Amid RF investigation, Moss steps down
Published 2:49 am Saturday, September 1, 2012
Richard Moss of River Falls resigned Friday as jail administrator in Coffee County.
Friday, The Star-News reported that Moss was on leave as a result of an ongoing investigation in Covington County. Friday afternoon, Chief Deputy Ronnie Whitworth with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to newspapers in Enterprise that Moss resigned.
Whitworth said that “there have been a lot of allegations” against Moss. He told The Enterprise Ledger that he and Moss had a long discussion Thursday, and added, “Capt. Moss chose to resign.”
In August, The Star-News reported that in 2008, Mayor Mary Hixon sold the nearly half-acre parcel where the former town hall sat to Moss, a man who has been living with Hixon for more than a decade. The action was taken without council approval.
Moss, through his company Conecuh River Enterprises, constructed a feed and seed store on the property. The store has since closed.
The deed, which was executed by Hixon, stated the property was sold “inconsideration of $10 and other valu(able) considerations,” on March 4, 2008.
Local attorneys say that is a common description for property transactions no matter what the cost.
Earlier this week, law enforcement executed three search warrants – one on town hall, another on Moss and Hixon’s home and another on Hixon’s workplace – moments after Tuesday’s municipal election results were posted announcing Hixon’s re-election as mayor.
It is believed officers seized financial and other records from each of the locations; however, the law enforcement community remains silent about not only the basis of the investigation, but also the results the Tuesday night searches.
Covington County District Attorney Walt Merrell would not say what his team was looking for, but confirmed he was not investigating voter fraud.
Records from the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission, the agency tasked with training law enforcement officers, show that Moss also is a part-time employee with the River Falls Police Department.
The Star-News has requested, but has not received, an assortment of records from River Falls officials, including a pay schedule for all employees.
Moss also is the pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in the Pine Level community of Coffee County, according to the Coffee County Baptist Association web site.