Eric Spicer, a former major at the Greene County Sheriff's Office who was dismissed earlier this year, will be released on his own recognizance while awaiting a federal trial on seven counts related to allegedly forging Sheriff Gene Fischer's signature to buy a machine gun.
U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Sharon Ovington ruled Friday that Spicer, 44, must promise to appear for all hearings, submit to pre-trial supervision and surrender his United States passport. The case was assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Michael Barrett. No court dates have been scheduled.
The seven-count indictment alleges that Spicer forged Fischer's name on documents he provided to a firearms dealer in New York in 2009. The paperwork claimed that the machine gun would be used for law enforcement purposes. Spicer pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Spicer's attorney, John David Smith, said his client's version of events will come out later. "There's two sides to every story and there is another side to this story," Smith said. "There's a time and a place for everything and this is neither the proper time nor place to discuss what the other side of the story is. It will come in due course."
The indictment charges Spicer with one count each of illegal possession of a machine gun; making a false statement to a law enforcement official; making a false statement in conjunction with the purchase of a firearm; possession of an unregistered firearm; and possession of a firearm transferred in violation of the National firearms Act. Spicer also is indicted on two counts of making a false entry on an application to acquire a firearm.
Six of the charges carry maximum sentences of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine while the other count carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms seized the machine gun in March during a search of Spicer's home. Spicer allegedly told the ATF that he worked for the Jackson Twp. Police Department.
"Everybody understands that Eric is going to face these charges and defend himself," Smith said. "He's not going anywhere and everybody knows that."
