Defense: Dixon thought cards were meant for her

Mayor Sheila Dixon's lead attorney told jurors in her criminal theft case Thursday that Dixon spent gift cards donated by city developers for one simple reason: She thought they were meant as gifts for her.

That line of defense is likely to turn the trial into a credibility contest between Dixon and developer Ronald H. Lipscomb, her former boyfriend, who is expected to testify that the cards were intended for use by poor families at Christmas.

Dixon has pleaded not guilty to theft, embezzlement and misconduct charges in connection with the use of about 60 gift cards worth roughly $1,500, most of them from Lipscomb.

The defense statement, a highlight of the first day of testimony, appeared designed to blunt the prosecution's effort to connect the mayor to purchases made with the cards.

Randell Finney -- an employee of Doracon Contracting, which Lipscomb owns -- was the first witness to take the stand Friday, testifying about his purchase of gift cards for Dixon's office in 2005 and 2006.

Finney has been given immunity by prosecutors in exchange for his testimony. He said he spent $1,500 of Doracon money in 2005 and $2,500 of company money in 2006.

Under cross-examination by lead defense attorney Arnold M. Weiner, Finney discussed his close ties to Lipscomb. Finney acknowledged that he made the gift card purchases at Lipscomb's request. He also admitted that he could only prove he had purchased $960 worth of gift cards in 2005.

Next to testify Friday morning was Rachel Lynch, a Best Buy customer service employee who, at the state's request, traced gift cards purchased by Finney and, separately, developer Patrick Turner, to purchases made by Dixon.

Dixon used 19 of 20 gift cards purchased by Turner in 2005 to buy a camcorder, case, cordless video game controller and other items, Lynch said, pointing to receipts. In another transaction, Lynch said, Dixon bought an Xbox game system and support package, using 10 gift cards purchased by Finney.

Defense attorneys had few questions for Lynch, pointing out only that she had done research for prosecutors in early 2008, before Finney's immunity was granted.

Edward Anthony, a housing department employee, took the stand Friday afternoon as a prosecution witness and repeatedly said he did not recall receiving any Giant grocery story gift cards from Dixon. It was unclear how his testimony was intended to fit into the state's case.

Prosecutors had said in their opening statement that Dixon gave Anthony a gift card from Giant -- a card that was given to her office by Lipscomb.

Anthony was hired by the city's housing department in February 2008. He is a division chief in charge of a unit that sells city land and makes $82,000 a year.

When Dixon's attorney, Melissa Phinn, cross-examined Anthony, she focused on his personal relationship with the mayor. He called the mayor a "very close personal friend" and said the two have dated since 2006. They have traveled together to Miami, the Dominican Republic, Hawaii and, recently, Las Vegas, he said.

He said that Dixon is extremely busy between running the city and parenting.

"Our relationship is very challenging," Anthony said. To endure such hardships, "you really have to love a person." He speaks to her for about 20 minutes each night and they often pray together.

Anthony said that he delivers gifts for Dixon in person to City Hall so he can "see her" and "so I would be acknowledged that I did this … and so that I could get a hug."

The mayor, he said, frequently receives gifts at the office.

"Out of the goodness of her heart" she often gives them to somebody else, Anthony said.

"I don't see her as mayor, I see her as Sheila Dixon, the woman I admire," he said.