Former Virginia Sheriff Sentenced for Exchanging Badges for Bribes

The former sheriff in Culpeper County, Virginia will likely spend the next decade in a federal prison after being sentenced for selling off auxiliary deputy positions in the department in exchange for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. 

Scott Jenkins, who was one of the most outspoken opponents of then-Gov. Ralph Northam’s attempt to ban semi-automatic long guns in the Old Dominion, was convicted by a jury back in December on charges of conspiracy, fraud, and bribery. The former sheriff could have been sentenced to fifteen years in federal custody, but instead U.S. District Judge Robert Ballou handed down a ten-year sentence along with three years of probation. 

Federal prosecutors said Jenkins took more than $75,000 in bribes from people he made auxiliary deputies, claiming their badges would allow them to carry concealed weapons in all 50 states. Donors said they also wanted the badges to help them get out of speeding tickets. Jenkins’ defense said the funds were legal campaign contributions and a “provocative” and “creative response” to defending gun rights by building up the auxiliary program.

I interviewed Jenkins multiple times on Cam & Company back when the show was airing on NRATV, and he never mentioned his auxiliary deputy program, much less insinuated that high dollar donors could receive auxiliary deputy badges in exchange for their campaign contributions. 

Jenkins did say at one point that he’d deputize residents of Culpeper County “to protect their constitutional right to own firearms” if the state legislature and Northam banned so-called “assault weapons”, but never said anything about those residents (or those living outside of Culpeper County) having to pay for the privilege. 

The former sheriff maintains his innocence, vowing to appeal his conviction. Judge Ballou did do him one favor on Friday by allowing him to report to the Burea of Prisons on his own instead of being taken into custody in the courtroom to immediately begin serving his sentence, though not before dressing him down for his actions. 

“The integrity of our governmental institution provides the fabric that keeps our society upright,” he stated. “When governmental officials step outside of that, it undermines that integrity, how people look at those institutions and the respect they give to it. I certainly wish you well, but understand your situation is based upon the actions you created yourself.” 

… “This case is serious and significant and deserves a serious and significant sentence, based on a public breach of trust,” the judge said. “You were elected to serve the people of Culpeper and not to be served. The people placed their trust in you.”

I never met Jenkins personally, but I enjoyed having him on the show as a guest, and I certainly appreciated his public stance in favor of our right to keep and bear arms at the time. 

Having said that, I have a huge problem with elected officials using their office to enrich themselves, and when they dangle our Second Amendment rights as bait it infuriates me even more. Whether it’s a California sheriff engaging in a pay-to-play scheme for rarely-issued carry permits or selling access to an auxiliary deputy badge that would allow recipients to carry under the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act, these officials should be held to account for their actions, no matter how much support for the Second Amendment they may profess.