Minor charges dismissed between building supply rivals
Charges have been dropped in a case between rival building supply companies, a case of alleged petty theft which hung around in the court system for nearly two years.
The defendants, Ryan Moore, 25, and Reece Moore, 22, had charges of theft dismissed Tuesday by special Judge Butch Cook. The dismissal came at the request of prosecutors.
“All parties reached an agreement,” said District Attorney General Dale Potter, noting the McGees at Pioneer Building Supply were in support of dismissing criminal charges against their chief rivals.
The case first came before the court in June 2003 after Gordon McGee Jr., secretary for Pioneer, swore out warrants against the brothers who are with Supreme Building Products.
McGee said he witnessed Supreme vice president Ryan Moore taking three Pioneer signs from a subdivision. McGee said he was conducting surveillance after 15 of the company’s signs had disappeared in a week.
“I put out three signs at the entrance of Woodland Creek Estates and drove away to observe the signs to see if anyone stole them,” McGee said at the time the charges were taken. “While I was observing the signs, Ryan Moore pulled up to the signs, snatched three signs and put them in his car.”
McGee said he conducted his surveillance the day after he received a phone call from contractor Elaine Rains, stating she saw Reece Moore take three Pioneer signs from the entrance of the same subdivision.
At some point after the report, Pioneer president Amie Hodges said she called Supreme owner David Moore, father of the two young men, and told him about the information she had received. Hodges then threatened to take criminal charges against the suspects if the signs were not returned. According to the warrant, Ryan and Reece Moore brought the signs to Pioneer 45 minutes after the phone call.
Once the warrants were taken, the case remained in the system for an extended period after General Sessions Judge Larry Ross recused himself and a special judge had to be brought in.
“This agreement was reached a while back and we were just waiting for when the special judge would be in town,” Potter said, noting it took an extended period for the sides to reach an agreement.
As part of the agreement, both sides agreed they would not speak publicly about the alleged incident, opting to put the case behind them.