COLUMBUS — Former Lowndes County District 4 Supervisor Jim Terry Monday was transported to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County, where he began serving a 13-month sentence for fraud in public office.
Terry was convicted of the charge on Nov. 30, 2007, but appealed the conviction and remained free on bond during the appeal process.
The Supreme Court denied his appeal and a warrant for his arrest was issued Feb. 19.
Terry was sentenced to serve 13 months and to five years of probation; MDOC officials Friday said his earliest “earned release supervision date” could be Jan. 24, 2011.
State law stipulates Terry must serve a minimum of nine months of his sentence.
Terry was convicted for misusing a county-issued gasoline card; he said he never knew he was breaking the law.
Prosecutors said Terry was accused of fraudulently obtaining gasoline and using a county-owned vehicle for his personal activities, including trips to casinos, between Jan. 1, 2004 and Dec. 31, 2005.
During the 2007 Circuit Court trial, a jury found Terry guilty of using his county vehicle and fuel card while spending at least 168 days in 2004 and 2005 in casinos in Philadelphia and Tunica.
Circuit Court prosecutors also charged Terry with using the county fuel card to illegally purchase gas for others after a gas station security camera captured Terry filling up a friend”s truck.
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