Panel to resume Tipton inquiry
Tipton County Inquiry June 1989 | A federal grand jury probing alleged corruption in Tipton County, Tenn., postponed its deliberations Wednesday and is scheduled to meet today.
The Memphis panel has focused its investigation on the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Wayne Baskin. Grand jury members have heard testimony in previous months about alleged illegal alcohol and whisky sales and gambling in the county.
[Panel to resume Tipton inquiry; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 22 Jun 1989; Pg 39]
Sheriff quits Tipton Post admits guilt
Plea follows indictment
By Jerry Markon
Staff Reporter
Tipton County, Tenn., Sheriff Wayne Baskin was indicted Thursday on charges of extorting money from drug suspects and pressuring witnesses to lie to a federal grand jury. He immediately pleaded guilty.
Baskin, 55, who has been sheriff of the county just north of Shelby since 1976, resigned his post Thursday afternoon as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. He faces up to three years in prison, and is expected to be sentenced soon.
U.S. Atty. Hickman Ewing Jr. said the grand jury that indicted Baskin in Memphis will continue to probe allegations of Tipton County corruption for at least six months. “We have allegations about other people and other incidents,” he said.
Ewing confirmed that the 1 1/2 year old probe extends beyond the Tipton County sheriff’s Department, but he would not elaborate. According to the indictment, officials are investigating possible illegal gambling, narcotics and firearms violations in Tipton County. The indictment does not mention three mysterious deaths in the county that had been under investigation by the FBI in connection with the grand jury probe.
With the indictment of Baskin, the number of Tennessee sheriffs who have been indicted since 1980 grew to at least 14.
The eight-count indictment accuses Baskin of extorting $250 each from two local residents in return for not charging them with drug violations; defrauding the sheriff’s department of $825 it was owed by a calendar company, and trying to persuade witnesses to lie to the grand jury.
In one incident on June 15, the indictment charges, Baskin told his secretary, Anne Sanders, to burn files that had been requested by the grand jury. In another, he told then deputy Jimmy Hicks to lie to the panel about money Baskin had extorted from local resident Henry McClain.
“They’d just have to get me for perjury on it… I’d deny that… I’m gonna deny every bit of it,” the indictment quotes Baskin as telling Hicks.
Baskin, wearing a dark brown suit and brown tie, appeared subdued Thursday as he stood at a federal court podium and pleaded guilty before U.S. Dist. Judge Julia Gibbons. He declined to talk to reporters.
His attorney, Russell X Thompson, said Baskin has lost eight during the investigation and suffered sleepless nights, but “is very relieved.”
“The government has agreed that nothing else he’s done or been involved in will ever be used against him,” Thompson said.
Earlier, Ewing had said he does not expect further charges against Baskin unless he violates his plea agreement. The agreement also requires Baskin to cooperate fully with the investigation in Tipton County.
Thompson added that “the biggest thing Sheriff Baskin did to contribute to his own downfall is possibly putting more trust in other people than he should have.”
Tipton County Executive Jeff Huffman said Thursday that Bob Pike, chief deputy for the sheriff’s department, will become interim sheriff today. The Tipton County Commission is expected to choose someone to finish Baskin’s four-year term at its regular meeting July 10. Elections for sheriff are scheduled for August 1990.
Pike and other sheriff’s deputies declined to comment Thursday afternoon.
However, local officials and some residents expressed sympathy for Baskin as word of his indictment spread through the county. But they said his resignation should help clean up the county’s image and law enforcement practices.
“I’m deeply saddened for Sheriff Baskin and his family,” said Paul G. Summers, district attorney general for Tipton County. “But his resignation certainly helps us regroup in law enforcement here and get back on the right track.”
Summers said the number of cases investigated by Baskin’s department – particularly drug cases – has dropped dramatically in recent months as the federal probe gathered steam.
“The sheriff’s department has basically been at a standstill for the last couple of months. There’s been a pall over it,” Summers said. “The sheriff has been more concerned about what’s been happening at the grand jury in Memphis than with Tipton County.”
Huffman acknowledged that the investigation and publicity surrounding it “reflect badly on Tipton County.”
But Huffman and other officials expressed confidence that the county can maintain its rapid growth and progress. Tipton County has experienced a surge of residential development since 1980, fueled mainly by Shelby County residents moving north of the county line.
[ Tipton County Inquiry June 1989 | Sheriff quits Tipton post, admits guilt; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 23 Jun 1989; Pg 1]
Eighth West Tennessee sheriff in 11 years faces prison
Sun and Wire Reports
MEMPHIS – For the eighth time in 11 years, a West Tennessee sheriff has been convicted of criminal offenses while in office.
Tipton County Sheriff Wayne Baskin, 55, agreed Thursday to plead guilty to federal extortion, mail fraud and obstruction of justice charges in exchange for a limited prison sentence.
Before Baskin, Henderson County’s Jack Fowler was the most recent sheriff prosecuted for criminal conduct. Fowler, serving a 10-year federal prison sentence for violating the civil rights of jail inmates, pleaded guilty in state court in May to rape and crimes against nature in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence.
Other West Tennessee sheriffs convicted of criminal offenses were James A. “Shug” Lewis of Madison County in April 1977; Ray Outlaw of Decatur County in 1979; Haywood County sheriff James Sullivan in 1984; Dyer County Sheriff Tommy Cribbs in 1985′ and Hardin County Sheriff David Seaton in 1985.
In an agreement with prosecutors Baskin, who has been sheriff 13 years pleaded guilty to an eight-count indictment in exchange for a prison sentence of no more than 36 months. He also agreed to resign from office and cooperate with the continuing grand jury investigation.
The charges against Baskin carry a maximum sentence of 90 years in prison and fines of more than $1 million. He is free on a $10,000 bond.
A federal judge will rule on the plea agreement in about a month, said U.S. Attorney Hickman Ewing Jr.
Baskin faces a mandatory prison sentence because new federal sentencing guidelines prohibit a probation sentence for his offenses, Ewing said.
Ewing would not comment on the grand jury investigation except to say that it involves more than the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department.
Baskin’s indictment said the investigation began last year and involved allegations of drug and firearms violations and illegal gambling.
The indictment against Baskin alleges he took a total of $500 from suspects in two cases involving small amounts of marijuana in exchange for dropping prosecution.
[ Tipton County Inquiry June 1989 | Eighth West Tennessee sheriff in 11 years faces prison; The Jackson Sun; Jackson, Tenn; 23 Jun 1989′ Pg 1]
Tipton Countians back resignation
Other sheriffs call for change
By Catherine Ann Velasco
Staff Reporter
COVINGTON, Tenn. – “If he did it, he should be indicted. He has been a bad sheriff,” Gracie Jones, who works at the Amoco station on the outskirts of town, said Thursday.
Tipton County Sheriff Wayne Baskin was indeed indicted = and resigned his office after pleading guilty to federal charges of extortion, mail fraud, and obstruction of justice.
County residents were keenly interested in Baskin’s fate. But not all were as outspoken as Ms. Jones, and many were clearly reluctant to say what they thought, and most doubted whether the sheriff’s resignation would put an end to years of corruption in Tipton County.
Billy shires, 33, of Covington, said he is glad that Baskin pleaded guilty, but added that he believes there are others in the county government who are corrupt, adding that Baskin let others use him.
“He (Baskin) got caught up in the realm of a political office. The sheriff let people use him to a point,” he said.
“The next sheriff has to go back to step one and get the county on the right foot.”
Jeanette Morrison, 25, of Memphis, said, “If he (Baskin) done wrong – he done wrong.” Mrs. Morrison, who grew up in Tipton County, said he deserves what he gets.
Some residents, who were afraid to give their names, strongly supported the federal probe, and said the county remains riddled with corruption.
And other Tennessee sheriffs said Baskin’s indictment adds to their already troubled image. At least 14 Tennessee sheriffs have been indicted for various crimes since 1980.
“I feel sorry for him. I really do,” said Covington city recorder Jere Hadley. “I hate for anybody to have to go through this.”
Tipton County Executive Jeff Huffman said Baskin’s indictment “is saddening and disappointing. Any time you have a public official who’s been indicted, you’re disappointed as a tax payer and a citizen. You expect your public officials to be honest.”
Knox County Sheriff Joe Fowler, president of the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association, said the publicity from Baskin’s indictment “is a blow to all of us. People have a tendency to say, ‘If one did it, they all do it.”
Fowler said the sheriff’s association’s concern about “bad apples” among the group prompted a new law that blocks convicted felons from running for sheriff.
But while that association bill became law, another setting up qualifications for sheriffs failed. The defeated bill would have required candidates for sheriff to meet qualifications similar to those required of police and deputy sheriffs.
Fowler said that bill may be pushed again next year in the Tennessee General Assembly.
Lake County Sheriff Joe Jones said he always has maintained that there should be some qualifications for sheriffs.
“Just anybody can run for sheriff. All my officers have got to have a high school education and pass a mental test. That’s not fair… But I don’t tell lawmakers how to make laws,” Jones said.
“I hate it all (the charges) has happened,” said Crockett County Sheriff Neal Klyce.
“I’ve been around 15 years. A bunch of them have gone since I’ve been around.”
[ Tipton County Inquiry June 1989 | Tipton Countians back resignation; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 23 Jun 1989; Pg 15]
12 want to be Tipton sheriff
County executive finds much interest in post
By Jerry Markon
Jackson, Tenn., Bureau
COVINGTON, Tenn. – Political jockeying intensified in Tipton County Friday as numerous residents expressed interest in succeeding indicted former sheriff Wayne Baskin.
Baskin resigned as sheriff Thursday after pleading guilty to federal charges of extortion, mail fraud and obstruction of justice. Free on a $10,000 unsecured bond, he faces up to three years in prison. Baskin had been sheriff since 1976.
Tipton County Executive Jeff Huffman said he spoke with 12 people interested in filling Baskin’s term until the August 1990 elections.
Three of the leading candidates are:
- Clyde Devon “Buddy” Lewis, Jr., a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper twice defeated by Baskin for sheriff.
- Tom Butler, a retired Memphis police officer who chairs the local Governor’s Alliance for a Drug Free Tennessee committee.
- Charles Yoakum, a retired U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent who has also lost to Baskin.
Lewis, who lost to Baskin by 604 votes in the 1986 sheriff’s race said Friday he is entitled to replace the former sheriff.
“I was the No. 2 man, and now the No.1 man is gone. The people spoke,” Lewis said. “I think the fair thing would be for me to be the sheriff.”
Lewis, who sent letters to each of the 21 Tipton County commissioners Friday expressing his interest, said he would improve training of deputies and try to clean up the department’s image.
“It’s time for the people of the county to lift their heads up and get some respectable law enforcement,” Lewis said.
Butler also confirmed he is actively seeking the position. he said he was already planning a run in the 1990 election.
“There is a need for better law enforcement than Tipton County has had in the past,” Butler said. “We need to bring more professionalism to the department.”
Butler said he also would focus on improving training of deputies. He emphasized that his experience on the drug task force would help him oversee drug investigations as sheriff.
Yoakum could not be reached for comment Friday, but county officials said he has expressed interest in the post.
Huffman, the county executive, said county commissioners will accept nominations from the commission and residents at a meeting July 10. The first candidate to win a majority vote from the 21-member body will become sheriff.
The new sheriff should be “someone who is impeccably honest, has law enforcement experience, who can project a positive image in the county and who is a fine manager,” Huffman said.
Huffman, who chairs the County Commission, said the new sheriff probably would be someone outside the department, but who lives in Tipton County.
He would not name the other candidates he spoke with, but said some currently work in law enforcement.
The interim sheriff, Bob Pike, started his duties Friday but trying to keep things in order. Pike, 63, plans to make changes in the department but he would not comment on any of his plans.
Pike has been in the department since January 1983 and became chief deputy in 1984.
Investigator Jimmie Anderson said Friday that the morale in the sheriff’s office was fair. “Everyone is going on with their business,” he said. But Anderson would not comment further on the new administration.
Huffman said he doubts Pike will make any major changes in his brief time as interim sheriff, although he has the authority to do so.
Pike’s salary will be determined on July 10 by the County Commission. The sheriff’s salary is $32,152, Huffman said. Pike made $17,433.52 as chief deputy.
[ Tipton County Inquiry June 1989 | 12 want to be Tipton sheriff; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 24 Jun 1989; Pg 17]
