FORT WORTH -- Two former deputy city marshals were sentenced to one year of probation after illegally seizing deer antlers found by a man at a city park, then showing them off as their own.
George Tom Wood, 61, and William Eugene Fox, 45, were found guilty of official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor, by state District Judge Ruben Gonzalez after a two-day joint trial that concluded Monday. If the men violate their probation, they must serve 90 days in jail.Wood and Fox were suspended and later fired after Anthony Brown complained to officials that the two took a large set of shed antlers that he'd found March 23, 2010, on city-owned land at Surfside Drive and Jacksboro Highway.Brown said Tuesday that the issue wasn't the antlers; it was the principle of right and wrong. He remains in disbelief that the officers risked their jobs and reputations and could potentially lose their peace officer licenses "all over something as dumb as a set of deer antlers.""I still can't wrap my mind around what they were thinking at that time," he said.In a previous interview with the Star-Telegram, Brown likened discovering the large antlers to "winning a huge lottery."Brown said he was tying his findings from that day to his four-wheeler when Fox and Wood drove up in a city marshal's truck and questioned him. He said the deputies took the large set of antlers -- leaving behind smaller ones that he'd found -- and gave several reasons for the seizure, including that the nature center conducts studies on shed antlers.Brown said he protested repeatedly, telling the deputies that "this is not right." But before driving off, the deputies agreed to use Brown's cellphone to photograph Brown holding the antlers -- a picture later introduced as evidence.The next morning, Brown reported the incident to a sergeant at the marshal's office after he and his wife learned that it's not illegal to pick up shed antlers from places where a person has legal access. Brown said the sergeant told him that the deputies brought the antlers in within half an hour of taking them from Brown, showing them off and claiming they had found them.The complaint was referred to the Police Department's special investigations unit, and the two deputy marshals were later arrested.Lance Wyatt, Wood's attorney, contends that the deputy marshals had lawfully detained Brown and ordered him off the city park for violating city ordinances, including riding his ATV on a grassy area of the park and letting his dog run loose.Wyatt said the deputies picked up the antlers off the ground at the city park. He said they left them on the desk of their sergeant, who advised Fox to take them home and have them mounted so they could be used for educational purposes."Official oppression means you intentionally dispossess or seize something that you know when you commit that act that you're doing something unlawful," Wyatt said."That wasn't what occurred here."Wyatt said his client is "very disappointed" by the verdict and is considering an appeal.Jim Lane, Fox's attorney, declined to comment Tuesday.Betty Arvin, who prosecuted the case with Tim Rodgers, said she is pleased with the outcome."You never want to think that the police aren't being completely honest and truthful in dealing with citizens, but it was clear from the testimony and evidence that these officers had done something wrong," Arvin said.Brown said Tuesday that the verdict was "right" and that he is glad the marshals got probation rather than jail time."My wife keeps telling me how proud she is of me for the fact I stepped up to these guys, went through this, and showed my kids there's certain things you just have to stand up for and fight against," he said.He plans to build a display incorporating the antlers and news coverage of the case to illustrate to his kids and grandkids the importance of doing right over wrong."It can be a good lesson. You do the right thing and the right thing is going to happen to you. You have to know your position and where you stand," Brown said. "These officers knew their position and they knew where they stood and they abused that authority."Deanna Boyd, 817-390-7655Twitter: @deannaboydHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
