Brownwood, Beware the Wolves: All Authoritive Discrimination and Corruption is Local and often carried out by "Religious" Officials !

Bush lets his conscience be not troubled

I loved the part in President Bush's speech at the Coretta Scott King funeral where he defended the people who discriminated against the Kings and racial minorities: "Yet they also knew that sheriffs, mayors and governors were not ultimately in control of events, that a greater authority was interested and very much in charge."
Apparently, he was alluding to the fact that God was in charge, so it didn't make any difference that the humans in authority assisted in the discrimination and shouldn't bother their conscience. I don't think it bothered Mr. Bush's conscience, either.

Hugh Harvey, Greenville

source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/letters/stories/DN-friartletters_0210edi.ART.State.Edition1.1181aa4d.html

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And on another note,

Scandal shakes up small Arkansas town
Mayor, police chief charged in corruption probe

LONOKE, Arkansas (AP) -- The mayor was arrested in a corruption probe, the police chief is accused in a drug-making scheme, and the prosecutor says the chief's wife took prisoners from jail to have sex with them -- and more arrests could be coming.
It's a lot for a town of fewer than 4,300 residents to stomach in one day.
"We've just got a tough time ahead of us right now," said Assistant Police Chief Sean O'Nale, who is serving as interim chief while Chief Jay Campbell is suspended with pay.
The chief and his wife, the mayor and two bail bondsmen were arrested Monday and freed on bail. (Watch as the chief says he's innocent -- 2:23)
Mayor Thomas Privett continued his normal duties Tuesday and called a special city council meeting for Wednesday evening to deal with personnel issues.
Campbell said he was wrongly accused, and lawyers for the others said their clients were innocent.
Prosecutor Lona McCastlain dismissed criticism that the investigation was politically motivated and said her work isn't done.
"This investigation is ongoing and the state has not ruled out that there may be additional charges filed and that there may be additional suspects," McCastlain said.
In Lonoke, about 25 miles east of Little Rock, just about everyone knows the defendants.
"The chief and his wife have been real good to my mother, they're neighbors over there. And they haven't been anything but nice," said real estate broker Charlie Knox.
The allegations paint a different picture.
Campbell and his wife, Kelly Harrison Campbell, allegedly stole antique jewelry from a home and pawned it. The chief also is accused with the bail bondsmen of taking part in a conspiracy to make methamphetamine and use it to frame someone.
Kelly Campbell faces escape-related charges for allegedly taking two inmates out of the jail to have sex with her at ballparks, the chief's office and a hotel. She also is charged with residential burglary, theft and taking prohibited items into a jail.
The mayor was charged with misdemeanor theft of services. A State Police affidavit says he used state prisoners to do work at his home, including fixing an air conditioner and hanging Christmas lights. Campbell also is alleged to have had prisoners work at his home.
Ralph Cloar of Little Rock, an attorney for the mayor, said he has known Privett for decades and called him a law-abiding citizen.
"I think when all the facts come out everyone will see that it's just a minor situation that some jury will have to determine even if it was misdemeanor criminal conduct," he said.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/02/08/corrupt.town.ap/index.html
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Wednesday, February 08, 2006

TOP STORY >> City corruption
BY JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer

IN SHORT: Mayor, police chief, others to be prosecuted

Lonoke residents are reeling at the news that its top gun with a reputation for being tough on meth cooks and users has himself been charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Meanwhile, his wife is charged with having sex with prisoners, and the mayor with having inmates work at his home.
Lonoke Mayor Thomas Privett has called a special city council meeting for 5:30 p.m. today to discuss the future of Police Chief Jay Campbell. Privett placed Campbell on paid administrative leave after the chief was arrested Monday on conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and theft charges, among others, but some city councilmen don’t think Campbell should be paid.
Campbell, his wife and two bail bondsmen all were arrested on fel-ony drug charges and other charges Monday, and Privett was charged with a misdemeanor for having jail inmates do work around his house.
An investigation begun about six months ago into whether or not some Lonoke city officials improperly used Act 309 inmate labor to fix a boat and hang Christmas lights has resulted in the charges that Campbell conspired to manufacture methamphetamine and that his wife had sex with prisoners about two dozen times, supplying some with liquor and marijuana.
Surrender to sheriff
Chief Campbell, his wife Kelly Harrison Campbell and bail bondsmen Bobby Cox Jr. and Larry Norwood all surrendered to the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office Monday on an array of felony drug, alcohol and/or theft charges and were booked and released on bond, according to Sheriff Jim Roberson.
boat and hang Christmas lights has resulted in the charges that Camp-bell conspired to manufacture meth-amphetamine and that his wife had sex with prisoners about two dozen times, supplying some with liquor and marijuana.

SURRENDER TO SHERIFF
Chief Campbell, his wife, Kelly Harrison Campbell, and bail bondsmen Bobby Cox Jr. and Larry Norwood all surrendered to the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office Monday on an array of felony drug, alcohol and/or theft charges and were booked and released on bond, according to Sheriff Jim Roberson.
Cox, Norwood and Chief Camp-bell each posted $50,000 bond and Kelly Campbell posted a $20,000 bond. They will be arraigned March 13.
Privett, who also surrendered, posted a $500 bond for his lone count, misdemeanor theft of services. Privett’s arraignment is set for April 3.
Several months ago, the state Corrections Department found that some Act 309 inmates— state prisoners who are moved to towns and counties to provide labor and alleviate overcrowding — were doing personal work for city officials.
The ADC decertified the city’s Act 309 program and took the inmates back to prison.

STATE INVESTIGATION
At the request of the Corrections Department, the State Police then initiated the investigation that resulted in the filing of charges by Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain.
Privett, who has said that he used inmate labor to fix his home air conditioner, to hang his Christmas lights and to mow a lot in town belonging to a friend, admits he should have known better.
He has never denied those actions. He said Tuesday that the charge brought by McCastlain was “politically motivated” and pro-mised he would mount a vigorous defense.“Ms. McCastlain has a history of using her power as prosecuting attorney to bring charges that generate headlines, but have no substance,” Privett said.
Mark Hampton, representing some of the accused, also has called the charges political.
McCastlain hasn’t announced her candidacy, but is widely believed to be seeking reelection in November.
In a brief news conference to announce the charges Tuesday, McCastlain disputed allegations that her actions were politically motivated.
“This case was investigated (by the State Police) on its merits and charged on its merits. I play the cards as dealt,” she said.
“I disagree (with paying the chief’s salary),” Alderman Michael Florence said Tuesday. He said he was not the only alderman who felt that way, and he encouraged Privett to call the special session on Wednesday.
Alderman Pat Howell said he could see paying Campbell for a while, but pointed out that court cases like these could play out for a couple of years.
Capt. Sean O’Nale has been named interim chief, a position he held for about a month last summer while an internal investigation was conducted into the allegation of abuse of inmate labor.
Privett said he would like to assure Lonoke residents that there would be “no disruption in the quality law enforcement that they are accustomed to.”

MORALE HIT
“Morale has taken a hit,” said O’Nale, but he said the officers were professionals and that residents would continue to receive high quality protection and service from the department.
Privett called the charges “a tragic endeavor to disrupt the mayor and city council in their efforts to complete the important functions of municipal government.”
Privett hired Campbell, a former Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office dep-uty, as chief in October 2003. Camp-bell now stands accused of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, two counts of hindering apprehension or prosecution, conspiracy to commit burglary, theft by receiving, theft of services and one misdemeanor, theft of property.
The conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine is punishable with a term of 6 to 30 years.

WIFE CHARGED
Kelly Campbell was charged with five counts of furnishing prohibited articles, one count of second-degree escape, one count of residential burglary, four counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit residential burglary, one count of theft of property and one misdemeanor charge, tampering.
Cox was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, intimidating a juror, a witness or an informant and terroristic threatening.
Norwood was charged with a single count of criminal conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
The chief’s wife allegedly had sexual relations with at least two of the Act 309 inmates, according to Charles McLemore, investigator for the State Police.

SEX WITH PRISONERS
Prisoner Andrew Baker told McLemore that Kelly Campbell had a “very close relationship” with at least two Act 309 prisons, Shane Scott and Tim Ainsworth.
Scott told McLemore and Arkansas Department of Corrections officials that he had sex with Kelly Campbell 18 to 20 times in various places in the city and the county.
Among those places were the Lonoke Holiday Inn Express, at the police department, in the ball park press box, once at the Campbell home on Cherry Street and numerous times in Campbell’s Suburban in the Department of Human Services parking lot next to the jail.
Ainsworth told investigators that he had sex at least four times with the chief’s wife and then asked to return to prison for fear of getting in trouble and having to serve more time.
Officers, jailers and dispatchers confirmed the relationships and said Kelly Campbell came and went freely from the jail and that the chief would not discuss it with them.
At the instruction of their supervisor, Lisa Marty, dispatchers noted Kelly Campbell’s visits in the jail log.

CHIEF IRATE
“When the chief found out, he became irate,” reported McLemore.
The jail logs reflect some of the comings and goings in the jail, as did the security cameras, reported Mc-Lemore, but “a lightning storm ‘supposedly’ hit and knocked out the cameras destroying the video.”
McLemore’s affidavit was sworn Feb. 6.
He reported that Kelly Campbell brought vodka, gin and Crown Royal and other bottles of alcohol for Act 309 inmates.
Baker also reported that she brought marijuana into the jail for some inmates and reportedly gave Scott a cell phone with which they could communicate “regularly.”
Baker told McLemore that he had taken photographs of Kelly Campbell and Scott in various intimate poses while the prisoners were working on Chief Campbell’s party barge and motor in the Otasco building owned by Privett. Baker said she paid him $260 to keep his “mouth shut.”

DRUGS TAKEN
Kelly Campbell also is charged with breaking into a neighbor’s house and taking jewelry and prescription drugs.
The items were taken from the home of Jo Talley in March or April of 2003. Talley reported the break-in around noon, and the Lonoke police searched the house and took fingerprints at her request. Chief Campbell came by and asked if any medications were missing.
Kelly Campbell then telephoned Talley to say she had noticed the back door broken and had let herself in to make sure everything was all right, so her fingerprints would be all over the house.
The fingerprints were lost and never developed. A prescription bottle of the narcotic hydrocodone syr-up was later found to be missing.
At least three other people complained that painkilling medication was missing from their homes after a visit by Kelly Campbell.
She also is charged with stealing jewelry worth several thousand dollars and 30 gold Krugerrands worth more than $25,000.
Chief Campbell is charged with helping sell the jewelry to a pawn shop, “then calling in a panic to get it back,” according to McLemore’s affidavit.

METH CONSPIRACY
Chief Campbell also is charged with entering into a conspiracy with bail bondsmen Cox and Norwood to manufacture methamphetamine.
According to McLemore’s report, the two bondsmen needed leverage on a man named Roger Light, who could lead them to someone who skipped, leaving them potentially forfeiting a large bond to the courts.
McLemore said that with Camp-bell’s help, they told Ronald Adams they could make his drug charges in Lonoke County and Jacksonville go away if he would cook some meth, sell it to Light and let them bust Light and force him to help find the man who skipped bond.
According to McLemore’s affidavit, O’Nale, now the acting chief, actually arrested Light. Campbell and Norwood then took Adams’ meth lab and reported it to the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office as “found on the road.” McLemore said the conspiracy came to light because Adams reported the incident to the State Police after nothing was done to help him out of his drug cases.
source: http://www.arkansasleader.com/2006/02/top-story-city-corruption.html
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Wednesday, February 08, 2006

TOP STORY >> Residents in Lonoke stunned by arrests
BY JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer

IN SHORT: Although many of them are not surprised about the alleged corruption in their town.

Reaction to the arrest of Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell, his wife and Mayor Thomas Privett on Mon-day ranged from stunned surprise to resignation for those who said it was about time.
Ex-convict Fran Lindsey expressed shock.
“Jay has stood behind me,” she said rushing to city hall when she heard the news Tuesday morning that Campbell had been arrested on drug charges.
Campbell arrested her for distribution of methamphetamine about three years ago, and when she served her time, “He got me a car and set me up with a job,” she said. “I stand behind them.”
But a pair of city councilmen said the chief’s status on paid administrative leave had to be re-examined.
“I’m comfortable with the mayor,” said councilman Michael Florence, who noted that the mayor owned up to his mistaken judgment months ago in having city prisoners do work at his house.
“We’ve got a tough time ahead of us now,” said Capt. Sean O’Nale, the acting police chief.
City Clerk Gwen Pauschert said calls to city hall from the public had been mostly supportive of the mayor.
“I was floored,” said Lloyd Whitacre, a member of the city police commission, who also expressed anger that prosecutor Lona McCastlain held her news conference in her office, where there was only room for members of the press.
Interviewed in a grocery store parking lot, a young black woman who didn’t want to be identified said, “I’ve been having less confidence in the police department. This is very sick. I think it’s all true.”
The woman, a lifelong Lonoke resident, said of the mayor, “He needs to get the hell out.”
Ellen Massey, a nurse who has lived in Lonoke for three years, said, “I think it’s a mess. I’m gld they caught them.”
Of the police chief she said, “He knows that’s not right. This is the stuff (methamphetamine) that we’re trying to keep the kids away from. They need to realize what message they are sending the kids.”
Lynn Gooden, who is moving to Lonoke from the county, said, “It’s pretty bad for the chief. He’s for the drug dealers.”
Gooden said he has a brother in prison for arson, and the family is disappointed that the city of Lonoke has been stripped of its Act 309 program, which they hoped would bring him back to town to finish his sentence working around town while being held in the city jail.
“How can you trust (Chief Campbell)?” he asked. “He stays arresting people in the black neighborhood. Every dog has their day.”
“If they are guilty, they need to pay for it,” said Rick Stevens, a post office worker. “They need to pay for it. I think they are guilty. I know old Bobby Cox (arrested for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine) and he’s the first to holler ‘justice.’”

source: http://www.arkansasleader.com/2006/02/top-story-residents-in-lonoke-stunned.html