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Leesville, La. —
Note: This is a breaking news stories. Changes have been made, and may continue, since its initial publication.
Former Leesville Chief of Police Bobby Hickman has been indicted on a third federal weapons charge, U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley told Leader staff Tuesday afternoon, while a federal judge has agreed to move the trial date for the former Leesville chief of police.
Federal documents that became available Wednesday indicated that Hickman's trial date had been moved from Aug. 8 to Aug. 22 in Lafayette by U.S. District Judge Richard Haik on Tuesday. Hickman had previously motioned to waive his right to a speedy trial, and his attorney, James Doyle, motioned to postpone the trial because of a lack of time to examine the evidence.
According to Finley, the Western District of Louisiana grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Hickman with an additional unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm. The previous indictment which was filed on June 15, 2011, charged Hickman with two counts of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The defendant is alleged to have possessed a blued Ruger Model GP100 .357 magnum caliber revolver and a chrome Charter Arms Undercover Model .38 special caliber revolver.
The superseding indictment includes a charge of possession of a Mossberg Model 500A 12 Gauge Pump-Action Shotgun, with a barrel length of less than 18 inches. The superseding indictment further alleges that the shotgun was not registered to Hickman.
The charge stems from an illegal sawed-off shotgun found at Hickman's residence after his June 24 arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on two other weapons charges.
Agents found the firearm at Hickman’s residence on June 24, 2011, when he was arrested following the June 15th indictment.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, said Finley.
The June 24 search also revealed an assault rifle purchased by the city but never recorded in city records, as well as portable radios belonging to the 911 Communications District, cases of ammunition, a city police car license plate, video surveillance equipment and an iPhone issued to former Leesville Police Officer Michael Cash.
A date for Hickman's arraignment has not yet been set.
Finley would not comment concerning any other pending charges against Hickman.
A number of agencies are involved in the case, including the Attorney General, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Leesville Police Department and the Alexandria Resident Agency.
The Attorney General is poised to take the lead on the investigation, with a meeting set for the near future with all the involved agencies to determine the next steps. It is expected that the U.S. Attorney will pursue all charges against Hickman.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brett L. Grayson.
Note: This is a breaking news stories. Changes have been made, and may continue, since its initial publication.
Former Leesville Chief of Police Bobby Hickman has been indicted on a third federal weapons charge, U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley told Leader staff Tuesday afternoon, while a federal judge has agreed to move the trial date for the former Leesville chief of police.
Federal documents that became available Wednesday indicated that Hickman's trial date had been moved from Aug. 8 to Aug. 22 in Lafayette by U.S. District Judge Richard Haik on Tuesday. Hickman had previously motioned to waive his right to a speedy trial, and his attorney, James Doyle, motioned to postpone the trial because of a lack of time to examine the evidence.
According to Finley, the Western District of Louisiana grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Hickman with an additional unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm. The previous indictment which was filed on June 15, 2011, charged Hickman with two counts of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The defendant is alleged to have possessed a blued Ruger Model GP100 .357 magnum caliber revolver and a chrome Charter Arms Undercover Model .38 special caliber revolver.
The superseding indictment includes a charge of possession of a Mossberg Model 500A 12 Gauge Pump-Action Shotgun, with a barrel length of less than 18 inches. The superseding indictment further alleges that the shotgun was not registered to Hickman.
The charge stems from an illegal sawed-off shotgun found at Hickman's residence after his June 24 arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on two other weapons charges.
Agents found the firearm at Hickman’s residence on June 24, 2011, when he was arrested following the June 15th indictment.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, said Finley.
The June 24 search also revealed an assault rifle purchased by the city but never recorded in city records, as well as portable radios belonging to the 911 Communications District, cases of ammunition, a city police car license plate, video surveillance equipment and an iPhone issued to former Leesville Police Officer Michael Cash.
A date for Hickman's arraignment has not yet been set.
Finley would not comment concerning any other pending charges against Hickman.
A number of agencies are involved in the case, including the Attorney General, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Leesville Police Department and the Alexandria Resident Agency.
The Attorney General is poised to take the lead on the investigation, with a meeting set for the near future with all the involved agencies to determine the next steps. It is expected that the U.S. Attorney will pursue all charges against Hickman.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brett L. Grayson.
