Ricky Lee Stewart, III Pleads Guilty in Murder of Henderson Police Captain Dennis Cagle

JACKSON, TN—Edward L. Stanton, III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced today that Ricky Lee Stewart, III, 50, pleaded guilty to a four count indictment charging him with obstructing interstate commerce in attempting to rob the Henderson, Tennessee Save-A-Lot (Count 1), using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (Count 2), committing the first degree murder of Captain Dennis Cagle in the perpetration of the attempted robbery through the use of a firearm (Count 3), and being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm (Count 4). Stewart was indicted on these charges on March 15, 2010.

The charges to which Stewart pleaded guilty stem from the December 10, 2009, attempted robbery of the Save-A-Lot grocery store in Henderson, Tennessee. Stewart fired upon officers who responded to the robbery in progress, including Henderson Police Captain Dennis Cagle, who later succumbed to injuries received from a gunshot inflicted by Stewart. Stewart faces a sentence of life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2011, before United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen.

United States Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III stated: “This prosecution has resulted in swift and harsh justice against the man who senselessly and brazenly shot down Henderson Police Captain Dennis Cagle. Captain Cagle died with courage and honor in the line of duty. We hope that this conviction, while it cannot heal all wounds, can help bring some closure to Captain Cagle’s family, colleagues, and friends. Make no mistake, our office will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who perpetrate such heinous, violent crimes, especially when our law enforcement partners are targets.

District Attorney General for the 26th Judicial District of Tennessee, Jerry Woodall stated: “The citizens of Chester, Henderson, and Madison Counties are grateful for the hard work and dedication put into investigating the tragic death of Captain Cagle by the Henderson Police Department, the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The aggressive prosecution of this case by our federal partners at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee shows how prosecutors from the state and federal level are willing to work together to bring to justice those that may do harm to our law enforcement officers.”

The case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Henderson Police Department, and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. District Attorney General for the 26th Judicial District of Tennessee Jerry Woodall served as special counsel in this case. United States Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III and Assistant United States Attorney Victor L. Ivy handled the case on behalf of the United States.