The following is the statement of facts presented during James Reynolds guilty plea to one count of embezzlement by a public

employee: James Reynolds was an employee of Essex County from 1986 to 2013. Most recently, Reynolds was employed to do maintenance work on county grounds, lawn mowers, and vehicles. Reynolds also fixed lawn mowers and small engines for individuals outside of his employment for Essex County. In the late spring of 2013, Essex County Administrator Reese Peck and two members of the Essex County Board of Supervisors referred an investigation into irregularities regarding improper leave payments made to James Reynolds by another long term employee in the County Administration. This employee and Reynolds were close friends. After consultation with the Virginia State Bar, Essex County Commonwealths Attorney Vince Donoghue referred the matter to the Office of the Attorney General and the Virginia State Police. The investigation was headed by Special Agent Christopher Palicia of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. During the course of the investigation, the county employee providing benefits to James Reynolds resigned. The same county employee had been tasked with reviewing purchase orders by county employees, including purchases by Reynolds. A new county employee was tasked with reviewing purchases by Reynolds. After less than a month, the new county employee approving Reynolds purchase orders noticed discrepancies in the purchase orders, including the purchase of seven lawn mower carburetors when the county only owns two lawn mowers. The county-owned lawn mowers had also been serviced by John Deere, not repaired by Reynolds. Further investigation revealed between September 2009 and August 24, 2013, James Reynolds illegally purchased and stole from Essex County approximately $7,908.21 in parts for use in his side small engine repair business. It has not been determined how long Reynolds was stealing parts from the County. The State Police stopped the audit at September of 2009 when it was clear Reynolds conduct was well over felony level embezzlement. Unbelievably, Reynolds purchased and stole parts from the County on the day before and the day after he took a lie detector test in connection with the investigation into his receipt of improper benefits from the other employee in the County Administration. Reynolds initially denied any wrongdoing to County Administrator Reese Peck before offering to pay the money back and ultimately admitting to stealing from the County. Reynolds did not seem to believe he had done anything wrong or understand the gravity of the situation. Reynolds met with Special Agent Palicia, was advised of his Miranda rights and again confessed to stealing parts from the county. All of these events occurred in Essex County. Reynolds sentencing guidelines called for probation/no incarceration. Commonwealths Attorney Donoghue argued that public corruption should not be tolerated and argued for incarceration. Judge Harry T. Taliaferro departed from the sentencing guidelines and sentenced Reynolds to five years incarceration with all but sixty days suspended for five years and ordered $7,908.21 in restitution to Essex County.