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Timothy Ferrell Dubose, 39, of Andalusia, Alabama, pled guilty to first degree theft of property involving the theft of over $160,000 worth of hunting equipment from Fletcher’s Outdoors.

According to a release from the Covington County District Attorney’s Office, Dubose, who was the store manager, took advantage of his position at Fletcher’s, which is known for its inventory of firearms and various merchandise for outdoor enthusiasts.  During the course of these thefts, it was discovered that Dubose stole gift cards from the store and used them, along with fictitious store credits, to “buy” some of the firearms and merchandise.

The investigation into Dubose began after another employee, who was in charge of bookkeeping, discovered oddities in the financial records. Investigators with the Andalusia Police Department obtained search warrants for Dubose’s truck and home. Upon executing the search warrants, investigators found hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise belonging to Fletcher’s Outdoors. After an inventory was conducted of all the merchandise found in Dubose’s truck and home, APD investigators arrested Dubose for first degree theft of property, which involves theft of in excess of $2,500.

“This case is one I am glad to see come to a conclusion,” said District Attorney Walt Merrell, who prosecuted the case. “It took a lot of time for those guns and merchandise to be inventoried and inspected. The owner of the store had to make sure that everything was in order after Dubose’s thefts caused a monumental mess of his store inventory. Many of the guns had to be taken out of inventory and destroyed. Law enforcement invested an incredible amount of time in the investigation. Dubose was in a position of trust at a very successful and popular gun shop, but he criminalized that trust and responsibility for his own greed.”

Dubose was sentenced to 20 years for the theft. “Under the law, this is the maximum sentence Dubose could have received,” Merrell said. “When you steal this much, you go to prison for a long time.”

Dubose has applied for a split sentence. A hearing will be held in front of Circuit Judge Charles “Lex” Short to determine whether or not Dubose should receive the benefit of only serving a shorter “split” portion of the overall 20-year sentence. That hearing will be held on April 11. “I have already made it clear that we will oppose a split sentence,” Merrell said.

Merrell thanked the Andalusia Police Department investigators and Chief Investigator Nickey Carnley of the District Attorney’s Office for “their solid investigation and for seeing this case through to conviction. It was a long road to get here.” 

Fletcher’s owner, Anthony King, said, “This case would have never been prosecuted if it wasn’t for our local DA and his staff. I can’t thank them enough.”