Reading the newspaper this morning, I realize the problems we have in Perry County with state police investigations (or lack thereof) is not unique. It is a shame that the organization founded to deal with corruption in local and county governments is no longer interested in enforcing the law.
The situation I refer to is the issue in Prescott, Arkansas. Curly Wolves aren't the only thing howling down south. It appears that local Sam Tilden's are working to expose a corrupt mayor that sounds much like the corrupt actors in our very own county. They even offered photographic and video evidence of corruption to the state police and can't get a real investigation.
Maybe the local state police have become too much part of the system. Maybe they are bought and paid for like so many law enforcement officers. Once, the ASP was a noble force protecting citizens in the state.
Sounds eerily familiar to those who have been on the front lines of fighting corruption.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
"I will clean out the entire department"
A bold statement but it takes a bold statement for a reformer to make any progress.
It looks like the corruption in Perry County law enforcement and goverment is facing someone who isn't afraid to speak loudly and publicly about the political machine that controls and intimidates Perry County residents. I wish Mr. Kiefer well and look forward to seeing his plans for the county. If he chooses, he has the financial resources to expose corruption in the county. Based on my past experience fighting such corruption, you can be sure that those in power will pull out all of their tricks to make sure he doesn't win.
Can they steal an election? It wouldn't be the first time it has happened in Perry County.
Can they pose a physical threat to he and his family. It wouldn't be the first time it has happened in Perry County.
Will deputies and other law enforcement trail he and his supporters around the county? Won't be the first time it has happened.
Good luck Mr. Kiefer.
I'll keep working with my tipsters and you can be sure as I find new information it will be posted for all to see.
It looks like the corruption in Perry County law enforcement and goverment is facing someone who isn't afraid to speak loudly and publicly about the political machine that controls and intimidates Perry County residents. I wish Mr. Kiefer well and look forward to seeing his plans for the county. If he chooses, he has the financial resources to expose corruption in the county. Based on my past experience fighting such corruption, you can be sure that those in power will pull out all of their tricks to make sure he doesn't win.
Can they steal an election? It wouldn't be the first time it has happened in Perry County.
Can they pose a physical threat to he and his family. It wouldn't be the first time it has happened in Perry County.
Will deputies and other law enforcement trail he and his supporters around the county? Won't be the first time it has happened.
Good luck Mr. Kiefer.
I'll keep working with my tipsters and you can be sure as I find new information it will be posted for all to see.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Casa water system struggles
Perry County news you can use....from Channel 4.
Casa Residents Asked to Conserve Water
Casa Residents Asked to Conserve Water
Reported by: Courtney Collins, KARK 4 News
Monday, Aug 4, 2008 @02:13pm CST
Forget watering the lawn or washing the car in Casa, and save the water for yourself, especially during the hot, dry spell Arkansas is having.
That's what residents of the small Perry County town are being asked to do after problems with their water source.
"The pressure's really low, you could really tell it this morning. But it's been low the last couple of days, says resident Clinton Brixey.
Casa gets its water from nearby Ola and Danville, but when the treatment plant in Ola was shutdown recently and Danville slowed down its water flow to Casa, things got worse for the small community.
"I'm hoping the health department will relent and come up and let them start up at Ola, that would solve our problem,” says Casa mayor Alan Harris.
No one is in dire straits in Casa because of the situation, but city hall wants to keep it that way, and has asked residents to conserve water wherever they can.
That's what residents of the small Perry County town are being asked to do after problems with their water source.
"The pressure's really low, you could really tell it this morning. But it's been low the last couple of days, says resident Clinton Brixey.
Casa gets its water from nearby Ola and Danville, but when the treatment plant in Ola was shutdown recently and Danville slowed down its water flow to Casa, things got worse for the small community.
"I'm hoping the health department will relent and come up and let them start up at Ola, that would solve our problem,” says Casa mayor Alan Harris.
No one is in dire straits in Casa because of the situation, but city hall wants to keep it that way, and has asked residents to conserve water wherever they can.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Senator Bob Johnson aka "Little Bob"
Around Perry County, he is known as "Little Bob." Senator Johnson currently serves as the most powerful member of the Arkansas General Assembly. There are those that think his power eclipses that of Governor Mike Beebe.
If he controls Arkansas you can be sure he controls Perry County. Anybody else remember the name, Van Dalsem? Seems like Little Bob has assumed the same position.
Here are some links to a couple of articles about his clout in Little Rock and Pulaski County from the Arkansas Times in 2006
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2006/09/death_star.aspx
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2006/09/bob_johnson_update.aspx
If he controls Arkansas you can be sure he controls Perry County. Anybody else remember the name, Van Dalsem? Seems like Little Bob has assumed the same position.
Here are some links to a couple of articles about his clout in Little Rock and Pulaski County from the Arkansas Times in 2006
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2006/09/death_star.aspx
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2006/09/bob_johnson_update.aspx
Friday, July 4, 2008
Act 309 Inmates did work for Byrd
Why were there no prosecutions of Sheriff Ray Byrd when the Department of Corrections thought enough evidence existed that Act 309 inmates were doing work for him. That type of work was prosecuted in Lonoke County, but not Pulaski County.
Who wants to be the first to list the personal work occuring in the Perry County Jail today?
Here is the story from the Democrat Gazette in which ADC spokesperson Tyler mentions the Perry County problem. Click on the comments section to see the full article.
"The committee canceled the Perry County sheriff ’s office participation last year because the prisoners did work for the sheriff, Tyler said. The Searcy County sheriff ’s office was dropped two years ago for inappropriate use of inmate labor but was reinstated after a new sheriff took office, Tyler said."
Who wants to be the first to list the personal work occuring in the Perry County Jail today?
Here is the story from the Democrat Gazette in which ADC spokesperson Tyler mentions the Perry County problem. Click on the comments section to see the full article.
"The committee canceled the Perry County sheriff ’s office participation last year because the prisoners did work for the sheriff, Tyler said. The Searcy County sheriff ’s office was dropped two years ago for inappropriate use of inmate labor but was reinstated after a new sheriff took office, Tyler said."
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Hunting Clubs in Perry County
Hunting clubs are nothing new in Arkansas. Across the state, groups of men lease the hunting rights from private landowners (often the large timber companies) and set up a camp. In many cases, these clubs are multigenerational and are an important way for fathers to pass on traditions to sons.
In Perry County, these traditions are not just hunting deer. The Perry County hunt clubs like Harmony Hunt Club (off of Hwy 9/10) and the Maumelle/Wye Mtn Hunt Club (on Wye Mt off of hwy 300) both on Deltic Timber property have a deep history in Arkansas political power. They are close enough to Little Rock to be convenient but far enough away to be private. It is through these clubs that political deals have been forged.
These clubs are the same ones that were involved with using state prisoners as a private labor force to cook and clean that finally brought media attention which ended the practice in the 50's and 60's.
These camps are still open and the labor force hasn't changed much. They continue to be the seat of much political influence and continue to cement the ties between Perry County and the state capitol.
In Perry County, these traditions are not just hunting deer. The Perry County hunt clubs like Harmony Hunt Club (off of Hwy 9/10) and the Maumelle/Wye Mtn Hunt Club (on Wye Mt off of hwy 300) both on Deltic Timber property have a deep history in Arkansas political power. They are close enough to Little Rock to be convenient but far enough away to be private. It is through these clubs that political deals have been forged.
These clubs are the same ones that were involved with using state prisoners as a private labor force to cook and clean that finally brought media attention which ended the practice in the 50's and 60's.
These camps are still open and the labor force hasn't changed much. They continue to be the seat of much political influence and continue to cement the ties between Perry County and the state capitol.
Election "Irregularities" in Perry County
The statewide newspaper reports today on the results of election monitoring in St. Francis County. the state board of election commissioners listed multiple violations of election conduct at polling locations in that county.
Those types of activities are nothing new in Perry County and in other counties across the state. The lack of punishment for those who commit election violations threatens the very idea of free and fair elections in Arkansas.
In Perry County:
1) Poll Workers routinely instruct voters not only how to use a ballot, but also who to vote for
2) Poll Workers have actually voted for voters in Perry County. In some cases when the voter is actually present. In other cases when they are not.
3) The voting machines do not have a certified "open" tally receipt and a certified "closed" tally receipt. What that means is that votes could easily be cast prior to the election day and counted on election night
4) Poll Workers have been known to call voters to remind them to vote in the election
5) Campaigning inside the polling location is not new to Perry County
6) Poll workers have been known to refuse to allow registered voters to actually cast a ballot in the county
7) No certified paper receipt of the voting tally from the electronic voting machine actually exists.
8) Poll Workers refuse to follow the state law that allows voters to change their voter registration information at the polls.
9) No level of security and chain of custody is followed in Perry County
Those types of activities are nothing new in Perry County and in other counties across the state. The lack of punishment for those who commit election violations threatens the very idea of free and fair elections in Arkansas.
In Perry County:
1) Poll Workers routinely instruct voters not only how to use a ballot, but also who to vote for
2) Poll Workers have actually voted for voters in Perry County. In some cases when the voter is actually present. In other cases when they are not.
3) The voting machines do not have a certified "open" tally receipt and a certified "closed" tally receipt. What that means is that votes could easily be cast prior to the election day and counted on election night
4) Poll Workers have been known to call voters to remind them to vote in the election
5) Campaigning inside the polling location is not new to Perry County
6) Poll workers have been known to refuse to allow registered voters to actually cast a ballot in the county
7) No certified paper receipt of the voting tally from the electronic voting machine actually exists.
8) Poll Workers refuse to follow the state law that allows voters to change their voter registration information at the polls.
9) No level of security and chain of custody is followed in Perry County
Saturday, June 28, 2008
State Police "investigation" - One and done
It certainly doesn't appear that Lt. Bill Beach did much more than contact constable Ron Hance.
I have been told there are two ways to conduct an investigation.
1) If you want to prove guilt, contact the victim first and then talk to other parties/witnesses
2) If you want to prove innocence, contact the other parties first and then talk to the victim.
Bill certainly had a new twist on proving innocence. Just skip the appearance of talking to the victim. Makes it easier. And don't bother even making the appearance looking in to more than 10% of the complaint.
It is a shame that the ASP, who were originally created to break the power of the local county machines, have become part of the problem. When troopers are so connected to the local county law enforcement that they are unable to objectively serve the state, rather than just an extension of the local law enforcement, then the entire state suffers. We might as well disband the state police and redirect the money to local law enforcement.
In Perry County, the two troopers are closely tied to all of the local problems and are just one way the local political machine stays in power. Those troopers are based out of Troop J in Clarkesville. Troop J covers the following counties: Conway, Perry, Johnson, Van Buren, Yell, and Pope.
I have been told there are two ways to conduct an investigation.
1) If you want to prove guilt, contact the victim first and then talk to other parties/witnesses
2) If you want to prove innocence, contact the other parties first and then talk to the victim.
Bill certainly had a new twist on proving innocence. Just skip the appearance of talking to the victim. Makes it easier. And don't bother even making the appearance looking in to more than 10% of the complaint.
It is a shame that the ASP, who were originally created to break the power of the local county machines, have become part of the problem. When troopers are so connected to the local county law enforcement that they are unable to objectively serve the state, rather than just an extension of the local law enforcement, then the entire state suffers. We might as well disband the state police and redirect the money to local law enforcement.
In Perry County, the two troopers are closely tied to all of the local problems and are just one way the local political machine stays in power. Those troopers are based out of Troop J in Clarkesville. Troop J covers the following counties: Conway, Perry, Johnson, Van Buren, Yell, and Pope.
"encouragement" based legal system
According to the newspaper article today, Randy and Ricky Wise had a change of heart about voter fraud. We've heard that the old Boss Hogg Branscum made a couple of phone calls and "encouraged" them to have this change of heart. Now, when the banker in a small town and the seated sheriff in a small town both ask you to have "a change of heart" that is fairly powerful incentive in any county.
That type of "encouragement" is nothing new in Perry County. Follow this link to read how "encouragement" makes rape of a four year old girl disappear. Or read this story to see another example of the power of "encouragement" in the Perry County justice system. And these are just stories that are on the public record. There are plenty of stories just like that in e-mails we are receiving. In fact, it is ironic that the voter fraud case was based on "encouragement" to begin with.
That type of "encouragement" is nothing new in Perry County. Follow this link to read how "encouragement" makes rape of a four year old girl disappear. Or read this story to see another example of the power of "encouragement" in the Perry County justice system. And these are just stories that are on the public record. There are plenty of stories just like that in e-mails we are receiving. In fact, it is ironic that the voter fraud case was based on "encouragement" to begin with.
Judge Chris Piazza Caves
It is no surprise that Judge Chris Piazza ruled against convening a grand jury to look at voter fraud allegations from the May Democratic primary. Perry County political antics are not new to former Pulaski/Perry County prosecutor Chris Piazza. He is familiar with the county and we would guess (and are working on confirmation) that he is a member at one of the hunting clubs in Perry County. He would just be one in a long line of prosecutors who have enabled the latest Perry County political machine to continue. Not only has he served as the prosecutor, but his wife, Melody Piazza served as the chief deputy prosecutor for the Pulaski/Perry County Prosecutor. How closely did she work with Judge Elizabeth Wise when they were at the prosecutor's office together?
We wish that Judge Piazza would recall the days that he helped speed the Steve Clark fall from grace when Steve had the audacity to run for governor in the nineties.
What past and future favors were called in to keep this case from going to a grand jury, we don't know. But we will be looking. What pressure was applied by the likes of Branscum and Johnson? We may never know, but based on past patterns, pressure in Perry County makes crimes as terrible as child rape go away.
It would be easy to apply pressure to make this go away. And in Perry County, when The banker, The sheriff, and The judge all call you and "encourage" you to think a certain way, that is powerful motivation.
We wish that Judge Piazza would recall the days that he helped speed the Steve Clark fall from grace when Steve had the audacity to run for governor in the nineties.
What past and future favors were called in to keep this case from going to a grand jury, we don't know. But we will be looking. What pressure was applied by the likes of Branscum and Johnson? We may never know, but based on past patterns, pressure in Perry County makes crimes as terrible as child rape go away.
It would be easy to apply pressure to make this go away. And in Perry County, when The banker, The sheriff, and The judge all call you and "encourage" you to think a certain way, that is powerful motivation.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Criminals in Charge
I am in possession of an e-mail that raises serious questions.
1) What type of criminal background check is performed before hiring and training Perry County Sheriff's deputies and staff?
2) If the deputies couldn't be hired to work in a daycare should we allow them the power of a badge and a gun?
The allegations in the e-mail name very specific names and very specific incidents related to members of our Sheriff's department. The information ranges from serious sexual crimes to abuse charges to run of the mill criminal enterprises like drugs and theft. The e-mail even suggests family ties to the largest drug maker in the county. I am going to work on finding more information for each of the specific named individuals and if I can find additional evidence of wrong doing will list the specific charges.
Will the Sheriff investigate his own? If not, will Prosecutor Jegley, or the Arkansas State Police?
That remains to be seen.
1) What type of criminal background check is performed before hiring and training Perry County Sheriff's deputies and staff?
2) If the deputies couldn't be hired to work in a daycare should we allow them the power of a badge and a gun?
The allegations in the e-mail name very specific names and very specific incidents related to members of our Sheriff's department. The information ranges from serious sexual crimes to abuse charges to run of the mill criminal enterprises like drugs and theft. The e-mail even suggests family ties to the largest drug maker in the county. I am going to work on finding more information for each of the specific named individuals and if I can find additional evidence of wrong doing will list the specific charges.
Will the Sheriff investigate his own? If not, will Prosecutor Jegley, or the Arkansas State Police?
That remains to be seen.
FBI arrests hundreds in child sex crackdown
Small counties and towns like Perry County are overlooked by the FBI. But, e-mailers are sending information every day that say abuse is occurring in our own county.
Because, for reasons that may be apparent, we can't get local law enforcement to take the victims seriously. So, as we get information, we will hopefully collect enough leads on our own so that other agencies will finally pay attention.
Because, for reasons that may be apparent, we can't get local law enforcement to take the victims seriously. So, as we get information, we will hopefully collect enough leads on our own so that other agencies will finally pay attention.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Sheriff Byrd failed to maintain accounting records
From the 2003 legislative audit about the Sheriff's office. Makes it easy to see how money is diverted from the Sheriff's office.
"As reported in previous years, the Sheriff failed to maintain sufficient accounting records. Sheriff personnel failed to properly
maintain the cash receipts journal for the Drug Control, Fee, Radio and Circuit Bond Funds, issue receipts for revenue
received in the Drug Control Fund and identify the balance in the Bond and Fine account resulting in inadequate safeguarding
of assets."
"As reported in previous years, the Sheriff failed to maintain sufficient accounting records. Sheriff personnel failed to properly
maintain the cash receipts journal for the Drug Control, Fee, Radio and Circuit Bond Funds, issue receipts for revenue
received in the Drug Control Fund and identify the balance in the Bond and Fine account resulting in inadequate safeguarding
of assets."
Monday, June 23, 2008
Judge Wise Admonished
We finally were able to obtain a copy of the letter of admonishment given to Judge Elizabeth Wise by the state Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission.
Click on the comments section to read more
Click on the comments section to read more
Another murder connected to Perry County Machine?
A new tipster forwards this story from the newspaper. They suggest a strong link between the players in this case and the organized criminal activity in our county. If you know the story, please feel free to e-mail additional details. I would be most interested in who talked the guy into pleading the fifth.
Trial put on hold when stepfather refuses to testify Witness takes Fifth
Amendment, surprising court in murder case
JAY MEISEL ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE.....
Click on Comments to read the article
Trial put on hold when stepfather refuses to testify Witness takes Fifth
Amendment, surprising court in murder case
JAY MEISEL ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE.....
Click on Comments to read the article
Zimbabwe, Africa or Perry County -- Hard to tell the difference
The recent political turmoil in Africa sounds a lot like what happens in Perry County. Replace the name Mugabe with your favorite Perry County party boss (Byrd, Hill, Branscum, House, Johnson) and it reads the same. Our county has a long way to escape "third world" status. Just like Zimbabwe, we have to break the political machine first and insure free and fair elections.
Here are some highlights.
"A free and fair election is impossible," Tsvangirai told reporters Sunday. "We in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate ... sham of an election process."
To read the full article click here
Here are some highlights.
"A free and fair election is impossible," Tsvangirai told reporters Sunday. "We in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate ... sham of an election process."
Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe's justice minister, denied the MDC's allegations of intimidation and said Tsvangirai was dropping out to avoid "a humiliating defeat."
But Britain, the former colonial power in Zimbabwe, blasted Mugabe's government for claiming a "tainted" victory built on "state-sponsored violence."
But Tsvangirai said a spate of arrests targeting MDC members, allegations of vote-rigging and attacks on the party's followers -- including an attack on an MDC youth rally by followers of Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party in Harare's stadium -- convinced him that a free and fair vote was impossible.
To read the full article click here
The " Love Guru " of Perry County
The new movie makes me think of ongoing rumors about our Sheriff's department.
Does the Perry County Sheriff consider himself the Love Guru of Perry County? From what we've heard, he probably does.
We know that a stable of teenage girls have been hired at the jail and that our Sheriff considers himself quite the ladies man (under a certain age at least). We know that when married, Ray Byrd had affairs with members of his staff (just read the divorce proceedings). We also have heard multiple accounts that at least one of the current deputies enjoys special authority because of an inappropriate relationship. According to an email that was forwarded to me, in 2002, the Sheriff's step daughter had a child with the Sheriff's criminal investigator and it sounds like that may be the tip of the animal house iceberg from that time period.
Is it Animal House or is it the Perry County Sheriff's office.
You decide?
Does the Perry County Sheriff consider himself the Love Guru of Perry County? From what we've heard, he probably does.
We know that a stable of teenage girls have been hired at the jail and that our Sheriff considers himself quite the ladies man (under a certain age at least). We know that when married, Ray Byrd had affairs with members of his staff (just read the divorce proceedings). We also have heard multiple accounts that at least one of the current deputies enjoys special authority because of an inappropriate relationship. According to an email that was forwarded to me, in 2002, the Sheriff's step daughter had a child with the Sheriff's criminal investigator and it sounds like that may be the tip of the animal house iceberg from that time period.
Is it Animal House or is it the Perry County Sheriff's office.
You decide?
Perry County Hunting License
So what's a Perry County Hunting License. It is your license to make and sell drugs out of Perry County. We've heard rumors about this for years but after asking around we finally had a tipster send us this. We don't know how true it is, but it matches fairly closely with other versions of how to protect an operation in Perry County.
"If you want to make drugs in Perry County you need to call [former sheriff and current investigator] Ray Byrd and tell him that you want to hunt in Perry County. He will ask you many you want to kill; either ducks or deer. Once you have decided how much you want to make you are told to send $10,000 to a PO Box located in Perryville post office. addressed to Ray Byrd attn: hunting dues. then you will pay a 1000. fee everytime you cook [or grow] a large batch."
Sounds like something out of the days of prohibition, doesn't it?
Prisoners Running Wild
Earlier I posted the article about the Act 309 prisoner issue. I received a few e-mails regarding the issue that raise other questions. The scandal in Lonoke a few years ago sounded very similar,
why was Lonoke targeted and Perry County left alone?
What investigations are being conducted?
We all know that the Perry County jail isn't up to standards as a facility. What other kinds of laws in the jail are being broken.
Here is what my tipster wrote:
"Ray Byrd was letting the 309s go unsupervised, in street clothes, drive police cars, get drunk, do drugs, etc (like what the trustees are allowed to do now)."
why was Lonoke targeted and Perry County left alone?
What investigations are being conducted?
We all know that the Perry County jail isn't up to standards as a facility. What other kinds of laws in the jail are being broken.
Here is what my tipster wrote:
"Ray Byrd was letting the 309s go unsupervised, in street clothes, drive police cars, get drunk, do drugs, etc (like what the trustees are allowed to do now)."
Leverage over the Sheriff
If the Sheriff engages in seriously questionable activity and the parties involved are encouraged not to come forward, does that make the Sheriff a puppet for those who are willing to conceal a secret for a price? My tipsters once again are sending me information regarding questionable acts by the current Sheriff during his employment as the school resource officer and while he worked at UAMS.
Do certain members of the sheriff's department hold special authority over the Sheriff Montgomery because of knowledge they have regarding serious legal issues related to his conduct? Based on what we've heard, we think so and if we can find more evidence will make sure it is published.
They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Anybody else remember the reasons that the Sheriff's dad was removed and replaced as the city marshal? Time will tell.
We are watching and listening.
Do certain members of the sheriff's department hold special authority over the Sheriff Montgomery because of knowledge they have regarding serious legal issues related to his conduct? Based on what we've heard, we think so and if we can find more evidence will make sure it is published.
They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Anybody else remember the reasons that the Sheriff's dad was removed and replaced as the city marshal? Time will tell.
We are watching and listening.
We need a " Lona Mccastlain " type prosecutor here
In response to my post about Prosecutor Larry Jegley's office I have been reminded about the prosecution in Lonoke to corruption in law enforcement. The writer notes....
we need a "Lona Mccastlain" type prosecutor here!
....wonder what conflict issues jegley's office has in investigating a judge that his office is regularly in front of - a judge that used to work for him?
we need a "Lona Mccastlain" type prosecutor here!
....wonder what conflict issues jegley's office has in investigating a judge that his office is regularly in front of - a judge that used to work for him?
Senator Johnson and Judge Wise -- Connect the dots
E-mailers are starting to confirm and connect the dots between some Perry County political figures. Here is a sample of the e-mails I am receiving:
"bob and elizabeth were buddy-buddy in their very vocal opposition to the CAW issues earlier this year and last year. now, ole bob has changed his tune, he's being nice. earlier this week in the dem-gaz, he was quoted as saying that it was good that CAW wanted to protect this beautiful land and work "in partnership" with the residents. wonder if all the poking around and lawsuits are getting too close for his comfort? and, bob and elizabeth are related...she's been really quiet about this recent lawsuit that's been filed."
"bob and elizabeth were buddy-buddy in their very vocal opposition to the CAW issues earlier this year and last year. now, ole bob has changed his tune, he's being nice. earlier this week in the dem-gaz, he was quoted as saying that it was good that CAW wanted to protect this beautiful land and work "in partnership" with the residents. wonder if all the poking around and lawsuits are getting too close for his comfort? and, bob and elizabeth are related...she's been really quiet about this recent lawsuit that's been filed."
Friday, June 20, 2008
Judge Elizabeth Wise -- Is Perry County Justice Blind?
A note from a tipster reminds me of other articles I have read regarding the district judge in Perry County.
Current District Judge Elizabeth Wise may have a role in protecting the machine.
Her name came up in the recent election fraud and voter intimidation case. She has been disciplined as a judge and her name has been linked to high profile figures in the county over the years. She served as the deputy prosecutor for Perry County. During that time she worked for Prosecutor Mark Stodola who became the Perry County attorney and then was elected as mayor of Little Rock. She also worked with current prosecutor Larry Jegley. Any connection between that work and Jegley's absence from trying to clean up the corruption in Perry County. Who is protecting who in this situation? We'll keep looking for connections.
Here part of the reminder I received on e-mail:
Need to include the district judge - elizabeth wise - in your corruption files. She's as neck-deep in it as the rest of them....This is the judge who got admonished over the banishment order she gave regarding a defendant.
Current District Judge Elizabeth Wise may have a role in protecting the machine.
Her name came up in the recent election fraud and voter intimidation case. She has been disciplined as a judge and her name has been linked to high profile figures in the county over the years. She served as the deputy prosecutor for Perry County. During that time she worked for Prosecutor Mark Stodola who became the Perry County attorney and then was elected as mayor of Little Rock. She also worked with current prosecutor Larry Jegley. Any connection between that work and Jegley's absence from trying to clean up the corruption in Perry County. Who is protecting who in this situation? We'll keep looking for connections.
Here part of the reminder I received on e-mail:
Need to include the district judge - elizabeth wise - in your corruption files. She's as neck-deep in it as the rest of them....This is the judge who got admonished over the banishment order she gave regarding a defendant.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Where is Larry Jegley?
Perry County is unique because it shares a prosecutor with Pulaski County. So the question of the hour. What is Larry Jegley's office going to do about the corruption in Perry County. Perhaps he enjoys membership in one of the deer camps that have for so long link (and protect) Perry County and power structure in Little Rock and the capitol.
We're checking and will be happy to let you know.
We're checking and will be happy to let you know.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
as reported on the Arkansas Times Blog
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2008/06/dukes_of_perry.aspx
Dukes of Perry
A lawsuit has been filed alleging violations of the state's political practices act in the course of Perry County Sheriff Scott Montgomery's successful primary election campaign. Allegations include: Pressure on county vendors, refusal to help political opponents, law enforcement pressure on opponents. Boss Hogg stuff. In Perry County? Surely they jest. Judge Chris Piazza drew the case, said Cheryl Barnard, attorney for the plaintiffs.
Some of this same information was presented in a complaint earlier to the state Board of Election Commissioners. A State Police investigation was begun, the attorney says.
Back to the future -- Present day
Not reported in newspapers, but my sources on the street related the following story:
"...in 2002 the mayor of Perryville's son was killed by a know drug dealer. He was killed because he owed money to the killer. The killer was a friend and they were in business together. He was shot in the back several times with a shotgun, and Sheriff Ray Byrd ruled it a hunting accident. (turkey hunting). The sources say that although not proven the word was that Byrd was paid a large amount of money to turn his head."
1985 - Rape victim withdraws charges because of "pressure"
Why didn't a rape victim in Perry County feel safe. Who provided the greatest protection incentive to Sheriff Ray Byrd.
Click on the Comments section to read the article
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Sheriff Byrd mistreats prisoner in 1983
Maples said that while he was being held in the Perry County Jail in 1983 he was denied medication and was otherwise mistreated by jail personnel. Maples was arrested for a disturbance at the home of his former wife. Federal Judge Henry Woods Monday dismissed for lack of evidence a complaint filed in December by Marvin Lyle Maples Sr., 43, a federal prisoner, against Perry County Sheriff Ray Byrd. Maples said that while he was being held in the Perry County Jail in 1983 he was denied medication and was otherwise mistreated by jail personnel. Maples was arrested for a disturbance at the home of his former wife. Among other things, he said he was left naked in his jail cell and suffered from exposure.
More Machine Politics in 1988
Once again -- as reported in the statewide newspaper:
Perry County Sheriff James Hester contended Wednesday that Pam Edwards, a former jail secretary, destroyed or hid county records to protect his predecessor. Hester said "certain receipt books, financial records and other documents" under Edwards' "exclusive control" were discovered to be missing during an audit a few months before he fired her in January. Hester, who who was found innocent of a misdemeanor ethics charge January 27, made his allegations in a response to a federal lawsuit filed by Edwards. In her suit, Edwards said Hester fired her because she testified before the county Grand Jury that indicted him in December. Hester faces another charge of alleged incompetence, malfeasance and misfeasance, and a trial has been set for later this month. Hester said that during a meeting with "the deputy prosecuting attorney and the State Police investigator" they indicated Edwards was suspected of taking the records "to protect her then-fiance and former employer," former Sheriff Ray Byrd. Edwards' attorney, Larry Vaught of Little Rock, said the receipt book had been missing for some time and that "everbody in the sheriff's office had access to it." (He said it was Edwards who discovered the book was missing. Vaught said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dale Adams, who prosecuted Hester on the first charges, had told Vaught he didn't remember such a discussion. Adams couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday. Hester, who took office January 1, 1987, said he kept Edwards on the payroll with "the expectation she would be faithful in the performance of her duties." (But he contended she became "so engrossed" in her personal affairs that she didn't do her job. He said that "leading up to her dismissal she was openly and flagrantly carrying on a romance with her former employer, who was then married." (Hester said the relationship "became so flagrant and notorious that it hampered the performance" of the sheriff's office. Also Wednesday, Perry County, which had been named as a co-defendant in Edwards' suit, asked the court to make Hester liable for any damages or attorneys' fees that the County might be judged to owe Edwards.The Arkansas Gazette261315 Former secretary destroyed records, sheriff contends SCOTT MORRIS Perry County Sheriff James Hester contended Wednesday that Pam Edwards, a former jail secretary, destroyed or hid county records to protect his predecessor. Hester said "certain receipt books, financial records and other documents" under Edwards' "exclusive control" were discovered to be missing during an audit a few months before he fired her in January. Hester, who who was found innocent of a misdemeanor ethics charge January 27, made his allegations in a response to a federal lawsuit filed by Edwards.
Perry County Sheriff James Hester contended Wednesday that Pam Edwards, a former jail secretary, destroyed or hid county records to protect his predecessor. Hester said "certain receipt books, financial records and other documents" under Edwards' "exclusive control" were discovered to be missing during an audit a few months before he fired her in January. Hester, who who was found innocent of a misdemeanor ethics charge January 27, made his allegations in a response to a federal lawsuit filed by Edwards. In her suit, Edwards said Hester fired her because she testified before the county Grand Jury that indicted him in December. Hester faces another charge of alleged incompetence, malfeasance and misfeasance, and a trial has been set for later this month. Hester said that during a meeting with "the deputy prosecuting attorney and the State Police investigator" they indicated Edwards was suspected of taking the records "to protect her then-fiance and former employer," former Sheriff Ray Byrd. Edwards' attorney, Larry Vaught of Little Rock, said the receipt book had been missing for some time and that "everbody in the sheriff's office had access to it." (He said it was Edwards who discovered the book was missing. Vaught said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dale Adams, who prosecuted Hester on the first charges, had told Vaught he didn't remember such a discussion. Adams couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday. Hester, who took office January 1, 1987, said he kept Edwards on the payroll with "the expectation she would be faithful in the performance of her duties." (But he contended she became "so engrossed" in her personal affairs that she didn't do her job. He said that "leading up to her dismissal she was openly and flagrantly carrying on a romance with her former employer, who was then married." (Hester said the relationship "became so flagrant and notorious that it hampered the performance" of the sheriff's office. Also Wednesday, Perry County, which had been named as a co-defendant in Edwards' suit, asked the court to make Hester liable for any damages or attorneys' fees that the County might be judged to owe Edwards.The Arkansas Gazette261315 Former secretary destroyed records, sheriff contends SCOTT MORRIS Perry County Sheriff James Hester contended Wednesday that Pam Edwards, a former jail secretary, destroyed or hid county records to protect his predecessor. Hester said "certain receipt books, financial records and other documents" under Edwards' "exclusive control" were discovered to be missing during an audit a few months before he fired her in January. Hester, who who was found innocent of a misdemeanor ethics charge January 27, made his allegations in a response to a federal lawsuit filed by Edwards.
Machine politics in 1988
Another article from 1988 regarding the Byrd faction in Perry County. Not much has changed has it?
A dispute between Perry County Sheriff James Hester and a woman he fired as jailer and secretary was "just a feud between two political factions," Gene Worsham, the sheriff's attorney, said Tuesday. Hester dismissed Pam Edwards in December after she testified before a county Grand Jury investigating him, former Sheriff Ray Byrd and County Judge George Mc Neal. Hester was charged with violations of the state ethics code, but has been acquitted, and with using the facilities of his office for his own benefit, which is pending. Edwards, who last month married Byrd, sued Hester and Perry County in federal court last month, contending that the firing was retaliation for her testimony and that it violated her First Amendment rights. She is seeking $ 110,000 and reinstatement. Hester said he had other reasons for firing her. He alleged that she lost a receipts book, took sick leave when she was visiting persons in the hospital, used sick leave while working at another job, neglected official telephone calls while making personal calls on duty, authorized the release of police investigative information to civilians, and caused controversy by having "an affair with a married man," referring to Byrd. She denied those allegations under oath Tuesday during the first day of a hearing on her suit before federal Judge Elsijane T. Roy. The hearing will resume at 9 a.m. today. Hester is expected to testify. Worsham told Judge Roy that the investigation of Hester and the Grand Jury charges against him were the result of a political feud between Hester and Byrd. He said he would attempt to show that "the Byrd political faction had control not only of the county judge and the prosecuting attorney's office, but the Grand Jury." Dale Adams, assistant prosecuting attorney for Perry County, took issue with Worsham's statement. " I deny that my office is part of the Ray Byrd political faction," he testified.The Arkansas Gazette 262903 Dispute between sheriff, ex-worker part of political feud, lawyer asserts $01:Copyright Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
A dispute between Perry County Sheriff James Hester and a woman he fired as jailer and secretary was "just a feud between two political factions," Gene Worsham, the sheriff's attorney, said Tuesday. Hester dismissed Pam Edwards in December after she testified before a county Grand Jury investigating him, former Sheriff Ray Byrd and County Judge George Mc Neal. Hester was charged with violations of the state ethics code, but has been acquitted, and with using the facilities of his office for his own benefit, which is pending. Edwards, who last month married Byrd, sued Hester and Perry County in federal court last month, contending that the firing was retaliation for her testimony and that it violated her First Amendment rights. She is seeking $ 110,000 and reinstatement. Hester said he had other reasons for firing her. He alleged that she lost a receipts book, took sick leave when she was visiting persons in the hospital, used sick leave while working at another job, neglected official telephone calls while making personal calls on duty, authorized the release of police investigative information to civilians, and caused controversy by having "an affair with a married man," referring to Byrd. She denied those allegations under oath Tuesday during the first day of a hearing on her suit before federal Judge Elsijane T. Roy. The hearing will resume at 9 a.m. today. Hester is expected to testify. Worsham told Judge Roy that the investigation of Hester and the Grand Jury charges against him were the result of a political feud between Hester and Byrd. He said he would attempt to show that "the Byrd political faction had control not only of the county judge and the prosecuting attorney's office, but the Grand Jury." Dale Adams, assistant prosecuting attorney for Perry County, took issue with Worsham's statement. " I deny that my office is part of the Ray Byrd political faction," he testified.The Arkansas Gazette 262903 Dispute between sheriff, ex-worker part of political feud, lawyer asserts $01:Copyright Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Hester said he suspected her of taking other records "to cover up for her boy friend," Byrd.
Another article about Ray Byrd and Pam Edwards.....how much of this still applies today
Byline:GEORGE WELLS Perry County Sheriff James Hester testified Wednesday that he fired Pam Edwards as a secretary partly because of office disruptions caused by "this entanglement in a love affair" with former Sheriff Ray Byrd. He also told federal Judge Elsijane T. Roy that he had decided in November to fire Edwards because of problems with her work, although he did not fire her until December 18. He said he did not base his decision on the fact that she had testified before a Perry County Grand Jury. Judge Roy took the case under advisement after the close of testimony, saying she was concerned about the timing of the dismissal one day after a Grand Jury indicted Hester and with Edwards "performance record," which was described as very poor by Hester and other former co-workers. Edwards contends she was fired because she testified before the Grand Jury. She said that violated her First Amendment rights and asked for $ 110,000 in damages and reinstatement. She testified Tuesday at the beginning of the trial, and Wednesday Hester contradicted several points of her testimony. He said, for example, that a state auditor had been the first person to tell him a receipt book was missing. Edwards had said she told Hester first. Hester said he also suspected her of taking other records from the office "to cover up for her boy friend," Byrd. Edwards married Byrd in January. Hester said they began dating about May when each still was married to someone else and Hester said the controversy surrounding that "affair" embarrassed his office, affected the morale of his staff and disrupted operations. The sheriff also said Edwards was so preoccupied with her relationship with Byrd that she ignored her regular duties as secretary and jailer. Before firing Edwards, Hester suspended her and notified her that her case would be heard three days later by the County Advisory Board.At the hearing, he presented six reasons for firing her, including the missing receipt book, allegedly taking sick leave while working at another job and allegedly having an affair with a married man. Edwards testified Tuesday that Hester had never criticized her work and that the first she knew of any of his complaints on the list was the night of the hearing. Judge Roy asked Hester why he "waited so long" to fire Edwards if he suspected her of the various allegations. Hester said he suspected her of taking other records "to cover up for her boy friend," Byrd.
Byline:GEORGE WELLS Perry County Sheriff James Hester testified Wednesday that he fired Pam Edwards as a secretary partly because of office disruptions caused by "this entanglement in a love affair" with former Sheriff Ray Byrd. He also told federal Judge Elsijane T. Roy that he had decided in November to fire Edwards because of problems with her work, although he did not fire her until December 18. He said he did not base his decision on the fact that she had testified before a Perry County Grand Jury. Judge Roy took the case under advisement after the close of testimony, saying she was concerned about the timing of the dismissal one day after a Grand Jury indicted Hester and with Edwards "performance record," which was described as very poor by Hester and other former co-workers. Edwards contends she was fired because she testified before the Grand Jury. She said that violated her First Amendment rights and asked for $ 110,000 in damages and reinstatement. She testified Tuesday at the beginning of the trial, and Wednesday Hester contradicted several points of her testimony. He said, for example, that a state auditor had been the first person to tell him a receipt book was missing. Edwards had said she told Hester first. Hester said he also suspected her of taking other records from the office "to cover up for her boy friend," Byrd. Edwards married Byrd in January. Hester said they began dating about May when each still was married to someone else and Hester said the controversy surrounding that "affair" embarrassed his office, affected the morale of his staff and disrupted operations. The sheriff also said Edwards was so preoccupied with her relationship with Byrd that she ignored her regular duties as secretary and jailer. Before firing Edwards, Hester suspended her and notified her that her case would be heard three days later by the County Advisory Board.At the hearing, he presented six reasons for firing her, including the missing receipt book, allegedly taking sick leave while working at another job and allegedly having an affair with a married man. Edwards testified Tuesday that Hester had never criticized her work and that the first she knew of any of his complaints on the list was the night of the hearing. Judge Roy asked Hester why he "waited so long" to fire Edwards if he suspected her of the various allegations. Hester said he suspected her of taking other records "to cover up for her boy friend," Byrd.
A good description of the Perry County Political Machine
From the Arkansas Gazette Byline:JOHN BRUMMET
You see, Perry County had its fill of a political boss. Van Dalsem was Old Guard and an ally of former Governor Orval E. Faubus. For three decades, Van Dalsem ran much of the state and all of Perry County. At a time when the population of the county was little more than 2,000, it was said that 400 to 500 residents owed their jobs to Van Dalsem. Now they owe most of their jobs to industries in Conway County 15 miles from Perryville. That aside, Branscum is a major political influence in the town, through his statewide reputation and the force of his personality. Who does he favor? " The guy I liked was Simon," he said, but Simon had dropped out of serious contention in the South that very day. " Now I guess Dukakis," he said, though he had found the Massachusetts governor a tad abrupt in a recent face-to-face meeting, one Branscum had paid $500 to have. In a race such as the one for the Democratic presidential nomination, with little-known candidates on the ballot at an unusual time of year, endorsements at all levels could make a major difference. You might call it the trickle-down theory of political influence.
If you live in Little Rock and wish to visit a different culture in a faraway land, get on Cantrell Road and go 40 miles west. Welcome to the unmolested hills and woods of Perryville, seat of Perry County, the third smallest county in Arkansas and the home of one industrial plant a mobile home manufacturer, appropriately. The pace is slow and the hunting and fishing good, except that everyone is mad at the Game and Fish Commission right now because of restrictions on hunting lands and increases in fees and licenses. If you go to Perryville, you will have several chances to sign a petition for a constitutional amendment to provide that we elect the Game and Fish members. This town of 1,058 is anchored on the south by Crowder's Cafe and on the north by the Brooks Cafe. If you want to get the news, you need to be at one or the other by 6:30 a.m. To be safe, you need to hit the other before 9. You will need an introduction, and the best man for that is Herby Branscum Jr. He is the lawyer in town. He also was chairman of the state Democratic Party for several years. His friends statewide would be interested to know that up here they call him Boss Hogg, with pure affection. A newspaperman from Little Rock set up camp at Crowder's Wednesday before dawn honestly and soon was amid a dozen or so friendly regulars chewing tobacco and wearing hunting vests, which rival the plaid flannel shirt as the predominant male attire on a cool day. The newspaperman wanted to talk politics presidential, mainly and how it was playing in Perry County. After all, it was only 13 days until the Super Tuesday primary March 8. But March 8 in Perry County means the hotly contested Democratic sheriff's race, which is tantamount to election. And while those planning to vote in that race need to be making up their minds about their Democratic choice for president, few have. Most are disinterested. Some are disgusted with the choices. Some are waiting for the chance to vote Republican in November. Not one person in Perry County signed up to be a delegate for any presidential candidate in either party. Not one. Not even Branscum, a state Party leader. He said he looked at the process and decided it was so "arcane" it was not worth his trouble. He would rather stay around Perryville hunt, fish, grow watermelons, tend to his horses, drive his four-wheel-drive over his acreage and occasionally settle a lawsuit for $ 100,000 or so. The reporter wanting to talk presidential politics had to wait. They had had a bit of a police incident the day before. Somebody got the idea that an Oklahoma murderer was holed up in one of Perryville's many trailer homes. This Oklahoma murderer had shot his father-in-law 18 times, then vowed never to be taken alive. The State Police sent in a SWAT team. C Street was evacuated.Sheriff Jim Hester, the embattled and indicted one, bailed out of a court hearing at Little Rock, where he was being sued, to speed back home, his blue light flashing all the way. It turned out that the man inside this mobile home was watching television, unaware that he was the target of most of Central Arkansas's law enforcement community. He had the same name as an Oklahoma murderer, and had lived in Oklahoma, but was not the fugitive he was thought to be. The speculation was that the girl friend of the real Oklahoma murderer had put authorities on the trail of the Perryville man of the same name to divert attention from the real thing. The speculation further was that it was a good thing this innocent man was unaware of his precarious predicament. Had he seen himself surrounded by armed men in fatigues, he might have run from instinct.Lord knows what might have happened. Fortunately, his wife came home from work at Morrilton and straightened it all out. Several folks used the incident as an excuse to criticize Hester, with whom the citizenry seems frustrated, mainly because Perry County, which gave us the late state Representative Paul Van Dalsem and his theory of keeping women barefoot and pregnant, is tired of being laughed at by the rest of the state. Perry County is to Arkansas what Arkansas is to the United States, a slow-paced, friendly, underdeveloped and unfairly maligned spot on the map. But this particular incident wasn't Hester's fault. The State Police had received the tip and mounted the full-scale invasion. Hester, a former Little Rock Police Department foot patrol officer, Hester was indicted in December on charges of violating the state code of ethics and improperly using public property. He was acquitted on the ethics charge. The other is pending. He fired the jailer who had testified to a Grand Jury, Pam Edwards, the girl friend-now-wife of former Sheriff Ray Byrd, and now she is suing him in federal court for violating her rights. Hester is the man whose signs two years ago promoted him for the office of "sheruff," who said his indictment was merely an attempt "to discolor me," and asserted once that he had "impounded the car and all its ingredients." Hester is seeking renomination in the Democratic primary March 8, and has three opponents. Needless to say, there is some political interest in Perry County, although the talk seems to be less about the sheriff's race than the sheriff himself. Unlike many other areas of the state, where the presidential race is about all that will be on the ballot, they expect a heavy turnout 3,000 to 3,500 voters on Super Tuesday. They also expect the usual turnout for the Republican primary, about 25 votes. When Perry Countians were pressed for choices among the Democrats, the names of Tennessee Senator Albert Gore Jr. and Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis were predominant. New York Governor Mario Cuomo, who is not running, but might be drafted at a brokered convention, was on the minds of some. A sampling: Herbert Thedford, over morning coffee at Crowder's Cafe: " I like Gore or Dukakis, but I can't decide." Roy Fowler, a retired television repairman, at Brooks Cafe: " Dukakis made a good governor for Massachusetts. I saw pictures of five of 'em and Dukakis had a nice smile." W. R. Johnson, retired from the Army Engineers, also at Brooks: " I expect Cuomo to get the nomination, and I'm waiting on him. We need a take-charge type of guy." Rob Hill, chairman of the County Democratic Central Committee, at his office: " Gore or Dukakis." Hill's mother, Elise Hill, over lunch at BP's Deli on the town square: " I guess I would go with either Gephardt or Dukakis. I like Dukakis because he would pick a Southern running mate. I like Gore, but I am afraid he started running too late. I still would rather have seen Dale Bumpers run." Loyd House, longtime resident and county Democratic regular, also during lunch at BP's Deli: " Cuomo will be the eventual nominee and Dole is the only man who can beat him." Marvin Rainey, outside a general store at Casa, a small community 18 miles west of Perryville that may be about ready to lose its school because of the phase-out of a weighting factor in the distribution of
You see, Perry County had its fill of a political boss. Van Dalsem was Old Guard and an ally of former Governor Orval E. Faubus. For three decades, Van Dalsem ran much of the state and all of Perry County. At a time when the population of the county was little more than 2,000, it was said that 400 to 500 residents owed their jobs to Van Dalsem. Now they owe most of their jobs to industries in Conway County 15 miles from Perryville. That aside, Branscum is a major political influence in the town, through his statewide reputation and the force of his personality. Who does he favor? " The guy I liked was Simon," he said, but Simon had dropped out of serious contention in the South that very day. " Now I guess Dukakis," he said, though he had found the Massachusetts governor a tad abrupt in a recent face-to-face meeting, one Branscum had paid $500 to have. In a race such as the one for the Democratic presidential nomination, with little-known candidates on the ballot at an unusual time of year, endorsements at all levels could make a major difference. You might call it the trickle-down theory of political influence.
If you live in Little Rock and wish to visit a different culture in a faraway land, get on Cantrell Road and go 40 miles west. Welcome to the unmolested hills and woods of Perryville, seat of Perry County, the third smallest county in Arkansas and the home of one industrial plant a mobile home manufacturer, appropriately. The pace is slow and the hunting and fishing good, except that everyone is mad at the Game and Fish Commission right now because of restrictions on hunting lands and increases in fees and licenses. If you go to Perryville, you will have several chances to sign a petition for a constitutional amendment to provide that we elect the Game and Fish members. This town of 1,058 is anchored on the south by Crowder's Cafe and on the north by the Brooks Cafe. If you want to get the news, you need to be at one or the other by 6:30 a.m. To be safe, you need to hit the other before 9. You will need an introduction, and the best man for that is Herby Branscum Jr. He is the lawyer in town. He also was chairman of the state Democratic Party for several years. His friends statewide would be interested to know that up here they call him Boss Hogg, with pure affection. A newspaperman from Little Rock set up camp at Crowder's Wednesday before dawn honestly and soon was amid a dozen or so friendly regulars chewing tobacco and wearing hunting vests, which rival the plaid flannel shirt as the predominant male attire on a cool day. The newspaperman wanted to talk politics presidential, mainly and how it was playing in Perry County. After all, it was only 13 days until the Super Tuesday primary March 8. But March 8 in Perry County means the hotly contested Democratic sheriff's race, which is tantamount to election. And while those planning to vote in that race need to be making up their minds about their Democratic choice for president, few have. Most are disinterested. Some are disgusted with the choices. Some are waiting for the chance to vote Republican in November. Not one person in Perry County signed up to be a delegate for any presidential candidate in either party. Not one. Not even Branscum, a state Party leader. He said he looked at the process and decided it was so "arcane" it was not worth his trouble. He would rather stay around Perryville hunt, fish, grow watermelons, tend to his horses, drive his four-wheel-drive over his acreage and occasionally settle a lawsuit for $ 100,000 or so. The reporter wanting to talk presidential politics had to wait. They had had a bit of a police incident the day before. Somebody got the idea that an Oklahoma murderer was holed up in one of Perryville's many trailer homes. This Oklahoma murderer had shot his father-in-law 18 times, then vowed never to be taken alive. The State Police sent in a SWAT team. C Street was evacuated.Sheriff Jim Hester, the embattled and indicted one, bailed out of a court hearing at Little Rock, where he was being sued, to speed back home, his blue light flashing all the way. It turned out that the man inside this mobile home was watching television, unaware that he was the target of most of Central Arkansas's law enforcement community. He had the same name as an Oklahoma murderer, and had lived in Oklahoma, but was not the fugitive he was thought to be. The speculation was that the girl friend of the real Oklahoma murderer had put authorities on the trail of the Perryville man of the same name to divert attention from the real thing. The speculation further was that it was a good thing this innocent man was unaware of his precarious predicament. Had he seen himself surrounded by armed men in fatigues, he might have run from instinct.Lord knows what might have happened. Fortunately, his wife came home from work at Morrilton and straightened it all out. Several folks used the incident as an excuse to criticize Hester, with whom the citizenry seems frustrated, mainly because Perry County, which gave us the late state Representative Paul Van Dalsem and his theory of keeping women barefoot and pregnant, is tired of being laughed at by the rest of the state. Perry County is to Arkansas what Arkansas is to the United States, a slow-paced, friendly, underdeveloped and unfairly maligned spot on the map. But this particular incident wasn't Hester's fault. The State Police had received the tip and mounted the full-scale invasion. Hester, a former Little Rock Police Department foot patrol officer, Hester was indicted in December on charges of violating the state code of ethics and improperly using public property. He was acquitted on the ethics charge. The other is pending. He fired the jailer who had testified to a Grand Jury, Pam Edwards, the girl friend-now-wife of former Sheriff Ray Byrd, and now she is suing him in federal court for violating her rights. Hester is the man whose signs two years ago promoted him for the office of "sheruff," who said his indictment was merely an attempt "to discolor me," and asserted once that he had "impounded the car and all its ingredients." Hester is seeking renomination in the Democratic primary March 8, and has three opponents. Needless to say, there is some political interest in Perry County, although the talk seems to be less about the sheriff's race than the sheriff himself. Unlike many other areas of the state, where the presidential race is about all that will be on the ballot, they expect a heavy turnout 3,000 to 3,500 voters on Super Tuesday. They also expect the usual turnout for the Republican primary, about 25 votes. When Perry Countians were pressed for choices among the Democrats, the names of Tennessee Senator Albert Gore Jr. and Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis were predominant. New York Governor Mario Cuomo, who is not running, but might be drafted at a brokered convention, was on the minds of some. A sampling: Herbert Thedford, over morning coffee at Crowder's Cafe: " I like Gore or Dukakis, but I can't decide." Roy Fowler, a retired television repairman, at Brooks Cafe: " Dukakis made a good governor for Massachusetts. I saw pictures of five of 'em and Dukakis had a nice smile." W. R. Johnson, retired from the Army Engineers, also at Brooks: " I expect Cuomo to get the nomination, and I'm waiting on him. We need a take-charge type of guy." Rob Hill, chairman of the County Democratic Central Committee, at his office: " Gore or Dukakis." Hill's mother, Elise Hill, over lunch at BP's Deli on the town square: " I guess I would go with either Gephardt or Dukakis. I like Dukakis because he would pick a Southern running mate. I like Gore, but I am afraid he started running too late. I still would rather have seen Dale Bumpers run." Loyd House, longtime resident and county Democratic regular, also during lunch at BP's Deli: " Cuomo will be the eventual nominee and Dole is the only man who can beat him." Marvin Rainey, outside a general store at Casa, a small community 18 miles west of Perryville that may be about ready to lose its school because of the phase-out of a weighting factor in the distribution of
Election Fraud Complaint
Many of you have already e-mailed me regarding the election fraud case. I'm aware of it and will post links to the newspaper articles. I am trying to get an actual copy of the complaint from the court system so that I can post it online for you. As soon as I get a copy I'll post it online.
Feel free to keep the tips coming.
Sam Tilden
Feel free to keep the tips coming.
Sam Tilden
What was Sheriff Byrd's role in this (how much do you think he made)?
Jail sex likely to put inmate back in prison
PERRYVILLE -- A state prisoner at the Perry County jail likely will be returned to the Arkansas Department of Correction after an investigation showed he had sex with a female inmate at the lockup, authorities said Friday.According to the investigation, David Scott Noggle, 31, who was convicted of rape in Faulkner County and sentenced to prison for 25 years, apparently had sex with the female inmate. Noggle is a state prisoner at the jail under the Act 309 program, which allows county sheriffs to house prisoners to work at the jail.
Authorities conducted the investigation after the woman alleged that she had been raped by Noggle and two other Act 309 prisoners at the jail. DNA tests conducted as part of the investigation could not confirm whether the other men had had sex with her. However, the tests gave a positive reading for Noggle.
The woman, who was later moved to the Faulkner County jail, was being held at the Perry County jail on prescription fraud charges.
Dina Tyler, speaking for the Correction Department, said that the results of the investigation make it appear that Noggle violated the Act 309 program because it prohibits a prisoner from having sex with another prisoner.
Tyler added that department officials will review the case to determine whether an investigation of the Act 309 program at the Perry County jail is warranted.
Perry County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley said Thursday that he decided not to file any criminal charges because he believes the evidence shows that the woman consented to sex with Noggle.
The woman told investigators that on April 9, 1997, Noggle raped her and she performed oral sex on the two other 309 prisoners.
She said that the next day Noggle "gave me a pair of white boxers with 'I love you' and 'Scott's property' with an arrow pointing down to the crotch area."
Jegley, said, however, the investigation showed that the woman had written numerous letters to Noggle to ask him for sex. Noggle told authorities that after the woman was moved to the Faulkner County jail, she called him and asked him to destroy the letters.
Perry County Sheriff Ray Byrd said that his investigation shows that if Noggle and the woman had sex, it was through a cell door. Doubting the woman's allegations, Byrd added that woman changed her story three times.
"There's no way a rape could occur in this jail," Byrd said. Also, he said, Noggle didn't have a key to get inside the cell.
Byrd said that a guard, Noggle and a county jail trusty were delivering breakfast to prisoners when the guard had to answer a call. He said the trusty told him that he saw the woman grab Noggle's hand and Noggle "gave him a nod as if to step out."
The county prisoner reported that he returned to the area in no more than a minute and a half.
The sheriff said the Act 309 male prisoners no longer deliver food to female prisoners.
Byrd said Noggle was a model prisoner and worked at least seven hours every day of the week. Because Noggle is convicted of committing a violent offense, he performs all his work inside, the sheriff said.
But some object to Noggle being an Act 309 prisoner.
Capt. Mark Elsinger of the Conway Police Department said he questions whether a violent offender should become an Act 309 prisoner, especially during the early part of a sentence. Elsinger also said a rapist shouldn't be sent to a jail as close as the one in Perry County is to Faulkner County.
State law requires the Act 309 prisoner to be within 30 months of his parole date. But, Tyler said, there can be an early transfer if the sheriff in the county where the person was convicted agrees.
Byrd said he decided to ask that Noggle be transferred to his jail because Noggle's family is close by. He noted that Noggle's father is a retired police officer.
Byrd said he knows objections exist to the Act 309 program.
"If victims or police agencies had their say on 309 prisoners, probably there wouldn't be a program," Byrd said.
A little pressure and it all goes away
Any questions that the right kind of pressure in Perry County can make charges disappear. How about making rape charges go away when a 5 year old girl "changes" her story. The same actors and the same pattern have a way of making issues go quiet in Perry County. Seems like this pattern is repeated over and over again to protect the machine in Perry County.
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Web confessor cleared of rape charges Case dropped after girl, now 5, denies man's Internet bragging
PERRYVILLE -- Authorities have dropped rape charges against a Nimrod man who bragged over the Internet that he had sexual intercourse with a 4-year-old girl.Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Richard Hutto had the charges dropped Tuesday after the girl, who is now 5, told investigators that David Robert Blaylock, 55, did not rape her.
Blaylock has been held in the Perry County jail since January on $250,000 bond. He was charged with 10 counts of rape.
The investigation that led to Blaylock's arrest began after he told a woman on the Internet that he was having sex with a 4-year-old child.
Authorities said the woman and a friend provided the Fort Worth Police Department with printed copies of the chat conversations.
At that point, the woman did not know the identity of Blaylock, who used the pseudonyms King David, Daddy 4 You and Man of Song, authorities said.
The woman eventually enticed her Internet chat companion to give her a telephone number, which was traced to Blaylock, authorities said.
Blaylock was arrested when he showed up for his first day of work at a San Antonio automobile dealership.
Herby Branscum, Blaylock's attorney, said police had no evidence that Blaylock ever had sex with the girl.
Branscum said he believes the woman enticed Blaylock into making statements about child rape, indicating that she was interested in the subject. He said Blaylock was essentially telling the woman what he believed she wanted to hear.
Blaylock is reported to have said on Tuesday that he was participating with the woman in a child molestation fantasy.
She, in turn, was feeding the information to a man who passed it along to authorities, Branscum said.
"I love my daughter and my family," Blaylock told Little Rock television station KTHV-TV, Channel 11. "I'm sorry for my stupidity in putting them through this."
Branscum said he had filed a motion to have the statements made by Blaylock over the Internet inadmissible. But that issue was never raised because of the prosecutor's decision to drop the charges.
During a hearing Tuesday, a judge ruled that prosecutors could not use a previous statement by the girl because the questions appeared to be leading, Perry County Sheriff Ray Byrd said.
Branscum said the girl, in her first statement, initially denied that Blaylock had raped her. But after repeated questioning, she said it occurred, Branscum said. He said it appears to him that many of the questions were suggestive.
One of the issues raised during the hearing was how the 4-year-old girl would have known about the sex acts if she had not been raped. Branscum suggested that the girl might have been eavesdropping on her father while he watched pornographic films.
Blaylock has worked in the past as a nightclub singer in Arkansas, Las Vegas and other locations. He was charged in 1992 with seven counts of molesting minor girls in Las Vegas, but those charges were reduced to misdemeanors, authorities said. Information for this article was contributed by The Associated Press.
Above the Law in Perry County -- The State Takes Action
Many of you may remember this incident that finally made the news. Word spread for a long time that the county prison in Perry County ran with it's own version of "hunting licenses." Complaints finally made it out of the county and the state took action. This is an article that was published in the Democrat Gazette regarding Byrd's control of the jail.
"...A Correction Department investigation report on the Perry County violations notes that "Steven Shackleford #82119 fathered a child while an in-jail inmate at the Perry County facility. You [Byrd] had knowledge of the incident and the Act 309 Coordinator was never notified."
"...Byrd said he disciplined the prisoner rather than returning him to the Correction Department."
"Program rules also were violated when prisoners washed some cars other than those of law enforcement officers, the report indicated. Byrd said he was not initially aware of the practice, but "as soon I learned it happened, I put a stop to it."
These practices might sound familiar to people inside Perry County.
"...A Correction Department investigation report on the Perry County violations notes that "Steven Shackleford #82119 fathered a child while an in-jail inmate at the Perry County facility. You [Byrd] had knowledge of the incident and the Act 309 Coordinator was never notified."
"...Byrd said he disciplined the prisoner rather than returning him to the Correction Department."
"Program rules also were violated when prisoners washed some cars other than those of law enforcement officers, the report indicated. Byrd said he was not initially aware of the practice, but "as soon I learned it happened, I put a stop to it."
These practices might sound familiar to people inside Perry County.
"Tell her Sheriff Byrd Called."
After you read the implied threat below from Sheriff Ray Byrd, imagine how this would have been different if it had just been an average citizen in Perry County. The information below is from the FOIA project (www.foiarkansas.com) conducted in 1999. The same tactics are used over and over again to keep the local residents in line. If the sheriff called and left that kind of message to the average citizen in Perry County, use your imagination what it could mean for that person or their family.
No need to imagine. It happens and continues to happen on a routine basis in Perry County.
"....A clerk and a deputy at the Perry County jail were in the process of letting surveyor Lauralee Wilcox McCool see the jail log when Sheriff Ray Byrd stopped the process.
‘’When I told Sheriff Byrd what I wanted he said the information was confidential,’’ McCool recalled. ‘’The clerk said he thought it was covered under the FOIA.
“Get the prosecutor on the phone,”’ the sheriff bellowed. The surveyor said she thought the sheriff intended to scare her away.
Attempts to reach the prosecutor and another attorney were unsuccessful. McCool was told she could file a written request and the sheriff would talk to his attorney about it. McCool went to her car to get a sheet of paper for the written request; when she returned, she asked the sheriff if he had talked to the prosecutor.
“Yeah, he said he didn’t like it any more than I did, but there was nothing we could do,” the sheriff told her.
The sheriff then handed her the copy.
Byrd said later that he knew who McCool was 15 minutes after she left because he ran her driver’s license and called the local police in Greenbrier, who told him McCool was an employee at the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway. McCool was working as an intern in the news department at the time. Byrd called the newspaper and left a message: “Tell her Sheriff Byrd called.”
Byrd said in an interview later that the sheriff’s office didn’t have time for such surveys, but added, “She got what she came after.”
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Why Perry County
Perry County has a unique place in Arkansas politics.
It is a small county conveniently located next to the seat of Arkansas power. The large national forests make it easy to hide from prying eyes. If you need to make someone disappear, Perry County is the place to make it happen....if you have paid your "hunting license."
Throughout Arkansas political history, Perry County has made news. When state prisoners were routinely farmed out to local power players to serve as cooks and housekeepers at deer camps, it was abuses at the deer camps in Perry County that finally led to the end of the practice. Those deer camps continue to exist and serve as the foundation of multi generational political relationships that often play into state politics. It is no accident that the most powerful member of the Arkansas State Senate is from Perry County.
The law enforcement in Perry County is dedicated towards ensuring that the role of Perry County as the smoky filled back room of Pulaski County. Bookies, drug manufacturers, political powers, and financial interests forge bonds over the generations that serve all of their interests. The interests that are left behind are those of the common citizen.
One of the reason the state police was founded was to break the corrupt political machines of the local sheriff and county judge. Today, in many cases those same state police troopers and veterans have become simple extensions of protection for the local political machine. The once highly respected organization has fallen victim to the lure of easy money offered by these enterprises.
We make it our mission to expose the corruption in Perry County. Perhaps the same forces that exposed and corrected the abuses of state inmates at the hands of the Perry County Deer Camps will join together again to break the corrupt political mafia we face today.
It is a small county conveniently located next to the seat of Arkansas power. The large national forests make it easy to hide from prying eyes. If you need to make someone disappear, Perry County is the place to make it happen....if you have paid your "hunting license."
Throughout Arkansas political history, Perry County has made news. When state prisoners were routinely farmed out to local power players to serve as cooks and housekeepers at deer camps, it was abuses at the deer camps in Perry County that finally led to the end of the practice. Those deer camps continue to exist and serve as the foundation of multi generational political relationships that often play into state politics. It is no accident that the most powerful member of the Arkansas State Senate is from Perry County.
The law enforcement in Perry County is dedicated towards ensuring that the role of Perry County as the smoky filled back room of Pulaski County. Bookies, drug manufacturers, political powers, and financial interests forge bonds over the generations that serve all of their interests. The interests that are left behind are those of the common citizen.
One of the reason the state police was founded was to break the corrupt political machines of the local sheriff and county judge. Today, in many cases those same state police troopers and veterans have become simple extensions of protection for the local political machine. The once highly respected organization has fallen victim to the lure of easy money offered by these enterprises.
We make it our mission to expose the corruption in Perry County. Perhaps the same forces that exposed and corrected the abuses of state inmates at the hands of the Perry County Deer Camps will join together again to break the corrupt political mafia we face today.
Friday, June 6, 2008
A small county with big problems
This blog is an attempt by a group of Perry County citizens to end the corrupt political machine that intimidates and threatens our friends and neighbors while creating personal profits from public funds. For fear of retribution and reprisal, we remain anonymous but are going to make public the things that we have heard throughout the county. Many of these are rumors based on fact. Some are just rumors. We believe that where smoke exists there must be a fire and will continue to publish the smoke in hopes that the fire of corruption can be extinguished.
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