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Home > Post > Post 1 > Post 1 News Release > Post 1 2006 News Releases > News Release

Two Men Arrested for Attempted Theft by Deception

Date of News Release: 06/27/2006

(BENTON, KY. AND KUTTAWA, KY.) On June 27, 2006, investigators with the Kentucky State Police (KSP) and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) arrested two Western Kentucky men after it was discovered they cheated in local fishing tournaments. The investigation began when KDFWR Wildlife and Boating Officers cited the two men for Attempted Theft by Deception in late April of 2006. The men, Dwayne E. Nesmith, (43) of Island, KY, and Brian K. Thomas, (31) of Dawson Springs, KY, presented tournament officials with pre-caught fish in an attempt to gain prize money for a bass tournament that was held on Lake Barkley in Trigg County.

On April 30th, 2006 Kentucky State Police Sergeant Brent White initiated an investigation at the request of the KDFWR concerning previous tournaments the two men had participated in from 2004 until the present time. The result of the investigation revealed the two men have continually been deceptive by catching fish in advance of tournaments. The men are accused of concealing these fish in cages and then later picking them up on the day of the tournament and presenting them to officials as legally caught fish during tournament hours. The tournaments in question occurred on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in Lyon and Marshall Counties.

The investigation was presented to grand juries in Lyon and Marshall Counties. The results of their review resulted in the following ten (10) felony indictments and one (1) misdemeanor indictment against each of the two fishermen: Nesmith and Thomas are charged with nine counts of Theft by Deception (over $300) in Marshall County and one count of Attempted Theft by Deception (over $300) and one count of Complicity to Commit Theft by Deception (over $300) in Lyon County.

By placing in these tournaments, the men collected several thousand dollars in prize money and a $30,000.00 Stratos Bass Boat. The investigation is continuing by KSP Sergeant Brent White and KDFWR Sergeant Bill Snow and Officer Daniel Richardson.

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