Monroe County Mojo

Sex Offender Arrested For Failure To Register

Monroe Mojo — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:02:11 +0000

From Sheriff Andy Hood:

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department arrested David Richard Drummond on charges that he Failed to Register as a Sex Offender. Drummond was extradited by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department from Moody Police Department in Alabama. Drummond originally registered with Monroe County December 4th, 2006. He first went noncompliant in March of 2007. He was located and re-registered on March 27, 2007. He went noncompliant a second time on September 30,2007. In March of 2008, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department in Louisiana contacted Monroe County and enquired about Mr. Drummond. St. Landry Parish stated that Mr. Drummond was noncompliant in registering with their department also. On April 14, 2008, Jefferson County Sheriff Department in Alabama contacted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and stated that Mr. Drummond was at their facility trying to register as a sex offender. Monroe County Sheriff’s Department investigators informed Jefferson County that we had a arrest warrant for Mr.Drummond . The warrant was sent to them, and Mr. Drummond was arrested in Moody, Alabama. Mr. Drummond signed a waiver of extradition and he was transported back to Monroe County on May 13, 2008. Information obtained through the investigation shows that Mr. Drummond was trailing from Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, displaying no regards for the sex offender law of any of the three states. He was arrested on Mississippi Code Section 45-33-33, which states that upon a second or subsequent violation of failing to register, the offender shall be arrested for this violation. Their are currently 39 registered sex offenders in Monroe County. Of which, Mr. Drummond is the only noncompliant register at this time.

David Richard Drummond 49 yoa 850 Markeeta Rd Leeds, Alabama Charged with Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

Bond was set at $3,000 by Judges Robert Fowlkes

“We are going to do everything possible to keep the Sex Offenders that live in Monroe County compliant with state law.”

Mississippi law requires the Sheriff’s Department to obtain the following information from registrants:

Name

Address

Place of Employment

Crime for which convicted

Date and place of conviction, adjudication or acquittal by reason of insanity

Aliases used

Social Security Number

Date of Birth

Age, race, sex, height, weight, hair color and eye color

Description of the offense for which registration is required

Identifying factors such as scars, marks or tattoos

Anticipated Future Residence

Offense History

Fingerprints and photograph, if not already obtained

A DNA Sample

Offenders must notify the Mississippi Department of Public Safety within 10 days before moving to or returning to a county in Mississippi
They must register with the local Sheriff’s Department within 10 days of first residing in the county.
Once the paper work is completed with the local Sheriff’s Department. the offender has to report in person with the paper work at a Mississippi driver’s license station and obtain a State of Mississippi Sex Offender ID Card.
Offenders must reregister with the MDPS, in person, every 90 days and be issued a new ID Card.
The Offender must report any change in address by personally appearing at a MDPS Driver’s License station within 10 days before changing addresses.
If moving out of state, offenders must notify the MDPS within 10 days before moving to another state. Offenders must comply with any registration requirement of the new state.

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Arrest made for felony firearm possession

Monroe Mojo — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:49:41 +0000

From Sheriff Andy Hood

Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies made a early morning traffic stop on May 12th. The driver was consistenly giving deputies false information about her identity. It was later found out that she was really Latoshia Stephenson and was a prior convicted felon. Deputies found a .22 caliber handgun that was in her possession. Stephenson was charged with multiple misdemeanor violations and felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. She was stopped on Davidson Road at 0126 hrs on May 12. She had been previously convicted of Credit Card Fraud in Lowndes County and False Pretense in Clay County.

Latoshia Stephenson 31yoa 853 Clay Street Aberdeen, Ms. Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Bond set at $5,000 by Judge Robert Fowlkes.

Electrical fire damages Hamilton High School

Monroe Mojo — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:29:36 +0000

Electrical fire
damages school

HAMILTON – School officials were awaiting damage estimates after a mid-morning electrical fire Monday at Hamilton High School.
No one was injured in the fire, which started around 10 a.m. and was extinguished less than an hour later by the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department.
“When we got to school Monday morning, the power was surging in the technology building and the elementary building,” Principal Mark Howell said. “We shut off the power to both buildings and called Monroe County Power. They found some lightning damage to one of the transformers. When we turned it back on, the surge protector caught fire in the technology building. We had a pretty good blaze going there for a few minutes.”
Students were evacuated to the football field when teachers smelled the smoke.
Damage estimates from the fire were not available Monday night.

Appointments For The City Of Aberdeen

Monroe Mojo — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:49:08 +0000

From Thursday, May 8’s Board Meeting

Roll Call Votes:

City Clerk Jackie Benson

Sykes Yes

Garth No

Ewing Yes

Nichols Yes

Allen Yes

City Attorney Tim Erving

Sykes No

Garth No

Ewing Yes

Nichols Yes

Allen Yes

Public Defender Tom Brahan

Sykes No

Garth No

Ewing Yes

Nichols Yes

Allen Yes

City Judge Adrian Haynes

Sykes Yes

Garth Yes

Ewing Yes

Nichols No

Allen No

Vice Mayor Garth

Sykes Yes

Garth Yes

Ewing No

Nichols No

Allen No

Vice Mayor Sykes

Sykes Yes
Garth Yes
Ewing Yes
Nichols Yes
Allen No

Special election to be called in Aberdeen’s Ward 2

Monroe Mojo — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:00:46 +0000

ABERDEEN — After hearing two days of testimony, Judge Henry Lackey ruled that a special election will be called for in Ward 2. The court will be petition Gov. Haley Barbour for the special election, which was decided in a tribunal of lackey and Aberdeen Election Commissioners Betty Jackson and Barbara Vassar.

“I realize after hearing the testimonies that we need to educate our youngsters that voting is not a right, it’s a freedom,” Lackey stated. “Proof shows that absentee ballots were cast by people that weren’t qualified and three of those voters voted again on election day and some of the voters voted in the wrong ward. This was not a question of fraud, but whether or not the true will of the people was expressed. Myself and the election commissioners were not convinced that the will of the people was determined.”

In the case of Cloyd Garth vs. Wilchie Clay and The Aberdeen Democratic Executive Committee, Garth, through his attorney, Gary Goodwin, had asked the court to rule that he be declared the outright winner of the Ward 2 Alderman race. Garth defeated Clay by one vote before the ADEC found three voters that had voted twice in Ward 2.

“We think that the thing for the court to do is to let this election stand with Mr. Garth as the winner,” Goodwin said. “People get the kind of government they want. My client has done nothing wrong and he should be the winner f this election.”

Lackey also ruled that the city’s charter states that Garth will remain active alderman until the results of the special election are determined.

Jim Waide and Kirk Tharp, attorneys for Clay and the ADEC, respectively, attempted to prove that not only illegal votes had been cast, but fraudulent ones, as well.

“We ask that the courts throw out all of the absentee votes and declare the poll winner, Wilchie Clay,” Waide said. “We feel that there were many illegal absentee votes cast and we feel that Mr. Garth directly influenced the three voters who voted twice.”

Garth, who testified under oath, declared his innocence through out the hearing.

“Although this is not the outcome that we wanted to see, it will at least allow for another election instead of declaring my opponent the winner,’ Garth said as he exited the courtroom Thursday.

Voter Hearing Update 12 P.M. 5/08/08

Monroe Mojo — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:40:56 +0000

In the morning session of Garth vs. Wilchie Clay and the Aberdeen Democratic Executive Committee, testimony was heard from more individuals that voted absentee, as subpoenaed by attorneys for the defenese, Jim Waide and Kirk Tharp.

Ward 2 Alderman Cloyd Garth also took the stand Thursday morning. Garth stated that he gave no instructions to his drivers regarding absentee voters. He also acknowledged that Tony Walker did use his van for hauling voters. He denied any knowledge of wrong doings or payofffs.

In testimony yesterday, city clerk Jackie Bensons stated that Garth, “told me to back my bags — that I was out of here.”

Garth stated this morning that it was within his right as alderman to so do. His attorney, Gary Goodwin, also accused Benson and the committee of holding clandestine meetings.

Garth also stated that he does not provide his campaign workers with any guides concerning how they are to conduct themselves regarding voters on his behalf.

Testimony was also heard from Walker. He stated that he personally asked Garth for the use of his van and that “it was not his responsibility to tell people how to vote an absentee ballot.”

Afternoon session begins at 1:15 p.m.

Court Update Wednesday, May 7

Monroe Mojo — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:31:34 +0000

Testimony begins in election hearing JEFF CLARK Monroe Journal ABERDEEN — Testimony got under way Wednesday in the case of Cloyd Garth versus Wilchie Clay and the Aberdeen Democratic Executive Committee (ADEC). Judge Henry Lackey presided over the hearing. Garth filed a petition for judicial review of election contest last week after his opponent, Wilchie Clay, was declared winner of the Ward 2 Alderman election. A $300 bond needed for the petition was secured by Garth and Ward 1 Alderman Alonzo Sykes.

In the April 22 Ward 2 runoff, Garth defeated Clay by a total of one vote. After an inquiry was held by the ADEC, three voters were found to have cast votes twice, both in absentee form and at the polls.

“We believe with overwhelming evidence that Mr. Garth influenced those votes and that the three voters cast fraudulently cast absentee votes,” Jim Waide, Clay’s attorney, said. “These people voted twice and they were Garth voters. The Aberdeen Democratic Executive Committee did a thorough investigation into this matter.”

Kirk Tharp, ADEC attorney concurred with Waide. “I felt the committee, my client, did the right thing by throwing these votes out,” he said.

According to Garth’s attorney Gary Goodwin, the poll workers and the ADEC should be held responsible for the discrepancies,

“We feel that the poll workers failed to do their jobs,” Goodwin said. “We have three votes that should be counted. There was no fraud on behalf of my client.”

Goddwin’s first witness of the day was ADEC Chairman Coy Flynn. Flynn stated that he felt that the committee acted properly and responsibly in reaching their decision and that he had received a number of complaints about the primary election held April 1. According to Flynn, then-mayor Cecil Belle was one of the complainants.

During his testimony, Flynn said the committee investigated the runoff because of the number of absentee votes cast in the ward.

“Wilchie Clay won the poll vote 234 to 209,” Flynn said. “However, Garth had 55 absentee votes to Clay’s 29. This gave Garth a one vote advantage. There was no motive by the committee to favor one candidate over another. We only wanted to fully represent the will of the people.”

Goodwin next called city clerk Jackie Benson to the stand. According to Benson’s testimony, the ADEC was one day late in officially certifying Clay as the winner.

Benson was also questioned on the validity of the absentee ballots cast by Clayton Gates, Ryan Love and Robert Wilson. Benson said Gates checked he would be out of town on election day, Love didn’t check anything and Wislon checked that he was permanently or temporarily disabled on his absentee application.

During Gates testimony, he stated he is a resident of 503 Burnett St. in Ward 2. He also said that he was driven to vote absentee by Theresa Straughter and that he voted absentee because he was planning to be on a vacation in Florida during the runoff. He also said numerous times that he thought he was voting in the “election” when he voted absentee on Saturday, April 12 and he was voting in the “runoff” the second time he voted. When asked if he talked to Garth, he stated, “Only when I’m in trouble. He also testified that had voted for Wilchie Clay.

According to Ryan Love’s testimony, he is a voter of Ward 1 and he should have never been allowed to vote in Ward 2. Love is listed on the Ward 2 voter roll at 605 Burnett St. He stated under oath that he lives at 605 Bennett St.

Love also stated many times that he voted absentee on Saturday, April 12 and then three days later on April 15 at the Ward 2 precinct. Although the election was held on April 22, Love was adamant about the date he allegedly voted.

The last person to testify Wenesday was Wilson. Wilson said that he “lived in the ward were Wilchie Clay had been his long term alderman” and that he “didn’t remember voting at the polls on April 22.”

White arrested on molestation charges

Monroe Mojo — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:42:53 +0000

From Sheriff Andy Hood:

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department has arrested 31yoa Joey White from Calvary Church Rd in Amory. White is accused of Molesting a 16yoa female March 22nd at a residence on Hwy 25 just outside of Amory. Bond was set by Judge Robert Fowlkes in the amount of $25,000.

Joey White 50051 Calvary Church Rd Amory, Ms. 31yoa Charge: 1 count of Molestation Bond set at : $25,000

30 to be subpoenaed

Monroe Mojo — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:29:36 +0000

After a continuance was given by Judge Henry Lackey today, subpoenas were issued for 30 people. They will appear in court on Wednesday.

More Info:

Jim Waide is representing Wilchie Clay

Kirk Tharp is representing the Aberdeen Democratic Executive Committee

Gary Goodwin is representing Cloyd Garth

See tomorrow’s Daily Journal for more information.

Ward 2 Story From Daily Journal

Monroe Mojo — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:39:31 +0000

ABERDEEN - The Aberdeen Executive Democratic Committee has reversed its earlier decision for a new election and named Wilchie Clay the Ward 2 alderman.

The move came less than a week after the committee called for another runoff in Ward 2 due to possible voter fraud.

“From this examination of all relevant evidence, it is the finding of the committee that three illegal absentee votes were cast for Cloyd Garth and therefore, Wilchie Clay is declared winner of the second primary as alderman of Ward 2, city of Aberdeen, Mississippi, by a vote of 263 to 261 …” said committee chairman Coy Flynn.

The controversy started on April 22 when Garth, the incumbent, defeated Clay by one vote in the runoff election. After recounting the votes the following day, the committee found three residents voted twice in Ward 2. All three voters, as well as three more individuals, were subpoenaed for questioning on Friday. After hearing the testimony, the committee sent a request for a new election date to a city judge.

Before a judge could set a date, the committee reversed the decision.

“I think this is totally unjust,” said Garth. “They (executive committee) had no grounds to stand upon. I talked to an attorney in Washington, D.C., and he said they have no grounds to do what they did and that it is totally illegal. They told me that they were going to throw out three votes and declare Mr. Clay the winner. When I asked why they were doing this, Coy Flynn told me that they didn’t have the money to go to court. You cannot take away this when I was the winner. Not only do I plan to pursue it legally, I may also sue the committee members personally and press criminal charges against them.”

Clay could not be reached for comment.