prosecutors from the U.S. Division of Justice made the case that Underwood, who turned Chester County’s first Black sheriff after his 2012 election, had used his highly effective place to serve himself.
They introduced the jury proof Underwood had ordered deputies to construct him a “social gathering barn” throughout work hours and spy on political opponents, skimmed cash his deputies had earned working DUI checkpoints, and illegally arrested a Chester County man who had taunted him from his porch.
Prosecutors additionally entered into proof a Submit and Courier investigation that discovered Underwood and Sprouse had improperly booked first-class aircraft tickets for themselves and their wives to Nevada for a sheriff’s convention.
Additional, they argued, Underwood and his cronies lied and falsified paperwork to cowl up their misdeeds.
Underwood’s attorneys, Stanley Myers and Jake Moore, painted Underwood as a public servant who was being unfairly focused by the federal authorities. Underwood’s worst offenses had been mere coverage infractions — and prosecutors had didn’t show past an inexpensive doubt that the sheriff’s actions constituted federal crimes, they argued.
After the responsible verdicts had been learn, Underwood’s attorneys had hinted at a attainable enchantment. Moore mentioned he was baffled by the jury’s determination and noticed loads of room to problem juror’s findings.
Efforts to succeed in Underwood’s attorneys for remark Could 10 had been unsuccessful.
The information about plans to hunt a brand new trial was first reported by The State newspaper.
