by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
On Monday, a jury of Webster County residents cleared 76-year-old Jimmy Frederick of charges of assault, terroristic threatening and wanton endangerment, bringing an end to a drama that started in early August.
The events leading to the arrest of Frederick, on assault charges, are in one way or the other tied into a special called meeting of the Dixon Commission that was held early on a Tuesday morning in August.
At that meeting commissioners failed to support an ordinance that would give the Park Board authority to charge leagues and teams that wanted to use one of the city’s two parks to host events. People from across the county spoke out against the ordinance, stating that the parks should be free.
Two days later Frederick was seen driving his tractor on the town’s soccer field at Baker Park.
On August 8, 2013, the soccer fields at Dixon’s Bourland Park were damaged. Frederick’s wife, Mayor Linda Frederick reported that her husband was at the park with her approval to do tiling work. Some Dixon residents, however, believed that it was an intentional act of retribution aimed at a group of citizens who had opposed a proposed commission ordinance earlier in the week.
“An investigation of these complaints has revealed that Mr. Frederick had the permission of the Dixon City Mayor, Linda Frederick, to perform work on the fields,” said Prow.
The following morning residents once again saw Jimmy Frederick on the field driving his tractor.
“A number of citizens wanted him to cease until after the park board could meet,” said Sheriff Frankie Springfield, who responded to a call to the park. “David Frazier and Leslie Hill went on the field to confront him.”
Springfield said that a few minutes later Frederick came to him and ask that the two be removed from the field so he could finish working.
“I advised him to stop what he was doing until after the park board met the following Monday,” the sheriff said.
At that point Sheriff Springfield said that David Frazier reported having been struck by Frederick’s tractor. Webster County EMS responded, treating Frazier for a minor ankle injury.
At the request of the sheriff all parties left the scene.
Late that Friday afternoon the county attorney Clint Prow issued a press release stating that he had authorized an arrest warrant for Jimmy Lane Frederick, on the charges of Assault-4th degree, Terroristic Threatening-3rd degree, and Wanton Endangerment- 1st degree.
Bruce Kuegel, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit representing Daviess County served as special prosecutor in the case against Jimmy Lane Frederick.
“It’s not unusual for a special prosecutor to be appointed,” said Kuegel. “It’s really left up to the elected officials to make a decision on conflict of interest. (County Attorney) Clint Prow reported that he had a conflict in this case.”
The soccer field has since been repaired by volunteers.
No comments:
Post a Comment