Ex-fire official pleads no contest.Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer A former Ventura County fire captain pleaded no contest Thursday to charges of selling methamphetamine methamphetamine (mĕth'ămfĕt`əmēn): see amphetamine; methedrine. and possessing explosive devices used to start fires, and could face a two-year prison term when sentenced in March. In making the plea, William Handy, 49, was convicted on three charges of selling methamphetamine in December 1994. He also was convicted of keeping a blasting cap Noun 1. blasting cap - a small tube filled with detonating substances; used to detonate high explosives detonating device, detonator, cap - a mechanical or electrical explosive device or a small amount of explosive; can be used to initiate the reaction of a detonator detonator (dĕ`tənā'tər), type of explosive that reacts with great rapidity and is used to set off other, more inert explosives. Fulminate of mercury mixed with potassium chlorate is a commonly used detonator. and a military fuse in his Newbury Park home. A 20-year county Fire Department veteran, Handy resigned his post after he was placed on administrative leave without pay in January 1995. Handy and his attorney, Steve Powell, did not comment on the decision to plead plead v. 1) in civil lawsuits and petitions, the filing of any document (pleading) including complaints, petitions, declarations, motions, and memoranda of points and authorities. no contest more than a year after the county grand jury indicted INDICTED, practice. When a man is accused by a bill of indictment preferred by a grand jury, he is said to be indicted. Handy for the felony felony (fĕl`ənē), any grave crime, in contrast to a misdemeanor, that is so declared in statute or was so considered in common law. offenses. Handy faces a possible term of up to seven years in prison at his sentencing hearing, set for March 29. Ventura Superior Court Judge Allan Steele said he has committed to a maximum possible sentence of two years, though that could change depending on information contained in a sentencing report county probation officials will complete. Handy has remained free on bail of $50,000 while the case is pending. Ventura County sheriff's detectives arrested Handy at a Newbury Park supermarket after an undercover sheriff's detective purchased 13.5 grams of methamphetamine from him. Handy also was indicted for selling smaller amounts of methamphetamine, totaling 3.5 grams, on two other occasions in December 1994. The grand jury also indicted Handy for being under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest. Deputy District Attorney Bill Karr said he would ask the court to dismiss that misdemeanor misdemeanor, in law, a minor crime, in contrast to a felony. At common law a misdemeanor was a crime other than treason or a felony. Although it might be a grave offense, it did not affect the feudal bond or take away the offender's property. By the 19th cent. charge at the sentencing hearing. The two other charges deal with devices found during a search of Handy's home that prompted narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required. detectives to call in the sheriff's bomb squad. Handy was indicted for possessing a 20mm fuse and a fire-starting device with an explosive blasting cap. Handy's first lawyer, Louis "Chuck" Samonsky, said he planned to dispute the prosecutor's description of the explosive devices found in Handy's home. Samonsky said the fire-starting device was similar to those firefighters use to start fires to battle wildfires. Samonsky said Handy purchased the fuse at a gun show and added it to a collection of similar devices. Karr said possessing such devices inside a home is a felony violation of the California Health and Safety Code. Karr said Handy's standing as a fire captain at the time had no bearing on whether he had done something illegal. |
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