Bucky Covington Accused of $1500 “Cash Grab” (Via TMZ)

I hope it’s a misunderstanding. Bucky seemed like such a nice guy. He has the sweetest smile ever. But times are hard. So you never know, people get desperate.

Lol! Funny but not. I read the police reports and it looks like there were a lot of witnesses that saw Bucky and his posse do it. Not sure why Bucky did it. Either the sleeze factor ie he took advantage of a situation or there was some bad blood. Sounds more like the former.

This is the same guy that dumped his wife after being on Idol right?

After reading in Taylor Hicks book about playing gigs, I’m not on the promoter side. They usually are trying to make as much money as possible. Usually ticket sales and cover charges go to the entertainment and the saloon makes their cut off increased bar sales, etc. Since the promoter has total access to the proceeds he’s more likely to make things go in his favor. i hope this goes away.

He’s without a record contract after his label, Lyric Records closed last year. And I was surprised to read that despite his initial success in Country music, he has yet to make a 2nd album.

I read the police reports and it looks like there were a lot of witnesses that saw Bucky and his posse do it.

It sounds like they saw Rocky and his wife do it. I’m not sure how they decided Bucky was involved. Granted, Rocky is in his band, but Bucky isn’t automatically responsible for his brother’s misdeeds.

It’s interesting that the promoter keeps saying that he had no contract with Bucky. Does this mean that Bucky was doing the concert for free? Or is it some kind of weird contract dispute where the band was to get $1500 and that’s what Rocky took because he feared that they would not get paid since the promoter would not be around after the concert? (small time promoters are notorious for not paying the band whenever they can). So, the promoter is just saying they didn’t have it in their contract that they could take the money, they simply had to hope that he would later be in a condition to pay them?

He’s without a record contract after his label, Lyric Records closed last year. And I was surprised to read that despite his initial success in Country music, he has yet to make a 2nd album.

Apparently, there is a second album, it just hasn’t been released since Lyric folded. According to AllAccess, it is scheduled to be released this week, but since it’s never been given a title, who knows?

Hmm. So the persons, according to the allegations and police report, who took cash were Bucky’s brother and his wife … under the direction of Bucky. Bucky did not actually take any money, according to them. He is, however, the primary perpetrator in the complaint.

There were 4 employees, all male or 3 males and 1 female (Casey can go either way) who were unable to stop 1 male and 1 female from stealing money in their presence.

Why, when Bucky’s brother said he was taking the money for bus gas and refused to give it back, didn’t the main employee write up a receipt and have him sign it?

Where are the checks and balances to prove how much money is missing? Is the Bucky gang scapegoats for an inside job/window of opportunity? Too many hands in the cookie jar.

This will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Weird. I wonder if there was some dispute with this guy before the concert or fear they weren’t going to get paid, and Bucky & co. decided to pick off some of the cash proceeds. (Which was probably not the right way to go about it, lol, if they had a financial beef.)

I don’t read the statements to be saying there was no contract at all. Just that, according to the promoter’s version, there was nothing written in any contracts/agreements that would give the Bucky crew the right to sell tickets and keep the cash, or otherwise have their hands in the collection/handling of cash intake during the event.

Where are the checks and balances to prove how much money is missing?

Sounded to me as if the money (allegedly) was taken before the part in the evening’s events when it would have been counted.

It’s interesting that the promoter keeps saying that he had no contract with Bucky. Does this mean that Bucky was doing the concert for free?

That’s not what the promoter said. He said Bucky & crew do not have a contract that says they are entitled to take the money from the box or collect money for tickets. The theft by deception part comes from them collecting money from people coming in then pocketing it.

It sounds like they saw Rocky and his wife do it. I’m not sure how they decided Bucky was involved.

According to the police report Bucky instructed them to take the money which would make him just as guilty.

wonder if there was some dispute with this guy before the concert or fear they weren’t going to get paid, and Bucky & co. decided to pick off some of the cash proceeds.

That was my first thought. Or a misunderstanding.

Apparently, there is a second album, it just hasn’t been released since Lyric folded. According to AllAccess, it is scheduled to be released this week, but since it’s never been given a title, who knows?

Wasn’t there also some weird glitch where it was listed under CCM?

Heh, Innocent until proven guilty in this case, I say.

I’m not/was never a Bucky fan, but I feel for the guy. And it is a lesson to all Idols that whatever your initial success (he had several hits and a very good-selling album) it can be fleeting :(

Sounded to me as if the money (allegedly) was taken before the part in the evening’s events when it would have been counted.

I’ve done a lot of events/festivals, including gigs with rock bands at clubs, and you keep track of sales and any money that goes in and out. This can be via a ‘clicker’ to count live bodies, physically numbered tickets, various other means, or a combination.

You should always have an accounting sheet with how much cash you opened with, how much petty cash is taken out for incidentals, and the final tally for the night. You would normally have only one person, or two together as an honesty check, handling the cash box. Large amounts of cash are periodically removed to a safer place.

I agree with Kirsten from experience that small (and big) time promoters are notorious for stiffing and undercutting the band. Happens all the time. This of course, doesn’t give license to snagging the money and paying yourself.

Kirsten: Apparently, there is a second album, it just hasn’t been released since Lyric folded. According to AllAccess, it is scheduled to be released this week, but since it’s never been given a title, who knows?

That was in error. Bucky was doing interviews in June indicating that a new record label signing is imminent with what he hopes will be a single in late summer/early fall.

Weird story. I haven’t read the police report so won’t comment on the particulars.

I’ve done a lot of events/festivals, including gigs with rock bands at clubs, and you keep track of sales and any money that goes in and out. This can be via a ‘clicker’ to count live bodies, physically numbered tickets, various other means, or a combination.

To clarify, I didn’t mean they would have no idea. But that they would not necessarily have done a physical count of the actual cash bills that had been collected by the time this incident/series of incidents seems to have occurred before/during the concert? It appeared to me that they must have had some estimate of tickets sold since the promoter is giving a ballpark on the $ amount allegedly taken. But he probably had to guess as far as how many tickets were sold, allegedly, by the Bucky crew when they, allegedly, started directly selling tickets and keeping hold of the cash. Allegedly. Lol.

And it is a lesson to all Idols that whatever your initial success (he had several hits and a very good-selling album) it can be fleeting :(

Bucky’s last single (2010) went into the mid or low twenties on mediabase, pretty sure. And I think he has been active touring so financially I would have thought he’s ok enough not to have to go after $1500 to keep himself and his band afloat. That’s why I wondered if it was more a dispute, they lost their cool, and did something in a temper that was pretty stupid. (Allegedly. Lol.)

I remember being at a club last fall watching one of Danny’s shows and one of the venue peeps commented that Bucky had been there not long before and had a very good show.

That was my first thought. Or a misunderstanding.

Idk. I can imagine this as the result of a fight between the two, or one side or the other making up a story, or (though seems unlikely) the Bucky gang was in a financial pinch and grabbed the cash out of desperation. I can’t think of how the facts described could be true and the result of an honest misunderstanding.

I always liked Bucky. I hope this isn’t true.

daytonabeachbiker.com
Pit Row Music Posse presents a southern rock concert featuring Preacher Stone, Midway Blue, Florida-Georgia Line, Chase Rice, Rambler Gang and Bucky Covington (American Idol) $10.00, a portion of the proceeds to benefit families affected by tornados in Joplin, Mo.

According to this site, Bucky was not the only performer at the concert on June 30. The atmosphere could have become chaotic, and a misunderstanding brewed. He appears to be the only band in the line-up with a national following, so maybe those left in charge did not understand that Bucky’s travel expenses needed to be reimbursed. No national act will pay their own travel fees.

Bucky has always had plenty of paying gigs. I do not believe that he is a thief.

Bucky’s contract should have spoken to any reimbursement for travel fees. Idk, the promoter seems to be of the belief that the contract terms wiill support his side of this.

Bucky & co. have been on the scene touring for some years. They have to know that the artist and their entourage aren’t supposed to start handling cash sales at the gate *if* that is in fact what happened, among the other strange things listed in the police report.

Or, on the other hand *if* someone working for the promoter was trying pull something to cover someone else appropriating funds that weren’t theirs, this is a weird story to make up because plenty of people would know whether or not it was true that peeps with Bucky took over the ticket sales at some point.

It just makes most sense to me they had some kind of fight, and hot tempers accompanied by rash actions ensued. Maybe Bucky’s management or whomever needs to get in touch with the promoter, figure out what happened, and make it go away. A.S.A.P.

And it is a lesson to all Idols that whatever your initial success (he had several hits and a very good-selling album) it can be fleeting

Bucky’s last single (2010) went into the mid or low twenties on mediabase, pretty sure. And I think he has been active touring so financially I would have thought he’s ok enough not to have to go after $1500 to keep himself and his band afloat.

I didn’t mean that Bucky had to stoop so low as to steal the $$, lol. I think it may all be a misunderstanding- a “misunderstanding” as to contract terms ;)

My “fleeting success” remark was meant to refer to him losing his label (bad luck), taking a while to get re-signed and not having music out for quite a while.

Since TMZ has it, it probably won’t be the last we hear of it.

With the promoter gone, they may have believed those left weren’t going to honor the verbal agreements, so they made sure they were paid. I don’t think this is desperation as much as mistrust, probably from being burned before. That said, Rocky and Bucky better be able to produce a contract or have an email chain that proves they were entitled to $1500.

I’d like to pose a question Bucky and Rocky are identical twins right what if the witnesses couldn’t tell them apart or they both denied it was them and pinned it on the other brother what would happen then?

I think I saw something like that on Law and Order where they put a set of twins on trial but they each got off b/c it was just as likely it was the other twin that committed the crime. If it goes to court maybe their lawyer should raise that argument for reasonable doubt.

I think I saw something like that on Law and Order where they put a set of twins on trial but they each got off b/c it was just as likely it was the other twin that committed the crime. If it goes to court maybe their lawyer should raise that argument for reasonable doubt.

I hope Bucky will have a better defense than that if it gets that far :? And that wouldn’t do much for his career :)

Or his brother’s, ‘cuz who knows if they are all that identical (are they?) which one is really singing on stage ;)

If it’s true he’s a douchebag

Steph6449, I vaguely remember Rocky they brought him on stage and him and Bucky stood side by side and if I recall correctly they looked exactly alike I thought they were identical.

This is really weird. One would think impulsive except it sounds like they sat there and collected money which wouldn’t be a snatch and grab type thing. $1,500 can’t be worth risking your career for unless your situation was dire–hand to mouth– or you did it on principle cause you thought you were being screwed(but court costs will be more than $1500 I would guess). Just odd.

Maybe he needed it for hair products? ;) I don’t know, his reaction is a little too easy-going for me to take this seriously. Then again, look at Chikezie [sp?]. He was arrested for stealing cologne of all things. You never know….

I think I saw something like that on Law and Order where they put a set of twins on trial but they each got off b/c it was just as likely it was the other twin that committed the crime. If it goes to court maybe their lawyer should raise that argument for reasonable doubt.

Er…the Covington Boys have already done that.

Bucky covered for Rocky

And it worked:

Last July, the Covington twins were tried in court, but the case tripped up when Roller was asked to point out the brother who’d been driving the truck he rear-ended. “I picked out the wrong one,” he told CourtTV.com. “That was bad.” The judge subsequently dismissed all charges.

Basically, Rocky was driving with a suspended license and was stopped waiting to make a left-hand turn into his driveway. A kid rear-ended him. Bucky’s dad called him out of the house to claim he was the one driving (it was Bucky’s truck) so that Rocky didn’t get in trouble. When the Covington’s insisted the kid who caused the accident pay for the repairs (while the kid’s dad wanted the Covington’s to pay to repair his truck), the kid’s dad reported Rocky and Bucky to the police. Both Covington’s got in trouble, but the witness couldn’t pick out the one who had been driving so they had to dismiss the charges against both.

“We couldn’t say which one did what,” explained Lewis Fadely, the prosecutor who handled the case. “In a criminal trial, you have to be able to say, ‘The defendant did this, this and this.’ We couldn’t. They looked so gosh darn the same.”

Sounds like something out of the Dukes of Hazard.

Steph6449, I vaguely remember Rocky they brought him on stage and him and Bucky stood side by side and if I recall correctly they looked exactly alike I thought they were identical.

I remember that. Season 5 was the very first season of Idol I ever watched, and I distinctly remember Ryan calling Rocky up on stage. I believe he stood on Ryan’s other side, though, but they do indeed look alike. I hope, too, that it is not true.

Er…the Covington Boys have already done that.

Bucky covered for Rocky

And it worked:

Wow, that story does not show very attractive behavior by anyone in the Covington family, including the dad. Starting from the time of the traffic accident and all the way through until this “defense” let them slide off the hook for some reasonably serious charges that were involved (resisting an officer, giving fictitious information to a public officer, driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident and hit-and-run).

Realizing Bucky and his brother were young at the time and all, but still, 20 is not 13. Hope they don’t repeat that sort of stunt this time if it ever gets far enough to go to court.

Starting from the time of the traffic accident and all the way through until this “defense” let them slide off the hook for some reasonably serious charges that were involved

Nobody comes out smelling great in this case. They probably should have charged the kid and his dad with extortion.

Sounds like something out of the Dukes of Hazard.

OMG! :lol:

That little episode makes me a little more suspicious of what really went down with the cash box :(

Hmm. “[N]o contract or paper exists that would allow x, y, or z to steal this money.” Umm, you don’t need a contract to steal money, just a lack of morals. This sentence doesn’t say anything useful. It doesn’t say whether there was or wasn’t a contract, or what provisions might or might not have been in the contract.

The promoter doesn’t know what happened; he was in the hospital at the time. It might have gone down as claimed, or the promoter’s employees might have seen an opportunity to line their pockets and throw the blame on outsiders. Hopefully police will investigate and find out the truth. The Rocky DWS incident, if true, does make one look askance at the morals of the Covington clan. Still, trying to protect Rocky from a DWS charge when he was involved in an accident that likely wasn’t his fault (given that he was rear-ended), although slimy and showing a bent to bend the truth, was a defensive move, and does not automatically mean that the Covington brothers would act affirmatively to steal money in this instance.

That is why evidence of “prior bad acts” are inadmissible in most states. You want a jury to base its decision on whether sufficient evidence was presented that the defendant is guilty of the charged crime, not on whether the defendant is a bad person generally, because he has done bad stuff in the past. Now, if a defendant has previously been convicted of a crime, s/he can be impeached with that conviction if s/he chooses to testify, assuming the prior conviction isn’t so old as to be stale and moldy.

I don’t know what the truth is, and I don’t want to speculate beyond my surmise that I smell shades of gray here.