Document 36 – ORDER granting 26 Motion to Disqualify Counsel as to Linda Bolton (2); denying 33 Motion to Unseal as to Linda Bolton (2). The pretrial conference is continued until Linda Bolton has obtained replacement counsel. She shall inform the Court of who her counsel is within ten days. Signed by District Judge Keith Starrett on 7/28/16 (scp) (Entered: 07/28/2016)
Digital Audio File for proceedings held on 3/31/16 before Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker.AUDIO FILE size(14.1 MB) (KPM) (Entered: 04/08/2016)
Charles Bolton Sentencing Hearing
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
The below audio was obtained by the Hattiesburg Patriot and is a recording of the entire, unedited WDAM interview of Charles Bolton and Sheriff Billy McGee with Ryan Moore. The interview occurred mere days before Bolton turned himself in to the Department of Probation to report to prison. Moore questioned the sheriff and his chief deputy about the twelve year food theft conspiracy operating right under their noses.
While Bolton was never indicted in the food theft conspiracy, his sentence during his tax evasion trial, which involving Bolton’s cashed checks from John Lee, was enhanced as a result of Boltons alleged role in the food theft. Information in Bolton’s pre-sentencing report (which remains under seal) was sufficient for Judge Starrett to enhance Bolton’s time, and receive a two point enhancement to his sentencing guideline.
Jail kitchen Manager, Alan Haralson, and jail cook, Jerry Wayne Woodland, pleaded guilty to a twelve year food theft conspiracy in December 2014. Haralson died a few short months later. Woodland served one month in federal prison. No other indictments ever came down. However, Bolton was offered a plea deal in the fall of 2014 but turned it down according to a court filing by his former attorney, Joe Sam Owen. This information, and much more, is revealed in Document 277.
Both Bolton and his wife refused to testify, under oath, in their own defense during the trial.
The interview begins at 1:00 minute into the audio.