Charges dropped against man who cashed $50,277 check mistakenly sent to him

Washoe County Assistant District Attorney John Helzer said a jury deadlocked on the case involving Cecil Davidson in March and a new trial could end with the same result.

"The fact that the jury was unable to unanimously agree as to the guilt or innocence of Mr. Davidson supports that the case involved close issues of fact and law," he said.

"However, after reviewing the transcript of the trial it is believed that this matter may remain unresolved even if a second trial occurs."

Davidson, who is blind and hearing impaired, erroneously received the check in 1996 from Southern Pacific Railroad. The check was intended for an Oregon construction company called Davidson and Son Construction.

Prosecutors charged Davidson when he cashed the check and refused to pay the money back.

A Washoe District Court jury deliberated about five hours in March before deciding it was deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared.

Following the trial, seven people met with District Attorney Richard Gammick to urge him to drop the case.

William Moon, a former NAACP chapter president, said he thought it would be a mistake to retry the case because Davidson suffered several strokes and faced little chance of going to prison if convicted.

Friends said Southern Pacific made the mistake, but it was Davidson who was being held accountable.

archive