Changes

A month later Byars was convicted of felony theft by a six-member jury in the 26th Judicial Court. He had unsuccessfully sought a change of venue on the criminal charges because of what he viewed as bias against him in Minden.<ref>Sonny Jeane, "Byars trial to stay here", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 9, 1988, p. 1.</ref> The court determined that Byars cashed a $2,166.60 personal check on July 22, 1987, to his personal account, but $1,815 of that amount was to have been distributed to eleven other individuals for expenses incurred in regard to a fact-finding trip to [[Nevada]] in May 1987 concerning nuclear waste disposal. Byars was also found to have altered travel receipts for double reimbursement.<ref>Marilyn Miller, "Byars convicted of felony theft: Could face a maximum of ten years in prison", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 24, 1989, p. 1.</ref> He permitted a son, Richard Byars (born c. 1968), to use the long distance phone card in the amount of $2,473.15. The younger Byars said that he had thought the telephone card was the connection to the municipal Wide Area Telephone Service line and was unaware that his calls were costing taxpayers. Richards Byars was found guilty of felony theft.<ref>"Jury finds younger Byars guilty", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 19, 1988, p. 1.</ref>

A month later Byars was convicted of felony theft by a six-member jury in the 26th Judicial Court. He had unsuccessfully sought a change of venue on the criminal charges because of what he viewed as bias against him in Minden.<ref>Sonny Jeane, "Byars trial to stay here", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 9, 1988, p. 1.</ref> The court determined that Byars cashed a $2,166.60 personal check on July 22, 1987, to his personal account, but $1,815 of that amount was to have been distributed to eleven other individuals for expenses incurred in regard to a fact-finding trip to [[Nevada]] in May 1987 concerning nuclear waste disposal. Byars was also found to have altered travel receipts for double reimbursement.<ref>Marilyn Miller, "Byars convicted of felony theft: Could face a maximum of ten years in prison", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 24, 1989, p. 1.</ref> He permitted a son, Richard Byars (born c. 1968), to use the long distance phone card in the amount of $2,473.15. The younger Byars said that he had thought the telephone card was the connection to the municipal Wide Area Telephone Service line and was unaware that his calls were costing taxpayers. Richards Byars was found guilty of felony theft.<ref>"Jury finds younger Byars guilty", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 19, 1988, p. 1.</ref>

While Byars could have faced ten years imprisonment and heavy fines, then District Judge Richard Harmon Drew, Jr., of Minden lectured him on ethic] and sentenced him to five thousand hours of community service. Byars was initially ordered to teach  inmates at the David Wade Correctional Cente in Homer in neighboring Claiborne Parish. Parish]] over a four-year period. Judge Drew said that he had "bent over backwards to be fair" in the case though Byars had complained that officials had a "political vendetta" against him.<ref name=byars>Marilyn Miller, "Byars gets public works sentence: Must spend 5,000 hours teaching Wade inmates", ''Minden Press-Herald'', April 28, 1989, p. 1.</ref>

While Byars could have faced ten years imprisonment and heavy fines, then District Judge Richard Harmon Drew, Jr., of Minden lectured him on ethic] and sentenced him to five thousand hours of community service. Byars was initially ordered to teach  inmates at the David Wade Correctional Center in Homer in neighboring Claiborne Parish. Parish]] over a four-year period. Judge Drew said that he had "bent over backwards to be fair" in the case though Byars had complained that officials had a "political vendetta" against him.<ref name=byars>Marilyn Miller, "Byars gets public works sentence: Must spend 5,000 hours teaching Wade inmates", ''Minden Press-Herald'', April 28, 1989, p. 1.</ref>

However, Byars never served the five thousand hours of community service nor taught at the Wade Correctional Center. The Louisiana Supreme Court said that Judge Drew's sentence was excessive for the crime committed and ordered a resentencing.<ref>Marilyn Miller, "Byars wins resentencing bid", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 3, 1990, p. 1.</ref> Drew instead reduced the sentence to $1,000 in fines and court costs and allowed Byars' work on a booklet that he had written, ''Louisiana Teachers Guide'', count as the public service component of the sentence.<ref>"Byars receives reduced sentence Friday: 5,000 community hours set aside by judge", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 21, 1991, p. 1.</ref> Judge Drew questioned why Byars had been compelled to leave two undisclosed school systems in Texas and required to make restitution for funds that he allegedly misused: "The disturbing thing is your pattern of behavior. You consistently denied wrongdoing [in Texas], and the bottom line is that no criminal charges were filed." Drew further accused Byars of having misled the Webster Parish School Board when he procured doctoral compensation while employed by the local school system for a degree, not from Texas Tech, as he had originally pursued but from University of Sarasota, which Drew called a "diploma mill". Drew added: "Your poor judgment has made you and your family suffer a great deal." Drew delayed implementation of the sentence pending Byars' appeal by his attorney, Richard Goorley, to the state circuit court of appeal. However, the circuit court in turn declined to overturn Judge Drew's ruling. Drew now serves on that same circuit court.<ref name=byars/>

However, Byars never served the five thousand hours of community service nor taught at the Wade Correctional Center. The Louisiana Supreme Court said that Judge Drew's sentence was excessive for the crime committed and ordered a resentencing.<ref>Marilyn Miller, "Byars wins resentencing bid", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 3, 1990, p. 1.</ref> Drew instead reduced the sentence to $1,000 in fines and court costs and allowed Byars' work on a booklet that he had written, ''Louisiana Teachers Guide'', count as the public service component of the sentence.<ref>"Byars receives reduced sentence Friday: 5,000 community hours set aside by judge", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 21, 1991, p. 1.</ref> Judge Drew questioned why Byars had been compelled to leave two undisclosed school systems in Texas and required to make restitution for funds that he allegedly misused: "The disturbing thing is your pattern of behavior. You consistently denied wrongdoing [in Texas], and the bottom line is that no criminal charges were filed." Drew further accused Byars of having misled the Webster Parish School Board when he procured doctoral compensation while employed by the local school system for a degree, not from Texas Tech, as he had originally pursued but from University of Sarasota, which Drew called a "diploma mill". Drew added: "Your poor judgment has made you and your family suffer a great deal." Drew delayed implementation of the sentence pending Byars' appeal by his attorney, Richard Goorley, to the state circuit court of appeal. However, the circuit court in turn declined to overturn Judge Drew's ruling. Drew now serves on that same circuit court.<ref name=byars/>