Update from the trial on Wednesday:
Guilty on all three counts!
The jury deliberated for just under one hour before delivering the verdict in the Angela Fox felony theft trial.
Closing arguments began late yesterday afternoon during the third day of the criminal proceedings.
During closing remarks, both Prosecuting Attorney Tucker Ruby and defense counsel Devon Peterson both espoused “bravery” and encouraged the 12-person jury to “do the right thing”.
Ruby also told the jury that Fox knew her use of Chamber of Commerce funds for personal use was wrong because of her efforts to hide the evidence of the transactions.
Ruby had this to say after hearing the verdicts…
Kremers served on the Chamber’s executive board and served as the primary witness for the prosecution.
A forensic investigation determined that Fox had made multiple credit card purchases of a personal nature totaling $8,624.08.
Among those purchases were a $900 wedding dress, a $695 men’s wedding ring, pet supplies, groceries, and $732 on a spa in New Orleans. Fox also paid $1,846.01 on her wedding reception at the Occidental Hotel & Saloon.
The former Chamber CEO, was taken into custody by Johnson County Sheriff Rod Odenbach under a $15,000 cash or surety bond.
She will be released on bond only after being fitted with a GPS ankle monitoring device.
Fox is facing up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each of the three counts.
Update on the trial from Tuesday:
Following an hour-long recess in the Angela Fox trial yesterday afternoon, Judge William Edelman to send the jury home for the night with the possibility that the prosecution and defense attorneys were working on an agreement that may limit the number of witnesses that would be called in the rest of the trial.
Much of the day was spent with Board Member Cindy Kremers on the stand answering questions about alleged purchases by Fox of a personal nature.
During cross examination by Fox’s attorney Devon Peterson, Kremers admitted that the board failed in “due diligence” in reviewing financial expenditures because of its trust in Fox as CEO.
Kremers agreed with Peterson’s assessment that the Chamber Board had considered firing Fox, suing her or asking her for reimbursement of the personal purchases. In the end, the Board chose to sign a “non-disclosure agreement” and allow Fox to resign.
While Kremers admitted that her personal preference was to fire her outright, the Board feared the possibility of an expensive but frivolous lawsuit from Fox.
Big Horn Mountain Radio will continue to provide updates on the testimony.
Jury selection began Monday for the criminal trial involving former Buffalo Chamber of Commerce CEO Angela Fox.
As the trial got underway in the afternoon, Johnson County Prosecutor Tucker Ruby told the 12-person jury that a series of unauthorized purchases were made by Fox for personal uses that included a wedding dress, a men’s wedding ring, a wedding reception at the Occidental Hotel, and additional purchases in Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Further, he would prove that Fox was in control of all information shared with the Chamber Board.
Fox’s Attorney, Devon Peterson, promised to prove that the Chamber Board authorized the purchases 3 times and in 3 different ways.
Judge William Edelman will preside over the trial.
Fox is charged with three counts of felony theft after allegedly using the non-profit’s credit cards for personal purchases totaling approximately $8,600.
The purchases were made over a three-year period beginning in 2014.
She was arrested early in 2018 following a lengthy investigation by the Buffalo Police Department.
If she is found guilty, Fox could be sentenced up to 10 years and fined $10,000 for each of the three counts.
Big Horn Mountain Radio will be covering the trial throughout the next week.