Former Murchison shire CEO Ronald Adams, 42, jailed Former Murchison Shire CEO Ronald Adams has been jailed for 16 months on corruption and stealing charges. THE former Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Murchison has been jailed for 16 months following an Corruption and Crime Commission investigation. Ronald John Adams, 42, pleaded guilty to 139 corruption and stealing offences in the Geraldton District Court yesterday. Adams used his shire-issued credit card and fuel card between 2008 and 2010 to purchase personal items for himself and his family. This included around $11,000 of fuel not related to his work, airfares, vet bills, truck tyres, clothing, insurance premiums and paying off overdue traffic fines. Other charges involved Adams making corrupt payments of shire funds to a fictitious company to benefit his family members. The charges were laid after an extensive Corruption and Crime Commission investigation. Adams was also ordered to repay $41,689 to the Murchison Shire. He was made eligible for parole.