Overcast here keeps me from confirming this, but it’s gotta be full moon — or reported sightings of Frank Melton anywhere but in federal custody as a convict, Ed Peters out to lunch with Robert Shuler Smith, and Zach Scruggs strolling the Square in Oxford couldn’t be happening.
However, as Chris Joyner makes plain, the jurors in U.S. v. Melton agreed on zilch. “It was rough,” one who identified herself as “Martha from Hattiesburg” tells him.
“We did all we possibly could. … I read the jury instructions so many times, my eyes were bleeding. I felt very strongly about the decision I made. I believe we’re all sorry we couldn’t give the people of Jackson more.”
She said the jurors were split by votes that varied on the different counts. She said there was no 11-1 vote on any count.
Frank Melton allows,
“It’s nothing to play with. There’s no room for arrogance. I felt very humble. I’m never going to put myself nor this city in that position ever again.” …
“I’m so sorry the people of Jackson have had to go through this, but I appreciate their prayers,” he said. “I’ve learned a great lesson. I’m just used to being Frank. I’ve had to come to the reality that every decision I make affects a lot of different people.”
It’s taken him close to 70 years on earth to learn that? Ya think he’s got it yet? I’m rather more inclined to buy what Evans “Bubba” Welch says:
“I feel like they let a criminal continue to walk the streets. They shouldn’t convict anyone in the state of Mississippi until they convict him,” he said. “I don’t want to hear any more about this trial until he is convicted.”
Hold no breath for that one, Bubba, according to the C-L’s sidebars:
- Few people in support of another Melton trial
- Mistrial, possible retrial complicate politics
- Mayor vows to keep serving amid calls for resignation
- melton timeline
- Analysis: If Feds opt for retrial, expect more of same
- The mayor’s trial ultimately was a long, winding road to nowhere
Plumping up our “Forget it . . . it’s Mississippi” file, dmwriter points out the AP story reporting that
… [d]uring a telephone interview Tuesday, [Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler] Smith initially wouldn’t say why he met with [his predecessor] Ed Peters, who has been called an unindicted coconspirator in the biggest federal bribery investigation in Mississippi in years.
“It’s nothing sinister,” Smith said, adding there is nothing improper about meeting with a witness who has been “granted immunity” in a federal case.
After initially declining to say what they discussed, Smith later called The Associated Press to say the two were talking about a letter Smith wrote to Hinds County judges about race issues. Smith said the letter was published in the media last month and Peters called him to discuss the way different issues arise for white district attorneys as opposed to black ones. Peters is white and Smith is black. Smith said they decided to meet at a restaurant in Brandon in Rankin County owned by Peters’ son. Both men live in neighboring Hinds County.
Peters’ attorney did not immediately respond to a message. …
Doggone your recognizable mugs, boyz. But “the way different issues arise for white district attorneys as opposed to black ones” — oh, what we’d give to hear Ed Peters’ disquisition on that, right? Do any wait-staffers at the Peters boy’s restaurant read folo?
And yes, Habeas porpoise, as a matter of fact, I did hear that Zach Scruggs was home in Oxford yesterday, spotted walking around the Square. Also that he’s being sent to a halfway house to get ready to re-enter society and has lined up a post-release job in DC as a lobbyist with Uncle Trent. Further, that he showed up at a service at Judge Lackey’s Calhoun City church before he went off to Arkansas, the putz.
Dickie’s still in jail in Oxford too. Seems mighty early into Zach’s 14-month sentence for this kind of activity (if true), but I suppose Daddy’s New Deal could include an early out for him — which, given the Zach Scruggs we’ve seen, I won’t count as a social good. He’s the kind that something‘s liable to land back in an orange jumpsuit before he’s through — others having more hell to pay on his way to it, of course.
Now, a commenter on the Shuler-Peters story surmises at the C-L, “… with Dickie talking and perhaps PL, our [state] AG is probably just hoping that federal marshalls [sic] don’t appear in his office with an indictment.” We’ll see about that, and not only as to the current MS AG. Everything depends on who’s decided to say what for how much leniency.
Anyhow, to sum up: be it literally visible or no, all this crapola argues that Mississippi is under the fullest moon it’s suffered in many a year. Look sharp, everybody.
UPDATE: Patsy Brumfield:
Zach Scruggs, convicted for his part in the scheme to bribe Circuit Judge Henry Lackey of Calhoun City, apparently is out of federal prison and assigned to a community work facility in Montgomery, Ala.
His custody location is noted on the U.S. Bureau of Prisons’ web site, www.bop.gov.
Recent speculation was for him to reside at Tupelo’s Bureau of Prisons half-way house and commute daily to Oxford for work.
Work? What work?
Has anyone seen Mike Moore around lately? He’s been absent from earshot; especially if Zach is out or about to be(?!).
Also, does anyone know the name of the restaurant in Brandon Peters’ son owns?
Does anybody know who is representing Peters?
And if the food is good at that restaurant?
Um, it’s the Tibetan New Year, Ash Wednesday and the New Moon. http://www.astrowisdom.com/thisnewmoon.htm
W00T! for all celebrants, Mme. J (and the penitent too).
ducky, I believe Cynthia Stewart has Peters’ brief.
I wonder what you do, ccvz.
What?
I mean I wonder the same wonders you do, ceece. Sorry about the bad phrasing. Need me some caffeine.
Next full moon is March 10. You’ll likely hear Haley and Bobby baying … there’s little else either can accomplish.
Note update re Zach.
The BoP website lists Dickie’s ‘location’ as “In Transit” – does that mean he is moving loactions or does that simply mean he’s ‘in Oxford for a spell’?
Posting unconfirmed stuff that pops in the email box is invariably trouble.
“in transit” means he’s out of their system and being moved– I doubt they’ll show his location again until he’s back in a federal facility.
Just out of curiosity about Zach – do we know when he reported to Alabama? Also, his release date says 8/19/09 and I think that he reported to prison on 8/15/08. He got 14 months, right? So is he getting out a little early or does the sentence start before he actually reported or is it actualy weeks and not months how it is calculated? I don’t understand all the ins and outs of sentencing and serving.
hmmm…now Patsy says he is in Tupelo afterall, although the BOP person states it is unlikely he was in Oxford yesterday, he was moved yesterday morning from Arkansas to Tupelo. But she does say “As soon as he finds a job and gets various other details approved, like driving a car, he will work away from the center and return each night.”
GOP strategists as working with Sarah Palin’s minister to identify the witches responsible for Jindal’s possession by an evil Fred Rogers demon.
Once the Witches of Mass Destruction are found, an elite squad of former Blackwater security personnel will conduct an eXeorcism.
Meanwhile, Steele has announced a new icon for the Republican party.
Hip Hop Hal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc8BUSOPfcY
“Mweehee Mary,” she wuz knowed as.
Bwaahahahoohohohoo (laffin ’til I cry)!
Scandal @ 12: If my memory serves me correctly the FBOP sets the tentative release date based on the assumption the prisoner will meet the requirements for his 15%(?)”good time.” His move to a half-way house is not considered a release. FBOP’s rules and regs require that an adult prisoner be moved to a half-way house within a certain time of his expected releas date (usually about 6 months) to prepare for re-entry into society but is still considered to be in FBOP custody. However, it’s been awhile since I was involved in a federal adult imprisonment. Fortunately I was not the adult involved.
AP sez (h/t ccvz) DeLaughter’s trial has been moved from Aberdeen to Oxford (just like Zach’s been moved to Tupelo from prison).
Who’s representing DeLaughter these days?
We didn’t know for sure, last I heard, ceece. Speetgens is apparently handing him off to somebody else. What was the name we heard as a possibility — somebody maybe coming back from Arizona (?) I think it was?
Been meaning to ask: is the g in “Speetgens” hard or soft?
I think that ‘somebody’ may still be considering taking the case…
lotus@19: Was it Tom Fortner? Think he’s been in Arizona several years. He’s a former Jackson Co. and Hinds Co. Public Defender.
Folks, a good source told me in the courthouse last week that Tom Fortner, former public defender back when Peters was DA and DeLaughter ADA, is indeed returning from Arizona to defend the judge. Reading comments here reminded me to share; just tweeted it.
Cheers.
Yes’m, sailor, thanks. And his wife is a minister being reassigned to a MS congregation, I think somebody also said?
Donna Ladd heard what I heard, for what it’s worth.
Lotus @20: The T is silent and G is hard, is the way I’ve heard it pronounced.
So “Weeguns” is it, Dragoman? (Which rhymes with Weejuns, that I haven’t thought of in lo these 40 years, heh). Thanks! Never woulda gotten there on my own.
Belay that last, Lotus. The G is soft, as in Weejuns. My bad.
Gotcha, D, and thanks again. Now let’s see, who do we know whose name sounds like “Villager Shirtwaist” to complete the ensemble?