Ferrelview trustee Russell Wilson faces three criminal charges after a pair of incidents earlier this year.
Wilson faces a felony count of stealing by deception, a Class D felony, acceding to corruption, a Class E felony and a Class D misdemeanor charge of stealing filed by the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office last week.
According to court documents, the village of Ferrelview put two former police cars up for auction by sealed bid process in December of 2017. One is a White 2005 Ford Crown Victoria and the other a Brown 2002 Ford Crown Victoria.
In January the winners of the bids were announced at the board of trustees meeting.
Gary Bowman put in a bid for $2,500 on the 2005 vehicle. He attempted to inspect the vehicle three different times but Wilson denied each chance, once by not providing the keys, once by disconnecting the battery and once by moving the vehicle from city hall to his residence.
The probable cause statement alleges Wilson, who bid $1,100 on the 2005 and $550 on the 2002, wound up buying the 2005 for the $550 after falsely reporting to the board that the $2,500 bidder declined to purchase the vehicle.
According to the documents, Bowman, a Smithville resident, remains interested in buying the vehicle.
The prosecutor alleges that Wilson had the title of the white Crown Victoria in his possession which included the manufacture year. On February 26, Wilson requested that the village transfer ownership of the 2005 Crown Victoria to him for $550.
During a board meeting, Wilson said he would sell the car back to the city for the $550 he paid, plus $100 in work he had put into the vehicle. At the time, he said he wanted to make sure the village got as much money for it as possible.
The last known location of the vehicle was at Wilson’s residence but its current whereabouts are unknown according to the court documents. The vehicle has since been located at an apartment complex in Platte City.
The other stealing case and corruption charge stem from an incident two weeks later, when the city clerk issued a water disconnect notice for the Wilson’s property due to a past due amount over $100.
Upon arrival the chief water operator contacted Wilson, who was the water commissioner for the village and the employee’s boss. Wilson ordered him not to shut off his water. The employee requested an email from Wilson with the order and Wilson allegedly complied and the employee left the water service on, thus avoiding a $50 reconnect fee.
When contacted by The Citizen prior to the issue being brought up in a board meeting, the employee refused to comment if he kept Wilson’s water on.
Wilson’s bond was set at $15,000 cash-only, but at a court hearing on Monday, June 25, the bond was modified to $5,000 cash/surety with a 10 percent cash option despite objection from the state.
Wilson appeared in court in custody along with his lawyer Dennis Rowland. Wilson entered a not guilty plea on the charges and requested a bond reduction.
He is set to appear back in court on July 24.
Russell’s wife Theresa, also a trustee and former chairwoman of the board of trustees also faces a criminal court date after an alleged assault in November of 2017. Her next hearing is also set for July 24.
In January the winners of the bids were announced at the board of trustees meeting. The winner of the 2005, Gary Bowman put in a bid for $2,500 on the 2005 vehicle. He attempted to inspect the vehicle three different times but Wilson denied each chance, once by not providing the keys, once by disconnecting the battery and once by moving the vehicle from city hall to his residence.
The probable cause statement alleges Wilson, who bid $1,100 on the 2005 and $550 on the 2002, wound up buying the 2005 for the $550 after falsely reporting to the board that the $2,500 bidder declined to purchase the vehicle.
According to the documents, Bowman remains interested in the vehicle.
The prosecutor alleges that Wilson had the title of the white Crown Victoria in his possession which included the manufacture year. On February 26, Wilson requested that the village transfer ownership of the 2005 Crown Victoria to him for $550.
The last known location of the vehicle was at Wilson’s residence but it’s current whereabouts are unknown.
The other stealing case and corruption charge stem from an incident two weeks later when the city clerk issued a disconnect notice for the Wilson’s property due to a past due amount over $100.
Upon arrival the chief water operator contacted Wilson, who was the water commissioner for the village and the employee’s boss, ordered not to shut off his water. The employee requested an email from Wilson with the order and Wilson allegedly complied and the employee left the water service on, thus avoiding a $50 reconnect fee.
Wilson’s bond was set at $15,000 cash-only and he has not been apprehended on the charges.
Russell’s wife Theresa, also a trustee and former Chairwoman of the board of trustees also faces a criminal court date after an alleged assault in November of 2017. Her next hearing is set for July 24.