Brian K. Thomas, 32, of Dawson Springs

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Man pleads guilty to cheating in bass tournament
03:04 PM EDT on Tuesday, April 3, 2007

EDDYVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A western Kentucky man charged with cheating to win a bass tournament at Lake Barkley pleaded guilty in Lyon County Circuit Court.
Brian K. Thomas, 32, of Dawson Springs pleaded guilty Monday to a single charge of theft by deception over $300 and one count of theft by deception under $300.
Thomas and Dwayne E. Nesmith, 43, were charged with using bass that had been caught in advance and hidden in a submerged live fish basket, then retrieved to win the competition.
They collected a $30,000 bass boat for first place in the March 2006 Superbass championship tournament.
Nesmith, who was granted a continuation at his attorney’s request, was ordered to enter a plea on his two charges on May 7, the same day that Thomas is to be sentenced.
A court spokesman last month said the two defendants had reached a plea agreement, the terms of which were not released.
The two were charged initially on April 30, 2006, after they were seen picking up bass from a live basket during a Relay For Life Buddy Bass Tournament at Lake Barkley State Resort Park. They eventually pleaded guilty in Trigg County District Court to a misdemeanor charge of attempted theft by deception and paid $250 fines.
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