Thursday, March 6, 2008

Postal Worker Accused In Drug Case Draws Maximum Sentence

   A local postal worker accused of purchasing drugs while running his mail route in early 2007, drew the maximum sentence in court Thursday.

   Talmadge Wayne “Butch” Bradley, 55, a twenty-eight-year employee of the Lawrenceburg Postal Service, was arrested on possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell charges on January 18, 2007, as a result of evidence gathered by a confidential informant. He was found guilty of that crime during a trial held through Lawrence County Circuit Court in January, 2008.

   During a sentencing hearing Thursday, a representative of the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General testified that his department had been alerted to possible drug activity when an Ethridge law enforcement official claimed to have purchased drugs from Bradley approximately one year before. He claimed that the purchase was made while Bradley was inside his postal service vehicle. The witness testified Thursday that a number of postal service customers had complained that prescription medications, shipped through the mail, had not reached their homes. He stated the drugs “came up missing.” He also stated that Bradley had become the object of his department’s investigation. As a result, members of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department were alerted and asked to join the investigation.

   Sheriff’s department Investigator Parker Hardy took the stand, stating that he had been responsible for outfitting the confidential informant who assisted in the investigation with a covert camera and body wire. He indicated that they then proceeded to capture a drug deal between the informant and Bradley on video, as well as audio surveillance. Hardy testified that the informant had sold Bradley twenty Lortab pills for $100.

   When Bradley took the stand, he denied knowingly engaging in any criminal activity, saying, “It wasn’t like I was trying to go out and make a drug buy.” He pointed out that the transaction took place outside the informant’s home, and that the informant freely offered the drugs to him. He indicated that he had taken the pills when he gave the informant (who he said is mentally challenged) the money basically as “a trade-off.”

   Bradley pointed out that he had been rear-ended while running his mail route in November of 2005, and sustained injuries to his lower back, neck, and ankle for which he was prescribed the pain medication Lortab.

   Bradley told the judge, “I wish it hadn’t ever happened, but it did. Its just something that’ll haunt you forever.”

   After reviewing a video of the actual drug transaction, Judge Robert Holloway returned to the courtroom to hear closing arguments. Pointing out that this area has a high rate of illegal prescription drug transactions the prosecution requested that Holloway “send a message to the community that we will not tolerate this activity.”

   The defense pointed out that Bradley had been allowed to retire from the postal service with full benefits following his arrest. He also stated his belief that “the Lortab he was taking probably clouded his judgment.” He requested that Holloway be lenient and place Bradley on probation.

   Saying that he did feel a postman garnered a certain amount of public trust, Holloway found Bradley to be a Range 1 Standard Offender. With the crime carrying a sentencing range of two to four years, Holloway imposed the maximum four-year sentence. In addition, he imposed a fine of $10,000.

   Holloway indicated that Bradley will be required to serve the first year of his sentence imprisoned through the Tennessee Department of Corrections. At that point he will be eligible for parole consideration. He would be required to serve the remainder of his sentence on parole.

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