Former Leesville police chief pleads guilty
Last Modified: Thursday, June 21, 2012 12:37 PM
By Johnathan Manning / American Press
Former Leesville Police Chief Bobby Hickman pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to having a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped four other weapons charges, including a second disfigured-gun charge and charges of possessing stolen and unregistered firearms.
Hickman agreed to forfeit three weapons, including a sawed-off shotgun. He faces up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years’ supervised release. A sentencing date was not set.
Hickman, who originally pleaded not guilty in August, was reportedly fired Jan. 28, 2011, after he failed to cooperate with an FBI investigation of Leesville Officer Charlie Lopez.
Hickman had taken sick leave prior to his termination. A .357 Magnum with an obliterated serial number was found in the safe of his office in March 2011, authorities said.
A subsequent search of his home produced a .38-caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number. Hickman said it belonged to the city and to former chief Buck Massey, who denied the claim. Hickman said he had the gun to teach firearms care to residents.
According to the plea deal, when Hickman was arrested June 24, 2011, FBI and Vernon Parish sheriff’s investigators found at his home “firearms scattered about, including in and near his bed.” A sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun was seized, as well as the keys to the Leesville Police Department evidence vault, authorities said.
The shotgun was reportedly stolen from a New Llano resident in 1998.
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