news-record.com

NEWS

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

Former senator, Hugh Webster, acquitted on embezzlement charge

Thursday, July 2, 2009

(Updated 7:19 pm)

By The Associated Press

YANCEYVILLE (AP) — A jury has acquitted former North Carolina state Sen. Hugh Webster of embezzlement involving $12,000 given to him by his aunt.

The Times-News of Burlington reported Caswell County jurors took an hour Thursday before finding Webster not guilty of felonious embezzlement and exploiting the trust of an elderly person.

Webster testified Wednesday his aunt, Doris Nance, gave him the money as a gift. Prosecutors argued Nance wanted him to invest the money for her but he didn't return it when asked.

Webster said Nance was reducing assets so her ex-husband could qualify for Medicaid. He got worried about getting caught up in government fraud when she later asked for $5,000 back.

Webster was a senator for 12 years and ran unsuccessfully for Congress last year.

What do you think?

3 comment(s)

Read other visitors' comments.

Comments

This article has been closed to new comments. Comments are generally closed after 14 days. However, comments may be closed earlier at the discretion of the News & Record.

Inappropriate content? Please notify us.

Lakeshia

July 2, 2009 - 10:43 pm EDT

So who is going to reimburse Hugh for the money he spent on his defense ?

Doug Johnson

July 3, 2009 - 4:11 am EDT

I sat in on this trial. It was the most pathetic case I have ever witness.
It was like the Duke Case, the Raleigh Mafia attempting to destroy this fine man.
The DA case was, bad republican, bad republican.
He even quoted the NR.
Like a lady said, times are tough for newspaper, they can not afford real reporters.
When Hugh was indicted , there was 23 newspapers there, and 7 TV stations.
Wonder were the heck they were at yesterday. My guess the Raleigh Mafia, had told them it was time to take a dive. Much like the Duke case it was 24/7 until the charges was dismissed. Then, they ignored it
It was front page news for the Raleigh Mafia, wonder how many papers it will be front page on today?