Former co-owner of Mike Cash Office Products, Mike Cash Sr., will not appear in court on Friday as had been previously announced. According to Alcovy Circuit Court Chief Assistant District Attorney Randy McGinley, Cash was to appear in front of Judge Samuel D. Ozburn, who is handling the Cash case, for a motion hearing, but Ozburn is not available and is having another judge sit for him.
“It will be reset for the 1/23 calendar. No trial week has been set, but I anticipate it lasting close to a full week,” McGinley said.
Cash’s wife and former co-owner of the store with him, Deborah Cash, was sentenced late last year to 20 years to serve four in prison after pleading guilty to one count of violating the state Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act. She turned herself in on Dec. 12, 2016 and is currently serving the time in the Walton County Detention Center. McGinley said that Cash, Sr. who faces two counts of violating the RICO Act and 19 counts of converting funds collected for the benefit of the state, could also change his mind at some point and take a plea deal, but at this time has opted to go to trial. He is represented by local attorney Brett Mizerak.
“Any defendant can always change their not guilty plea to a guilty plea even mid-trial,” McGinley said, adding, “However, I can’t speculate on that. It is completely the defendant’s decision after consulting with his attorney.”
McGinley said although Deborah Cash has been sentenced to serve the four years in prison and the balance on probation, it is possible she could serve less time, based on a decision by parole.
A trial date for Cash, Sr. is expected to be set for early in 2017.
Mike and Deborah Cash were arrested on June 11, 2015 following an eight month investigation by state officials into allegations that they were pocketing sales tax charged to their customers. The office products store was subsequently sold to The Alliance Family of Services following the arrest of Mike Cash and his wife last year. After sentencing of Deborah Cash in December, new owner Rhonda Parks announced that Michael Atcheson would take over as store manager. Mike Cash has continued to work in the store pending the outcome of his trial.
In a press release at the time of announcing Acheson’s appointment, Parks said she had been researching the business needs of Monroe and Walton County for the past year and was planning for the launch of a new, service-oriented, business products based venture.
“This is just the first step in our plan to provide collaborative solutions for our neighbors here in Monroe. Over the coming weeks and months, expect to see some truly positive and transformative changes here,” Parks said, adding her hope is to provide a positive presence in Downtown Monroe that meets the everyday business needs of the citizens of Walton County.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.