City’s Municipal Court Apparently Rampant With Corruption, Criminal Activity, and Conduct Violations. Attorney General’s Office and FBI Investigating Court.
Members of Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree‘s administration, and most recently members of the city’s municipal court staff,
have engaged in unethical behavior, criminal behavior, financial malfeasance and/or negligence. The most recent INTERNAL investigation (there have been several) began after a July 24th complaint was filed alleging that inappropriate conduct may be occurring in the Hattiesburg municipal court.
A release from the police department stated, “The investigation confirmed that several employees of the court were receiving rewards for dismissing tickets, fines and warrants for defendants,” The release went on to say, “The investigation also confirmed there was inappropriate conduct between judges and court clerks.” (The Hattiesburg Patriot obtained the actual internal affairs investigation report which can be see here.)
TRANSLATION? Employees of the courts conspired with alleged criminals to make things disappear for BRIBES, and ALLEGEDLY (need to get that in there) certain judge(s) were engaging in inappropriate activity with clerks. The Hattiesburg Patriot has confirmed that during the investigation, at least one judge was asked about hugging, kissing, and OTHER inappropriate contact with court staff. Some people may say, “So what?”, but this type of unprofessional behavior with staff of the court could compromise the integrity of our court system and likely already has. It was also confirmed that judges were signing blank court documents for court clerks to fill out at their discretion. It was also reported that judges’ dispositions were also being doctored by court clerks in order to allow defendants out of jail or to reduced fine amounts.
What’s sickening about the internal affairs investigation is that it potentially creates a barrier to true justice. If investigators didn’t warn the persons being interviewed that “anything they can and will be used against you in a court of law” and threatened them with losing their jobs for not answering; then anything told to internal affairs investigators is tantamount to coercion of self incrimination. This could be a violation of the 5th amendment and not admissible in a criminal prosecution. So, the questions out there are: (1) Should the investigators be investigated for competence if people who committed crimes cannot be prosecuted? (2) Should the police department have backed off and handed the investigation to an independent, outside agency once the magnitude of the problem was discovered? (3) Is this justice for the citizens of Hattiesburg?
What is obvious to many is this investigation should have been handled by either:
(1) The state Auditor’s Office
(2) The Attorney General’s and in particular Mr. Tony Green in the AGs office is investigating this
(3) The District Attorney’s – Could not be reached for comment
Here is a list of code of conduct violations with real world translations. Notice how the original violations have such a sanitized ring to them.
VIOLATION TRANSLATION
Truthfulness violations LYING and Failing a Polygraph
Assisting criminals SHREDDING WARRANTS and FIXING TICKETS
Unbecoming conduct DOING WHAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN’T but not breaking the law.
Improper association clerks and/or employees fraternizing and/or ALLEGEDLY engaging in inappropriate behavior. So far, no judges have been named in the investigation, but apparently all three are leaving the court.
Withholding information HIDING THE TRUTH or possibly exercising their right not to self incriminate
Improper criticism INTIMIDATING people who cooperate with investigators, to cover their back side.
Incompetence STUPID AS HELL OR JUST DON’T CARE
Improper reward-related TAKING BRIBES TO MAKE THINGS GO AWAY
Debts incurring payments Not too sure on this
I want to add that Chief Bolton deserves praise for releasing these finding s to the media. It was reported that there is a rift between Mayor Dupree and the Chief over this release to WDAM. Sources tell the Hattiesburg Patriot that the Mayor wanted to release a sanitized version of the facts; which came out on WDAM on the September 14th. After all the WHOLE truth is ugly and does reflect negatively on the administration; especially with the other, multiple investigations which have occurred within the administration.
The latest WDAM report said that “City Hall” aka Dupree and “Police” aka Chief Bolton have a “difference of opinion” on the level of criminal activity in the Municipal court. WDAM reported on the executive summary, which is a SANITIZED and UNBELIEVABLE report put out by Mayor Johnny Dupree and city attorney Charles Lawrence, and it cannot not be believed in light of the internal affairs report.
The question, ”Is the Dupree administration is imploding.” There have been several resignations in other departments involving theft of taxpayer resources, and we are breaking an entirely new, unrelated story regarding such theft on Monday. So, stay tuned. Find us on Facebook and Twitter
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Raine Big Second Half Leads Petal over Brookhaven
By: Stephen Calvin Hattiesburg Patriot Sports 9/7/2012
It was a tale of two halves Friday night in Petal. After and opening drive field goal by Brookhaven, Petal’s Tyus Raine scored a touchdown making it 7-3. Just when it looked like the Petal Panthers would go up 14-3 Petal quarterback Larson Barkurn threw an interception from his Brookhaven’s three yard line into the end zone resulting in a Brookhaven touchback. Brookhaven would capitalize on that turnover and score a touchdown making that a 14 point swing making it 10-7 Brookhaven. Brookhaven would add another touchdown before the half making it 17-7.
Petal would come out swinging in the third quarter. They would Score 28 unanswered points. Tyus Raine would do all the scoring for the Petal Panthers. At the end of the third the score was 28-17.
Brookhaven seemed to still be in striking distance though. Nonetheless the Brookhaven Panthers could not get anything going and all the momentum just seemed to be with Petal. Before the end of the game Petal would bleed the clock and add another touchdown making it 35-17 which was the final score.
The offensive fire power Led by Raine combined with a great collective defensive effort proved to be too much in the end for Brookhaven to overcome. This win was reminiscent of last week’s win vs Madison Central. The Petal Panthers(3-1) have a bye week to recover and prepare as they get ready to travel to an impressive Hattiesburg High(3-0) team.
Warriors Slip Past Tornadoes
The Oak grove Warriors took the opening kickoff on Friday night at their own 39 yard line & drove 14 plays all the way down to the Laurel Tornado 1 yard line. On 4th and goal from the one Warrior Quarterback Kirk McCarty was stopped when he fumbled the ball away at the goal-line. After the Tornado offense went 3 & out, their punt team put the Warriors on the board when an errant snap rolled out of the back of the end-zone for a safety and the warriors led 2-0 with 6:58 to play in the 1st quarter. The warriors took the ensuing free kick at mid-field. It only took 5 plays to find paydirt on a 7 yard pass play from McCarty to Picasso Nelson Jr. Luke Little would add the first of his three extra points on the night. O.G. led at this point 9-0 in the 1st. the warriors came knocking once again in the 2nd quarter only to have the Laurel D stop them at the 5 yard line again on 4th down.
The Tornadoes got on the board in the 2nd quarter when they blocked O.G. punter Kyle Roblin’s kick up the middle and scooped it for a 40 yard touchdown to make it 9-6. That was as close as the Tornadoes would get though. O. G. got their offense going again in the 2nd when Cameron Myers leaped over two Laurel defenders to make a spectacular grab for a 42 yard score. O.G. led 16-6 going into halftime.
Late in the 3rd McCarty got his 3rd touchdown toss of the night, this time finding Johnathan McNair on a 3 yard scoring Play to put the warrior up 23-6. Laurel added another score in the 4th to come within 23-13, but on the ensuing kickoff McNair rumbled 86 yards down the sideline for a score to put the warriors up 30-13 as it would stand.
McCarty ended his night 23-42 for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Warriors 3-0 travel to Gulfport next Friday night. Gametime is set for 7:30.
September 4th, 2012
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Former Democratic Nominee Michael Herrington’s Letter to Withdraw
The Hattiesburg Patriot has broken this story before ANY other news outlet or political blog. We are the up and coming Pine Belt news site. We have several investigations in the works. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @HPatriot. Even better enter your email address on our site’s main page and get INSTANT updates of breaking stories. We have some BIG stories ones on the way. YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS WHAT IS COMING….
**UPDATE: The Hattiesburg Patriot has confirmed that Rep. Brandon Jones has expressed that he has no interest in pursuing the nomination. 9:42PM CST To Read the Full Story the Hattiesburg Patriot Broke before ANYONE click here.
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Congressional Candidate Michael Herrington To Withdraw From the 4th Congressional Race / Democrats Primed to Appoint New Candidate
Article By: Talmadge Braddock, Esquire :
September 3, 2012 Hattiesburg Patriot.
Democratic candidate Michael Herrington is dropping out of the race for the Fourth Congressional District against Republican Representative Steven Palazzo, Reform Party candidate Robert Claunch, and Libertarian candidate Ron Williams. Herrington won the Democratic primary with 83.7% of the vote against Jason Vitosky of Gulfport, Mississippi; but is expected to step down as early as Tuesday morning. Unnamed sources within the Democratic party told the Hattiesburg Patriot that Herrington is likely to be replaced with one of the following potential candidates:
1. State Representative David Baria (House District 122)
2. Former State Representative Dirk Dedeaux (House District 93)
3. Former State Representative Brandon C. Jones (House District 111)
Mississippi state law does not recognize the second place finisher in the party primary as the back-up candidate in the general election should the winner
withdraw. State law allows the Democratic party to submit a replacement candidate should the primary winner drop out of the general election, as long as the party nominee is in place by Thursday September 6, 2012. Executive Director and Chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, Ricky Cole is presently in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Democratic National Convention and was not available for comment.
Mississippi Statute for Withdrawal 23-15-317
***UPDATE Michael Herrington’s letter to withdraw can be found here. 9:57pm The Hattiesburg Patriot has confirmed that Rep. Brandon Jones has expressed that he has no interest in pursuing the nomination
More information will be available as the story continues to develop. Stay tuned to the Hattiesburg Patriot for up to the minute updates. We are on the verge of breaking several investigative reports. We are bringing back the true grit, old school investigative journalism. Follow us on Twitter @HPatriot, find us on Facebook, and enter your email address to the right in the blue bar for instant updates, premium content, and FREEdom Friday giveaways.
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Hattiesburg City Council Violates Mississippi code 21-35-5
The Hattiesburg city council held a public hearing to give the public the opportunity to see just how our tax dollars are spent, but WAIT! This hearing is required by Mississippi Law to be held during “non working hours”. After all, many of the taxpayers have jobs and cannot take off work to attend a meeting at 4:00pm, which is exactly when the meeting was held. This is obviously not during “non working hours.” If the council passes a budget on Tuesday they have effectively solidified that they have no regard for due process under state law, and it is highly likely that an emergency injunction will be filed in chancery court to force the city government to comply with state law.
This is not the first time our government has exemplified a blatant disregard for state law. Mayor Johnny Dupree formed an advisory committee back in the fall, where our own city attorney Charles Lawrence was a member. This committee was “an advisory committee” drafting legislation which ultimately drew ire from the community, many business leaders (including restauranteur Robert St. John), and several Hattiesburg attorneys. It was this committee, which met unlawfully, that motivated me to form the Hattiesburg Patriot and Garmon Media, LLC. I encourage all citizens to GET INVOLVED in your government and attend Tuesday’s meeting at 4:00pm to voice your concerns for this unacceptable conduct. We are the people and we must take a stand and let our voice be heard. If YOU don’t stand up for your rights no one will.
READ THE 2nd TO THE LAST SENTENCE IN THE CODE BELOW.
SEC. 21-35-5. Preparation an
d publication of annual budget.
The governing authorities of each municipality of the State of Mississippi shall, not later than September 15 each year, prepare a complete budget of the municipal revenues, expenses and working cash balances estimated for the next fiscal year, and shall prepare a statement showing the aggregate revenues collected during the current year in said municipality for municipal purposes. Such statement shall show every source of revenue along with the amount derived from each source. Said budget of any municipality of one thousand five hundred (1,500) inhabitants or more, according to the last preceding federal census, with said statement of revenue and expenses, shall be published at least one (1) time during September of said year in a newspaper published in such municipality or, if no newspaper be published in such municipality, in any newspaper published in the county wherein the municipality is located. In municipalities of less than one thousand five hundred (1,500) inhabitants, according to the last preceding federal census, as many as three (3) prepared statements of said budget shall be posted in three (3) public places in said municipalities.
Prior to the adoption of a budget pursuant to this section, the governing authority of each municipality shall hold at least one (1) public hearing to provide the general public with an opportunity to comment on the taxing and spending plan incorporated in the proposed budget. The public hearing shall be held at least one (1) week prior to the adoption of the budget with advance notice and held outside normal working hours. The advance notice shall include an announcement published or posted in the same manner as required for the final adopted budget
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