| 118th Year, 11th Issue | Thursday, October 26, 2006 | Sparta, North Carolina |
STATESVILLE - A judge in U.S. District Court handed former Alleghany Sheriff's Department Det. Ricky James Lyall to a total of more than 10 years in prison early Tuesday afternoon.
Last January, a federal jury in Statesville convicted Lyall of seven drug-related charges.
Lyall, 34, of Laurel Springs, whose family members and friends sat behind him in the courtroom, appeared unemotional as Judge Richard L. Vorhees sentenced him to 10 years and one month in prison. This stood in opposition to his tearful reaction when jurors brought back guilty verdicts.
Under federal guidelines, he must serve about eight and a half years without possibility of parole.
The sentence was "enhanced" (made more severe) by the fact that, among other things, Vorhees found that Lyall took advantage of a position of trust in committing these crimes and had firearms with him during two drug transactions.
Vorhees, at the conclusion of the lengthy sentencing hearing, recommended that Lyall be housed at a prison as close as possible to home.
Two of Lyall's convictions were drug conspiracy charges and the others were possession of cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Lyall has been in custody at the Mecklenburg County Jail since being convicted. In comments to Vorhees prior to sentencing, he noted that he has been kept "in solitary confinement" because of his status as a former law enforcement officer.
A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons said that, in general, protective custody isn't allowed just because an inmate is a former law enforcement officer. Inside the federal prison system, Lyall will be housed with the general prison population.
"God has opened my eyes" over the last nine months of incarceration,"
he said.
In lengthy comments to Vorhees, Lyall completely denied any drug
activity and said the charges against him were politically motivated.
"I'm sorry I'm here before you," he told the judge.
|
Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News! Back |