(Click to enlarge and please click "recommend" or "tweet" above or below the article.) Pictured above is the lien for back taxes against Forrest County School Board Attorney Patrick Zachary. This information was brought to our attention by a confidential informant within the legal community.
Some may call him a "tax avoider", but the fact of the matter is that Mr. Patrick Zachary, the attorney for the Forrest County School Board, owes the IRS a whopping $174,979.99. And we hope for Forrest County taxpayer's sake he isn't giving any tax advice.
The Hattiesburg Patriot made numerous attempts to contact Mr. Zachary for a comment, but our calls were not returned. The HP put out an FPZ (Find Patrick Zachary) to our social informant network, and within hours a tip came in that Mr. Zachary was "bellied up" at a local watering hole. The Hattiesburg Patriot editor went personally to ask for a comment from Mr. Zachary, and low and behold there was a single vacant seat right next the barrister.
Hattiesburg Patriot:
I sat down and ordered an IPA . It arrived, and I marveled at its golden color and floral bouquet. I took a sip savoring its bitter floralcy; then turned to my left, and slid the IRS tax lien it in front of Mr. Zachary. "Do you care to comment on this," I said. He paused and looked briefly at the chancery court document as if I was seeking free legal advice; then mumbled something and slid it back."That's you isn't it? Do you have a comment", I reiterated. He took a second look, held it up within range of his bifocals. "I have no comment", he said; and rose from his seat, separated his bifocals at the bridge, which fell to his collar, and mumbled something about me needing an attorney. So, I turned and said amusingly, "I need an attorney?" Zachary then responded, "Every heard of interfering with a contract?"
I had just been threatened with a tortius interference lawsuit. Mr. Zachary, essentially conveyed that if I reported that he owed over $174,979.99 in back taxes, and he gets fired from the school board; he might sue me for damages. In spite of the hilarity, if was a pretty quick and creative threat. Now that I have time to think about this threat, I have a response.
Mr. Zachary, the truth is an absolute defense. Now, go pay your taxes and have a nice day.
Yours Truly,
The Hattiesburg Patriot
Any concerned citizen can call and complain to the Forrest County School Board general number at 601-545-6055, or contact the president, Charles McMahan, at 601-583-2118, or can also call the Forrest County Board of Supervisors at (601) 545-6009 and voice your concerns. The meetings the first Monday of the month at 5:30pm in the chancery building.
[poll id="8"]
Jason, Tax Liens are public record and Pat Zachary is a public employee in a position of the public trust. There is nothing “personal” about it.Read more..
Jason Ross, your post is hilarious. (1) Legally, the truth is an absolute defense.Read more..
Not newsworthy at all! Period. Follow up on issues people care about! Do you know how many people owe taxes for one reason or the other? Many doctors, attorneys, business owners and the lay person owe taxes.Read more..
Pat Zachary is a good person…does anyone realize that he could be making payments to the IRS every month and could be in good standing BUT still have a lien. A person can owe $1000 and have a lien.Read more..
Nobody said he was a bad person. We and the Hattiesburg American just reported that he didn’t pay an enormous amount of taxes. This is a matter of interest to Forrest county taxpayers.Read more..
Pat Zachary is a good person, I feel it has been very unfair to him
Should Patrick Zachary remain in a position of public trust under the employment of taxpayers?
He should resign (37%, 36 Votes)
He should be fired (33%, 32 Votes)
He should remain under the employment of Forrest County taxpayers (30%, 30 Votes)Read more..
I do not think that this was worthy of front page, it is a personal rhing
Suzanne Sanford Manasco, this will be my last response to you.Read more..
You should feel proud now, you got what you wanted, its on the front page new WOOOO HOOOOOO!! i pray and hope you never get down and out and life hands you a bad deck of cards and someone attacks you for it No we don’t know the whos whats or wRead more..
Well, he made the front page of the Hattiesburg American online. They followed our lead. Is it on the front page of the paper?
I don’t think these should be fired, but a reason would be nice and he should be able to work for the county in some aspect. I mean he can’t pay back his taxes without a job. But why should I have to pay if he doesn’t? Honest question I think
Here I am worried about paying the state 99 dollars
Mr Garmon, my buddy? If you imply the subject of this discussion you are wrong. I have never had any contact with the tax avoider personally or professionally.Read more..
Very True and I totally agree
Suzanne Ainsworth Wells, this is public record. The man owes almost $180,000 in taxes for 2010 and 2011. Call me crazy, but isn’t a person who is in a position of trust supposed to be trustworthy? This tax lien was filed back in the summer.Read more..
Here’s another Suzanne agreeing with the other Suzanne….public records are often wrong and it’s a gross invasion of this man’s privacy to be stalked and tried in the court of your public opinion.Read more..
fired !!!
oh please the IRS claims are almost always wrong in some way.Read more..
Resign
I agree!
A person who gets slapped by the IRS that bad, and who feels they are entitled to keep their position of public trust, AND threatens to sue us as a result of exposing this jack wagon, suffers blindly from arrogance and narcissism, IMO.
@Suzanne: if it were due to something that you described in the above rant, while attacking the free press that’s demanding answers on our behalf,…why didn’t he just say so? He had the opportunity to.
At that point, he made it clear that he didn’t feel as though he owed the taxpayers an explanation… Perhaps that’s something that they should keep in mind and voice their opinions on.Read more..
This is a public record filed in chancery court. The HP made several calls to the office, which were not returned by Mr. Zachary; then we received a “no comment” when Mr.Read more..
Is it not public record? And was he not given the opportunity to make a comment or explain it?
Still…it takes away from the story. It’s one that could have been omitted!
I understand your concerns. This language was an actual quote.
But, not bug! Darn phone.
Is this information in public records? If so, anyone could have gotten it and made it public. Also, it seems as though he was asked to comment, but declined. I can understand if it was personal taxes, bug this looks like a business matter…Read more..
Apparently the word “percentage” was left out. That puts it into perspective.
who cares lets just fire him and the guy that put him possition ,lets just build a new systen based on truth and humanity..that may work lol…we traded our god for money ..
30 votes hardly constitute an overwhelming vote of the people. But you see we live in this great place called the USA where you have your opinion and I have mine. I’ll just leave it at that.
Suzanne Sanford Manasco, (1) We asked and gave Mr. Zachary muntiple opportunities to comment. (2) when you are in a position of the public trust, these matters become an interest of the general public.Read more..
You have no idea what the circumstances are behind this.Read more..