Timothy Watson | I'm Surrounded By Idiots

This is rich…

From The Caroline Progress (print edition, August 15, 2007) [emphasis mine]:

To the Editor:

This is to inform the public that the debate held on Monday for candidates seeking election to the Board of Supervisors will not be attended by Damon Gray, Sr. because of prior commitments. Also I feel it would be a conflict of interest because of my being a contractor in the county.

I have been asked by a member of the Caroline Democratic Committee to attend a meeting on Sat., Aug. 18, at 10 a.m., being held at Aunt Sarah’s Pancake House. The purpose is to ask for support from the Democratic Party since I am a registered Democrat.

Thanks for the support you, the public, have shown me. I can be reached at (804) 633-4200 anytime for anyone who may wish to contact me.

-Damon L. Gray, Sr.

If he’s a registered Democrat, why didn’t he run as a Democrat, instead of running as an independent? Do you see Jeff Sili or Bobby Popowicz running as independents?

Of course, honesty doesn’t appear to be one of Mr. Gray’s strong suits, from The Caroline Progress, Almost every supervisor seat contested [emphasis mine]:

Election newcomer Damon Gray, who is seeking the Bowling Green District seat left vacant by retiring incumbent Bob Farmer, recently answered questions about two prior misdemeanor convictions.

Gray, 55, is running as an independent candidate against Republican Jeff Sili and Independent George Spaulding. Gray said he decided to seek election because he wants to make a change.

He said that the people who know him know that he’s a trustworthy person.

“I have nothing to hide,” he said. “I’m an upstanding member of the community.”

The conviction for possession of marijuana came in December 2001, after allegations were made that Gray brought illegal substances onto Fort A.P. Hill, where his contractor’s company was doing work for the 2001 Boy Scout Jamboree. A concurrent felony charge of possession of controlled substance was nolle prosequi.

Gray, who was also convicted in January of this year of misdemeanor spotlighting a deer by firearm, said that he does not think the convictions should have any impact on the campaign.

“I’d rather it stay in the past, but the people who know me will support me,” he said.

Yeah, I bet, a 55 year-old caught with marijuana and who likes to spotlight deer. I guess some people never grow up.

Nice to see where your money is going…

Can someone explain to me why the Caroline County Board of Supervisors decided to use proffer money, money that is required from housing developers for roads, schools, and public safety, on a visitor center?

$1,100,000 of money that is supposed to go to roads, schools, and public safety, and it goes to a visitor center? What the hell is going on here?

Meanwhile, fire/EMS and the sheriff’s office can’t get a public safety building and they’re told to “rehabilitate existing facilities”; with what money?

Things that $1,100,000 could have been spent on:

The pay for approximately twenty-two (22) full-time deputies or full-time fire/EMS personnel for one year.
The technology plan for schools for the next eleven years.
The technology plan for planning and community development with $108,866 left over.
A new animal shelter with $350,000 left over.
78.57% of the money for renovations requested by the Frog Level Volunteer Fire Department/Rescue Squad.
69.33% of the money for the structure and equipment for a Carmel Church Fire/Rescue Squad, including a fire truck, an ambulance, and equipment.
27.5% of the money for a Public Safety Building, requested by Fire/EMS and the sheriff’s office.
22.92% of the money for a new radio system requested by the sheriff’s office (it’s hard to do your job when your radio doesn’t work in half the county).
5.34% for a new school in Bowling Green.
5.09% for a Milford Elementary School.

But apparently, the Board of Supervisors and Percy Ashcraft have bigger concerns than the education and safety of the county’s residents.

Sources:
Percy Ashcraft’s Letter to the Editor
Proffers Fund for the 2007-2008 fiscal year budget

Lookie what I found…

From Virginia Lawyers Weekly (November 6, 2006) [emphasis mine throughout]:

Accountings for the estate of Florence C. Williams by executor Harvey Latney Jr. were past due, so Richmond Commissioner of Accounts Richard C. Manson Jr. began writing letters and calling Latney.

After more than a year of such efforts, including threats to report him to the Virginia State Bar, Manson finally had Latney summoned to Richmond Circuit Court on Oct. 16.

He didn’t appear, an astonishing development to Manson.

Latney is the commonwealth’s attorney in Caroline County, a part-time job because of the county’s small population. He also has an office in Richmond, from which he conducts a general practice that includes real estate closings and administration of estates, so Manson was familiar with him and his usual diligence.

Judge Richard D. Taylor Jr. was presiding that day in the absence of Judge Margaret P. Spencer, who typically handles matters brought by Manson.

Manson told Taylor that he knew Latney to be reliable and asked the judge to continue the case to Oct. 19, so that he could find out what was behind his absence.

By apparent coincidence, Latney’s secretary of 27 years was seriously injured in an automobile wreck in Caroline County that same day.

Manson reached Latney the next day and asked why he had not reacted to the summons. Latney responded that his secretary had told him that she had spoken with Manson and Judge Spencer and that he did not need to appear.

Manson asked Latney why he had not reacted to the 25 or more telephone messages and five letters that Manson had sent in the previous three months. What phone calls? What letters? Latney responded.

Manson said he became very suspicious at this point, especially because the secretary had mentioned Judge Spencer as the judge who was handling the case, when Taylor was acting in her stead.

He advised Latney to check the bank account for the estate.

Latney found that about $185,000 appeared to be missing. He resigned as executor and has been replaced by Greer P. Jackson Jr. An audit of his office accounts is underway.

At a brief court proceeding last week, Manson told Judge Spencer that the money has been taken out of the estate, “apparently by Mr. Latney’s secretary… “There’s no question that the money is out of the estate and needs to be put back,” Manson said.

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew P. Geary said his office was advised of the circumstances about a week before the hearing. He attended the hearing and said the matter has been turned over to Richmond police for investigation.

Spencer continued the matter until Dec. 11 to give Jackson an opportunity to review the estate and the auditors of Latney’s accounts time to complete their work.

One family member said they understood that Latney was responsible for returning the money to the estate, but he said they wanted to know how the process of administering the estate and reviewing that administration had broken down. Ms. Williams died in May 2002.

Spencer said she expected answers to that question at the hearing.

I’m guessing the phrase “equal protection” doesn’t mean anything to you… Part 11, the Lawyer Full Employment Act

As mentioned by a lawyer previously, it’s the Lawyer Full Employment Act.

From The Washington Post: Armed With Checkbooks and Excuses, First Casualties of Va. Fees Go to Court [emphasis mine]:

Those lucky enough to live out of state or to have been pulled over before the fees went into effect July 1 — the “magic date,” as one judge called it — escaped the penalties, as did many who hired attorneys who were able to argue for lesser charges or continuances.

[…]

Norquest, who works for Fairfax County Family Services, also said she did not see the point of hiring a lawyer at a cost of hundreds or thousands of dollars. “You’re either paying for one or you’re paying for the other,” she said.

For those who didn’t know, Delegate David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), one of the sponsors of the bill, is a lawyer, and co-founder of a law firm that specializes in the defense of traffic offenses. No conflict of interest there, eh?

Hat tip: Matt “threat to democracy” Drudge

I’m guessing the phrase “equal protection” doesn’t mean anything to you… Part 10, the pièce de résistance

From the AP via NBC 4 in Washington, D.C.: Va. Driver Fees Snag Woman In Labor [emphasis mine]:

Jessica Hodges was on her way to the hospital with labor pains when she got stopped for speeding. She thought she had a pretty good excuse, but the law didn’t see it that way.

The 26-year-old bank teller from Hodges became one of the first people slapped with Virginia’s new “abusive driver” fees. She was ordered to pay $1,050 on top of a $100 fine and court costs.

The new fees were passed by the General Assembly in the spring as part of a package aimed at funding transportation projects. The idea was to raise money by targeting those who commit severe traffic offenses.

But the fees have sparked widespread outrage.

Hodges said she has no regrets about speeding on July 3. She said having a baby is more important than staying within the speed limit.

Her labor pains that day turned out to be a false alarm, and daughter Alessandra was born July 19.

Let’s see, a woman having labor pains gets a reckless driving ticket for going 57 mph in a 35 mph zone, along with failure to report a change of address for her operator’s license, gets $188 in fines and court costs, and has to pay $1,050 in “abusive driver’s fee”.

Damn fine job there, Officer (or Deputy, or Trooper) J. R. Vesper, damn fine job Fairfax County Police Department (or Sheriff’s Office, or Virginia State Police), and damn fine job Virginia General Assembly.

Justice in Caroline? Nope, just nolle prosequis. Part 3, a two-week roundup.

NOTE: There was no court proceedings section in the July 25, 2007 edition of The Caroline Progress.

From The Caroline Progress (August 1, 2007 print edition): General District Court–July 27 [emphasis mine throughout]:

Clyde Dwain Jett, of Woodford, is charged with felony possession of firearm by a felon. He was arrested on Oct. 27, 2006 by Caroline County Deputy S.L. Cary and held in custody. Following a disposition hearing on July 27, the charge was nolle prosequi.

Clyde Dwain Jett’s partial criminal history (felonies in bold, nolle prosequi by Harvey Latney in italics):
- July 27, 2007, Caroline County General District:
  - Nolle prosequi – Possession or transport of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- June 30, 2006, Caroline County General District:
  - Guilty – Petit Larceny.
- May 31, 2006, Fredericksburg Circuit:
  - Guilty – Possession of cocaine.
- May 4, 2006, Fredericksburg General District:
  - Guilty – Driving under the influence.
  - Guilty – Failure to appear.
- March 2, 2006, Fredericksburg General District:
  - Guilty – Obstructing justice.
- November 11, 2005, Spotsylvania County General District:
  - Guilty – Brandishing firearm.

Apparently, a felon possessing a firearm isn’t an important case for Harvey Latney. And if there was a problem with the case, search, or evidence, why did it take four hearings to figure it out? Meanwhile, the suspect is sitting in jail for 273 days awaiting trial. I wonder how much that cost to feed, house, and clothe the suspect for his stay at Pamunkey Regional Jail.

From The Caroline Progress (August 1, 2007 print edition): Circuit Court–July 24 [emphasis mine throughout]:

Montreal J. Robinson, of no known address, was found guilty of felony distribution of cocaine from an incident on Jan. 19, 1006 [sic]. He was arrested on Jan. 9, 2007 following a direct indictment by Caroline County Grand Jury. He was sentenced to five years with three years and 10 months suspended. Two additional distribution charges from separate incidents on Sept. 26 and 29, 2005 were nolle prosequi.

Montreal Javon Robinson’s partial criminal history (felonies in bold, nolle prosequi by Harvey Latney in italics):
- July 24, 2007, Caroline County Circuit:
  - Guilty – Distribution of cocaine.
  - Nolle prosequi – Distribution of cocaine.
  - Nolle prosequi – Distribution of cocaine.
- February 2, 2007, Caroline County General District:
  - Nolle prosequi – Forgery.
  - Nolle prosequi – Failure to appear on felony charge.
  - Nolle prosequi – Forgery.
  - Nolle prosequi – False statements.

From The Caroline Progress (August 8, 2007 print edition): General District Court–Aug. 3 [emphasis mine throughout]:

Tyrone Lee Jackson, of Ruther Glen, was charged with felony malicious bodily injury from an incident on March 6. He was arrested on March 13 by Caroline County Sheriff’s Deputy Ketchem and held in custody. Following a preliminary hearing, the charge was nolle prosequi.

Tyrone Lee Jackson’s partial criminal history (felonies in bold, nolle prosequi by Harvey Latney in italics):
- August 3, 2007, Caroline County General District:
  - Nolle prosequi – Malicious bodily injury.
- May 27, 2005, Caroline County General District:
  - Guilty – Obscene language.
  - Guilty – Open container.
  - Guilty – Driving under the influence.
  - Nolle prosequi – Drinking while driving.

Let’s see, so that’s 143 days and five hearings that he sat in Pamunkey Regional Jail for; being housed, fed, and clothed, just to have the charge nolle prosequied. I wonder how much that cost.

Brandon Matthew Zagora, of Ruther Glen, is charged with two counts of felony grand larceny from an incident on May 27. He was arrested on May 28 by Caroline County Sheriff’s Deputy Grimes and held in custody. The charged were certified to Caroline County Grand Jury. Zagora was also charged with felony possession of stolen goods, but following the preliminary hearing, that charge was nolle prosequi.

Phyllis D. Washington, of Bowling Green, faced a charge of felony larceny for writing a bad check for more than $200. The offense allegedly occurred on March 7, 2005 and Washington was arrested on July 3, 2007 and released on recognizance. Following a preliminary hearing, the charge was nolle prosequi.

Sources:

NOTE: (For the criminal histories, I only checked Caroline, Hanover, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties, as well as the city of Fredericksburg.)

"The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers." Part 4

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Game warden pleads not guilty in death [emphasis mine]:

A game warden who fatally shot a 16-year-old Greene County teen during a January traffic stop pleaded not guilty Tuesday to voluntary manslaughter.

[…]

As the result of a defense subpoena, Ramirez [the teen’s mother] had been required to appear in court and turn over her son’s writings, including any diaries, journals or letters. A stack of notebooks and other papers presented to Judge Daniel R. Bouton will remain sealed, along with any medical records turned over before trial.

Cochran’s psychiatric history will likely take center stage as the case moves forward. Ham’s lawyers are requesting Cochran’s medical records in hopes of gaining further insight into the teen’s thinking the night of the shooting.

Court filings indicate the defense is looking for evidence that Cochran was suicidal, perhaps homicidal, when he and Ham crossed paths Jan. 24.

“It is our understanding and belief that Mr. Cochran was . . . very disturbed,” defense attorney Steven D. Benjamin said.

Two weeks before the shooting, Benjamin said, Cochran underwent a psychiatric evaluation after threatening to kill former classmates at William Monroe High School and members of his girlfriend’s family.

The night of the shooting, Ham, whose duties include law enforcement, was assisting sheriff’s deputies who were looking for Cochran in connection with the disappearance of his girlfriend, Chelsea Walker.

Authorities spotted a 1995 Chrysler with Walker in the passenger seat near the entrance to the Woodridge subdivision.

According to the defense, Ham approached the car but Cochran drove forward and struck the 24-year-old game warden, throwing him onto the hood and continuing through the intersection.

Benjamin said his client fired at Cochran only after unsuccessfully warning the teen to stop the car.

[…]

Ham, who faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, has requested a jury trial.

What the hell? A game warden kills some asshole that tried to run him over and he is charged with voluntary manslaughter? The asshole was a nut that the police had thought had kidnapped his girlfriend, he tried to run over a game warden, and the game warden is charged?

Who the hell is this Commonwealth’s Attorney? I would love see his reaction after someone tried to run him over.

Nothing illegal here. Move along, move along… Part 2

From the AP via NBC 4 in Washington, D.C.: Judge To Hear Motion To Dismiss Charges Against Priest:

A Louisa County judge will hear arguments later this month on whether to dismiss 13 embezzlement charges against a priest accused of taking donation money from two Catholic churches where he served as pastor.

The hearing is set for Aug. 27.

The attorney for the Reverend Rodney Rodis claims in a court filing that Rodis should not be prosecuted in court if he mishandled money donated to the two parishes. Lawyer John Maus said the Catholic Diocese of Richmond should handle the case, due to the U.S. Constitution’s clause prohibiting government interference in church matters.

In Louisa County Circuit Court Wednesday, Maus discussed the possibility of calling in high-ranking church authorities to testify at the hearing.

Rodis is being held without bond in the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange after being accused of stealing up to $1 million. He’s scheduled to go to trial in October.

I must have missed the clause of the U.S. Constitution that “prohibit[s] government interference in church matters.” The First Amendment states the following:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; […]”

Is the embezzlement of one million dollars part of the free exercise of his religion now? Using this idiot lawyer’s rationale the government wouldn’t be able to prosecute a priest (or father, or reverend, or rabbi, or iman) accused of sexual misconduct with a minor or any other crime that occurred in a church, temple, synagogue, or mosque.

The previous post on this story received the following response from Phil Scoggin:

After hurricane Katrina “Father” Rodney Rodis made an impassioned plea from the pulpit for donations to help the “Katrina Victims”. I was so moved that I grabbed my wife’s checkbook and dashed off a $500 check for “Katrin Relief”. I noticed others taking similar actions. The collection was taken by the ushers. Over a year later we learned that the checks did not go to the Katrina victims but instead were deposited by Rodis in a secret account in the Heartland bank in Fredericksburg. The only signatory to that account was Rodis. The money has since disapeared from the Heartland bank in checks and with-drawalls written by Rodis.

What an upstanding individual there.

I’m guessing the phrase “equal protection” doesn’t mean anything to you… Part 9

From NBC 4 in Washington, D.C.: Abusive Driver Fees Face Tough Opposition [emphasis mine]:

A Navy veteran who was ticketed for reckless driving on his way to reserve duty at the Pentagon is suing state of Virginia over its abuser fee program.

Charles Mason is asking an Arlington General District Court judge to declare the civil remedial fees unconstitutional. The fees ranging from $750 to $3,000 for various serious driving offenses were enacted as a funding source for new transportation projects.

Courts in Henrico County and Richmond have already ruled the fees unconstitutional, but the rulings apply only in those jurisdictions.

Mason was stopped July 8 on Interstate 395 for driving 20 miles an hour over the speed limit. He faces a $1,050 civil remedial fee if convicted of reckless driving.

Mason has a clean driving record and no criminal record. One state lawmaker said that had Mason contested the ticket in court, he wouldn’t be convicted of reckless driving.

He shouldn’t have to contest it in court, you weasel (who they don’t even bother naming).

[…]

Defense attorney Craig Cooley argues that legislators had no rational basis for exempting out-of-state drivers from paying fees as high as $3,000. The fees are assessed on Virginia drivers only, in addition to fines and possible jail time.

Prosecutors, however, argue lawmakers did have a rationale for passing the legislation this year. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Duncan Reid says Virginians use their roads more than non-residents, they benefit more from the roads and it’s impractical or almost impossible to collect the new fees from non-residents.

Wait a second, I thought the fees were designed to stop bad driving, and that it was impossible (not “almost impossible”) to collect on out of state drivers?

Can you please make up your mind on what lie you’re going to use?

Virginia state Sen. Edd Houck said he wants the state’s new abusive driver fee laws to be stopped and refunds be paid to those who paid any portion of a fee.

[…]

Houck will introduce the repeal bill in the 2008 session or in special session, if one is called.

At least someone is offering to do something to fix this and not BS around.

Newseum Opening Delayed.

From NBC 4 in Washington, D.C.: Newseum Opening Will Miss Deadline [emphasis mine]:

It looks as if D.C.’s museum dedicated to the news industry won’t come in on deadline.

The Newseum’s new location at Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest was supposed to open on Oct. 18, but officials said construction delays will push that date back.

They’re shooting for the first quarter of next year, but a firm date has not been set.

The $435 million project is being held up because the building is so complex and will have state-of-the-art electronics that must be installed after most construction is complete.

When it’s done, the museum will have 14 galleries, 15 theaters, two broadcast studios and 130 interactive touch screens.