Bel Air Town Commissioner Terry Hanley was present for the municipality’s regularly scheduled meeting Monday, four days after he was formally charged with theft in a Cecil County used car deal.
Hanley made several comments during the meeting related to the council’s brief agenda, but entered and exited the meeting without commenting to reporters about the charges.
According to charging documents dated Sept. 7, Hanley allegedly withheld $5,000 in cash from the sale of a vehicle made at his former employer, Ramsey Ford of Elkton.
The documents state that Hanley allegedly sold a Ford Focus vehicle for $14,500 in cash, but that he only turned over $9,500 to the dealership and recorded the trade-in value of the customer’s Chevrolet Lumina as $7,320.38, while police said it was worth approximately $2,000. Hanley allegedly intended to sell the vehicle to a wholesaler.
On June 15, a day after police began investigating the case, Hanley allegedly paid Ramsey Ford with a personal check in the amount of $3,500, and the dealership withheld a bonus check to Hanley worth approximately $1,600.
Hanley told police that his actions were “in the best interests of the customer,” and that the money was accounted for throughout the transactions. However, according to the documents, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office Det. Cpl. Andrew Tuer, the officer investigating the case, doubted Hanley’s explanation, saying he did not believe Hanley would have given the money back until he was confronted, and that he believed Hanley knew he had acted wrongly.
“My gut feeling is to hope it’s not true,” said Bel Air Town Commissioner Eddie Hopkins, upon being told of the allegations. “But being a former police officer, whatever evidence there is, you’re innocent until proven guilty.” Hopkins was not at Monday’s meeting; Commissioner Chairman David Carey said Hopkins was feeling ill.
Several days before Monday’s meeting, Carey also expressed his support for Hanley.
“It’s a sad thing,” he said. “I hope it all works out for Terry, I feel bad for his family, but everyone deserves their day in court.”
A shame.
The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office did a fine job in presenting the facts. Det Cpl Tuer needs to be commended for doing a good job. Yes, he is innocent till proven guilty. But why would he return the money after being confronted and not at the time of the sale?
I bet he gets a good lawyer and the court gives him a PBJ and then he can say he never committed the crime.
I would likei iy to commend Aaron Cahill on his straight forward reporting, just stating known facts with no speculation. Thank God there is balanced local news and one is not reliant on the Patch and their character assasination approach.
That’s just silly (and wrong). All that was reported on the Patch five days ago was the facts. Various folks replied with posts about Hanley from both sides, but the reporting was straightforward and factual.
I wonder if the liberals are going to say this is the state going after someone who did not committ an “unproven” crime?
Dagger,
Murph is right on target with his/her comment. Thank you for the straight approach and no BS.
I have known Terry for a over 14 years. I am shocked and sadden about the allegations. I wish the Hanley family the best outcome possible.
PUH-LEEZE STOP SAYING “YOU’RE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.” THAT’S SO INCORRECT. ONE’S GUILT OR INNOCENCE IS ESTABLISHED AT THE TIME OF THE ACT. ONE DOES HAVE “THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE” IN A COURT OF LAW AND NOWHERE ELSE…CERTAINLY NOT IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.
He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. BUT he probally knew what he was doing. Maybe he can enter and alford plea and still maintain his innocence. Gotta love when people get caught doing something wrong. It was my up brining that made me do it. I have a problem, etc. Not saying that he has a problem. I feel for his family who has to deal with the situation. NOT HIM
Hey Resident,
I don’t see what good an Alford plea will do. He will admit the state has enough evidence to convict him, yet still maintain his innocence? Yea, that will be believable. I think he will either plead not guilty, in which case he will go to trial, or plead guilty to a lesser charge.
Without knowing the facts of the case except for what is in the charging document, it seems like there is a possibility that he may be able to show that, if what he stated to the police is true, there was a history of doing things with the money a certain way, and though it may not be plausible to most of us, if there is a history of it in the dealership, maybe it is possible. I don’t know and I really don’t want to speculate too much on this.
Anyways, have a nice day.
Paul
@Paul…You have a good point as to what the dealership has done in the past. But the charging document says that Hanley didn’t do anything with the money. Why would he have to write a personal check if he didn’t have the money on hand. The Alford plea allows a person to maintain his/her innocence. But it is a conviction all the same. Like I said earlier, I feel for his family.
Hey Resident,
I totally agree, there are some interesting facts in that Hanley is going to have a difficult time trying to explain to prove his innocence. I don’t know anything more than is written in the charging document so it is difficult to speculate. You raise a good point with the check issue. It will be interesting to see how that is explained, if it ever is.
As for the Alford, yea, he will be able to maintain his innocence, even though there is enough evidence to convict him. Though I doubt many will, if he does take a Alford, believe he is actually innocent.
I too feel for his family.
Have a nice day.
Paul
With a check there is a document that can be shown in court and has deposit information on it. With cash not so much.
Amazing…He goes from one car dealership to another. Are the people of the new car dealership aware of the pending charges? Gotta luv when someone does something and moves on to a similar line of work. Maybe I can get the same deal now that his is closer!!!!!!!
All I can say is that Terry Hanley totally ripped us off when we were buying a car several years ago. He did not honor the deal–and he was so arrogant about reneging on the whole thing & then smirking about it in our faces. No such thing as a “gentlemen’s agreement” with Terry Hanley! I am not at all surprised by the current “happenings” in Cecil County. As my husband said to me at the time Hanley ripped us off, “His time will come…” (I am sorry that Terry Hanley is now with Jones Junction).