Iowa Juvenile Court Officer charged with taking bribes

Timothy Dean Rockhold
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dia/Rockhold.doc

Steven K. Young, Director
Former State Employee Charged with Bribery and Ongoing Criminal Conduct

DES MOINES, IOWA (October 27, 2005) - Timothy Dean Rockhold, 36,
of Mercer, Missouri, is scheduled for a November 4 arraignment in Union
County District Court on four counts of accepting a bribe and one count
of ongoing criminal conduct. Rockhold was employed as a Juvenile Court
Officer in south-central Iowa from mid-1993 until his resignation in
October 2003. During that time, Rockhold's primary office was
located in Creston.

The allegations against Rockhold stem from his recommendations
that a Greenfield, Iowa, firm, Phoenix Family Services, L.L.C., be used
for counseling services in connection with numerous juvenile court
cases. The referrals resulted in payments by the State and Federal
government to the agency for counseling and treatment services, based
on Rockhold's recommendations.

The State alleges in its criminal case that Rockhold accepted
payments from Phoenix Family Services on an ongoing basis from late
2001 to May 2003. The State further alleges that the Phoenix payments
influenced Rockhold's judgment, decisions, and discretion when he was
acting in his official capacity as a Juvenile Court Officer. Juvenile
Court Officers are employees of the Judicial Branch of Iowa State
Government.

Union County is one of 16 counties in the Fifth Judicial District
of Iowa. It is anticipated that a District Court Judge from outside
the Fifth Judicial District will conduct the proceedings and any trial
resulting from the allegations against Rockhold.

Accepting a Bribe is a Class C Felony, punishable by up to ten
years in prison and a fine of $10,000. A conviction of Ongoing
Criminal Conduct could result in a sentence of up to 25 years
imprisonment.

The investigation was jointly conducted by the Iowa Department of
Inspections and Appeals' (DIA) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service/Office of Inspector
General. An Assistant Attorney General is conducting the prosecution
of Rockhold because the Union County Attorney cited a conflict of
interest in the matter. The criminal charges against Mr. Rockhold are
merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven
guilty.

Why isn't this guy's name in the NEWS media?

Greegor wrote:
Timothy Dean Rockhold
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dia/Rockhold.doc

Steven K. Young, Director
Former State Employee Charged with Bribery and Ongoing Criminal Conduct

DES MOINES, IOWA (October 27, 2005) - Timothy Dean Rockhold, 36,
of Mercer, Missouri, is scheduled for a November 4 arraignment in Union
County District Court on four counts of accepting a bribe and one count
of ongoing criminal conduct. Rockhold was employed as a Juvenile Court
Officer in south-central Iowa from mid-1993 until his resignation in
October 2003. During that time, Rockhold's primary office was
located in Creston.

The allegations against Rockhold stem from his recommendations
that a Greenfield, Iowa, firm, Phoenix Family Services, L.L.C., be used
for counseling services in connection with numerous juvenile court
cases. The referrals resulted in payments by the State and Federal
government to the agency for counseling and treatment services, based
on Rockhold's recommendations.

The State alleges in its criminal case that Rockhold accepted
payments from Phoenix Family Services on an ongoing basis from late
2001 to May 2003. The State further alleges that the Phoenix payments
influenced Rockhold's judgment, decisions, and discretion when he was
acting in his official capacity as a Juvenile Court Officer. Juvenile
Court Officers are employees of the Judicial Branch of Iowa State
Government.

Union County is one of 16 counties in the Fifth Judicial District
of Iowa. It is anticipated that a District Court Judge from outside
the Fifth Judicial District will conduct the proceedings and any trial
resulting from the allegations against Rockhold.

Accepting a Bribe is a Class C Felony, punishable by up to ten
years in prison and a fine of $10,000. A conviction of Ongoing
Criminal Conduct could result in a sentence of up to 25 years
imprisonment.

The investigation was jointly conducted by the Iowa Department of
Inspections and Appeals' (DIA) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service/Office of Inspector
General. An Assistant Attorney General is conducting the prosecution
of Rockhold because the Union County Attorney cited a conflict of
interest in the matter. The criminal charges against Mr. Rockhold are
merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven
guilty.



http://www.state.ia.us/government/di...ld%2002.06.pdf
Former Juvenile Court Officer Admits Accepting Bribes and Public
MisconductDES MOINES, IOWA (February 22, 1006) - Timothy Dean Rockhold,
36, of Mercer, MO, recently pleaded guilty in Union County District
Court to the crimes of Accepting Bribes,Unlawful Dissemination of
Criminal History Data, and Non-felonious Misconduct in Office. The
charges were filed after state and federal investigations of
Rockhold's relationship with Phoenix Family Services, a Greenfield,
Iowa, counseling agency. Rockhold was working as a Juvenile Court
Officer in the Fifth Judicial District of Iowa at the time he committed
these crimes. He had held the position for 10 years prior to his
resignation in October 2003. Fourth Judicial District Court Judge J.C.
Irvin scheduled Rockhold's sentencing for April 10. Irvin was
specially assigned to preside over the case by the Iowa Supreme Court
because of Rockhold's prior Judicial Branch employment. Rockhold, who
worked out of a Creston office, served as a Juvenile Court Officer in
several south-central Iowa counties. At sentencing, Rockhold faces
imprisonment of up to 13 years and fines totaling $17,500. In
connection with the Accepting Bribes charge, Rockhold admitted that he
acceptedpayments from Phoenix Family Services pursuant to an
arrangement or agreement that the payments would influence his
judgment, decisions or discretion. The investigation uncovered that
Rockhold recommended that Phoenix provide certain counseling services
in connection withJuvenile Court subjects under his supervision.
Phoenix then paid Rockhold approximately $300 for each referral made to
the agency. The payments from Phoenix to Rockhold occurred in the two
years preceding Rockhold's resignation. The other two crimes admitted
by Rockhold also involved improprieties with Phoenix Family Services -
illegally providing criminal history data and state property to the
agency. The prosecution argued that the arrangement enriched both
Rockhold and the Phoenix Family Services. Related charges are pending
against Eugene Alden Hutchinson, a former employee of Phoenix.
Hutchinson is charged with Ongoing Criminal Conduct and four counts of
Bribery. Hutchinson's charges are in connection with alleged payments
from Phoenix to Rockhold. The criminal charges against Hutchinson are
merely accusations and he is presumedinnocent until and unless proven
guilty by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. The investigation of
Phoenix Family Services, Rockhold, and Hutchinson was a cooperative
effort involving the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services/Office ofInspector General, the Iowa Department of Inspections
and Appeals, and the Iowa AttorneyGeneral's Office. ### This release
and other news items from the Department of Inspections and Appeals
(DIA) may be found on the Department's "Hot Notices" web page at
http://www.state.ia.us/government/di....html.Rockhold 02.06



Ex-court officer pleads guilty of taking bribes - took payments from a
family counseling agency in exchange for referring juveniles
IOWA, CRESTON - A former Iowa juvenile court officer has pleaded guilty
to charges of accepting bribes from a family counseling agency.

Timothy Dean Rockhold, 36, pleaded guilty to charges of accepting
bribes, unlawful dissemination of criminal history data and
nonfelonious misconduct in office. He faces up to 13 years in prison,
plus fines totaling $17,500. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10.

For 10 years until his resignation in October 2003, Rockhold worked as
a juvenile court officer in central Iowa's 5th Judicial District. The
charges were filed after state and federal investigations into his
relationship with Phoenix Family Services, a Greenfield counseling
agency that provided services to juveniles who passed through the
courts.

Rockhold worked out of a Creston office that served several Iowa
counties. State records indicate that he has admitted taking cash from
Phoenix Family Services in return for his recommendations that Phoenix
be selected to provide counseling services to juveniles under his
supervision.

Between 2001 and 2003, Phoenix paid Rockhold about $300 for each case
that was referred to the agency. The referrals resulted in the state
and federal governments paying Phoenix for counseling and other
treatment.

Related charges are pending against Eugene Alden Hutchinson, 59, one of
Phoenix Family Services' two owners. Hutchinson is charged with
ongoing criminal conduct and four counts of bribery. No trial date has
been set.

Rockhold is one of several Iowa officials accused of bribery in recent
years. Among the other cases:

? In 2005 , former Merrill police chief Warren Palmer admitted taking
nude photographs of a 19-year-old woman he stopped for speeding. The
woman performed a sex act with Palmer, and in return he agreed not to
issue her a ticket or arrest her on an outstanding warrant. Palmer
served eight months of a 10-year prison sentence before being released
and placed on probation.

? In 2003, Jerry Meyers, the former public works director for the city
of Johnston, pleaded guilty of theft and bribery. Meyers and a local
tire-company owner, Rick Hubbell , admitted conspiring to bill the city
for $11,000 worth of fictitious purchases. Hubbell received the
payments, then kicked back at least $1,500 to Meyers. Hubbell also
pleaded guilty to charges of theft and bribery.

? In 2003, Iowa State Patrol Trooper Michael Doubleday was fired amid
allegations of bribery involving traffic stops. Doubleday would
allegedly destroy or downgrade drivers' tickets in exchange for cash
donations to a private organization he controlled. The organization was
funded entirely by donations from people who had been ticketed. Clarke
County Attorney Elisabeth Reynoldson declined to prosecute Doubleday,
saying she could see "no criminal intent."


Michael wrote:
The criminal charges against Mr. Rockhold are
merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven
guilty.

Absolutely! The exact same right and precaution as should be applied to
families who are under accusations from CPS. But they aren't.

The double standards that the American sheep tolerate will never cease to
amaze me.