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Mayor Richard (Rich) Sykes Charged with Bribery
According to court records Mayor Sykes, in a criminal complaint recorded on January 31st 2022 by Deputy Attorney General and Special Prosecuting Attorney Mills was charged with Bribery-Using Public Position for Personal Gain on or about April 14th 2021.
The complaint reads:
That the defendant, Rich Sykes, on or about April 14, 2021, in the County of Elmore, State of Idaho, acting as a public servant and without the specific authorization of the governmental entity for which he serves, used public funds and/or property to obtain a pecuniary benefit for himself, to wit: as the Mayor of the City of Mountain Home and without specific authorization from Mountain Home, Mr. Sykes used Mountain Home employees while they were being paid by Mountain Home, and or used Mountain Home equipment to move dirt found on or near Mr. Sykes personal property to save himself the time and/or expense of moving the dirt through lawful means.
All of which is contrary to the form, force and effect of the statute in such case, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Idaho.
A violation of I.C. 18-1359(a) may be punished by a fine not exceeding $1000, or by incarceration in the county jail for a period not exceeding one year, or both. In addition, any person who violates said code I.C. 18-1359(a) “may be required to forfeit his office and may be ordered to make restitution of any benefit received by him to the governmental entity from which it was obtained.”
Said complaint therefore prays that a Summons issue for the Defendant and that Rich Sykes be dealt with according to the law.
Court records show that Mayor Sykes was served by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office on February 2nd 2022. Mayor Sykes is scheduled for arraignment on February 23rd 2022.
The Mountain Home News will follow up requesting a statement from the Mayor and report on it in the next edition of the Mountain Home News on February 9th.