Former utility manager ordered to serve jail time

By Staff Reports

The former manager of the First Utility District has been ordered to serve a 12-month jail sentence after his appeal was dismissed last week.

Billy Gene McFadden had been sentenced to serve 12 months in the Carter County Jail by Judge Robert Cupp on one count of theft over $10,000, forgery over $10,000, fraudulent use of a credit card and three counts of official misconduct.

McFadden and his attorney, Randy Fallin, appealed the sentence because he was suffering from poor health conditions. He had sought to have his jail sentence dismissed and instead serve probation.

The appeal was officially dismissed on June 27 by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in Knoxville. The order stated that McFadden was to be immediately taken into custody to begin his jail sentence.

McFadden was convicted on Jan. 19, 2011, and was also ordered to serve 15 years of probation.

Judge Cupp handed down the jail sentence hoping to send a message to the public regarding official misconduct. Charges were filed against McFadden following an audit conducted by the Tennessee Comptroller’s office. McFadden had allegedly received $11,089.96 in excess payments from the utility district.