----Don't you just love it?? Wrestling has a bad enough name, but then you got a couple of guys like these two goofs. Exactly what wrestling needs is more pedophiles and drug dealers. The first man is Ricky Morton's website webmaster and is a regular at many indies in TN,VA and NC. He sells DVDs at many area matches. The second guy is a former police chief that I was told was very popular with the boys. Wonder why??
SURGOINSVILLE — A Surgoinsville man who was nabbed by Kentucky authorities in a child sex solicitation sting Saturday will also face child pornography charges in Hawkins County as a result of a search at his home.
According to the Kentucky Bureau of Investigation, Dustin Jacob McPhetridge, 26, 149 Hurd Road, Surgoinsville, had been chatting online with a person he thought to be a 13-year-old girl from Bowling Green, Ky., but who turned out to be a police officer.
Police say McPhetridge drove 210 miles from Surgoinsville to Bowling Green on Saturday to meet the girl and instead met Kentucky law enforcement officials, NBC’s “To Catch A Predator” host Chris Hansen, and volunteers from Perverted Justice, which is a public watchdog group.
McPhetridge was one of seven men ages 24 to 41 from Tennessee, Indiana and Kentucky who drove to a home in Bowling Green allegedly intending to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.
Each suspect was charged with attempted unlawful transaction with a minor under age 16, a Class C felony that carries a punishment of five to 10 years in prison.
But that’s not as serious as the charge McPhetridge faces at home in Hawkins County. McPhetridge reportedly told Kentucky authorities he is self-employed as a “DVD salesman and computer repairman.” He had also allegedly admitted to authorities in Kentucky that he had child pornography at his home.
On Sunday, the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at McPhetridge’s home and seized a large quantity of CDs, DVDs and his computer.
Upon investigating the CDs and DVDs, Hawkins County detectives allege McPhetridge had in excess of 100 images of child pornography in his possession.
On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office issued an arrest warrant for McPhetridge charging him with exploitation of a minor, a Class B felony punishable by eight to 12 years in prison.
McPhetridge remained lodged in the Warren County (Ky.) Jail in Bowling Green Wednesday on $50,000 bond. Hawkins County Sheriff Roger Christian said Wednesday the Kentucky charges against him will have to be resolved before he can be extradited back to Rogersville.
Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo said this latest sting operation occurred from Oct. 18 to 21.
“This is the third successful child predator sting we have conducted,” said Stumbo. “The men we arrested assumed they had been chatting online with a 13-year-old child, but police were monitoring every word. KBI and local law enforcement have now caught a total of 29 predators in last year."
BOND INCREASED FOR TONY RICHARDSON
Bond was increased for former Damascus,VA Police Chief Tony Richardson on Wednesday after his Tuesday indictment on five additional felony drug charges.
"I’ve seen better days," Richardson said while awaiting a Wednesday hearing before lawyer Melissa Friedman said her client was not allowed to make any statements.
His bond was increased to $200,000, and his parents put up their home in Marion, Va., where he now lives, to secure the bond.
The bond agreement also includes some unusual conditions.
"The defendant shall not possess any firearm with the exception of when he is in the presence of his father ... to begin Nov. 10 of 2007 and end on midnight of Dec. 1, 2007," attorney Tony Anderson said during the hearing.
He said, according to the agreement, Richardson must also continue to reside with his parents and can only leave the state for purposes of employment.
Tuesday’s indictments include four on drug distribution and one on possessing a firearm while distributing Schedule II drugs.
Richardson is accused of distributing hydrocodone – a Schedule III drug, oxycodone and methamphetamine – Schedule II drugs.
He was first arrested on drug distribution charges in June at his own police department and was arrested again in August on more charges.
His trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 27.
