The MHD3 in Jones County Justice Court
JONES COUNTY, MS – As many of y’all know we had our court date today in Jones County, MS for charges stemming from our unlawful arrest on May 14th at the hands of members of Alex Hodge’s Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
When our rights were violated and our property destroyed by those active with Alex Hodge’s Jones County Sheriff’s Department we knew accountability was in order. And we were emboldened to make that happen after the outpouring of support we received immediately after the incident and this week after befriending many Jones County residents who wished us luck.
Our trial was held at the Jones County Justice Court in a room on the third floor that was about 20′ wide by 80′ long. We were represented by Michael Cory Jr. & Dale Danks with their two legal assistants, of the Jackson, MS-based Danks, Miller, Hamer & Cory and Tom Schornhorst , Emeritus Professor of Law Indiana University School of Law. Also present were a number of friends and family including my mom (now living in Ohio), Aunt Kathy (from southwest Louisiana), girlfriend Allison Gibbs (from northern Virginia), Michele Seven and family (from Nashville), Marc Forman (from New Orleans), Anarcho Phil (from southeast Alabama), LaVette Collins (from Jackson, MS), Chip Irby and his mother (from the area) and many others.
As we’ve learned to do in interactions with law enforcement – we took a lot of notes to detail the going-ons of our trial. But, rather than dissect the trial point-by-point here I’ll just cut to the chase of what went down. Before our trial started we were offered a plea deal – the State would dismiss the charges levied against us and refund the cash bond that we paid on May 14th if we agreed not to pursue this any further. We declined (as that wouldn’t come close to holding these folks accountable) and the trial proceeded as scheduled. Our lawyers were incredible and presented rock-solid arguments but in the end, Judge David Lyons asked for a couple of weeks to decide the outcome.
So what motivates us? Why are we doing this? Well, our principles for one. Also, the support of the many many people in the freedom community and the good folks in/around Jones County that now know they are not alone – that they can speak out about injustices they’ve suffered at the hands of Alex Hodge’s Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
Obviously we’ll keep y’all updated on the going-ons. And thanks to everyone that’s supported us and others in similar situations. It’s really what makes this possible.
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- Sep 11, 2009: Thank You Thursday: Jones County Trial Edition | the Motorhome Diaries
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Right On! Dudes with principles, I LOVE ya. And the whole idea about the camera is the gun, well that is kinda true.
Keep it up1
I’m very proud of you guys!
Hay guys I work at Mcalisters! I have been seeing yall a lot lately and I read the article in the news paper bout all that stuff that happend to yall! That is so crazy ! But I have been wondering what yall are all about???
I miss spelled my name! Ha but its brandy not grandy!
I bet Judge David Lyons was about to poop in his pants when he saw that you guys were loaded for Bear. I hope you get compensation, a public apoligy and the officer will lose his job.
—Before our trial started we were offered a plea deal – the State would dismiss the charges levied against us and refund the cash bond that we paid on May 14th if we agreed not to pursue this any further.—
I think Adam owes me dinner.
Well done, fellas!
awesome work, keep up that fight guys
I just want to say that I can assure Robert that Judge Lyons was not intimated. Judge Lyons and the other two Justice Court judges enjoy a very respectable reputation in Jones Count, unlike the Sherriff’s Department.
I believe The Guys will say that he was fair in his handling of the matter. The deal offered by the State had nothing to do with the Judge being intimated. The County Attorney represents the State, not the Judge.
My belief is that most of the people in Jones County have been embarrassed by this whole event and just want it to go away. I have not heard anyone from this area defend the JCSO actions. Nonetheless we the taxpayers will be the ones who have to foot the bill for the JCSO’s actions.
Dang lookit that, Pete almost looks respectable with that spiffy sport jacket!
I’m amazed that Pete even wore a shirt, much less a blazer!
William, I’m pretty sure you meant “intimidated”. “Intimated” means something else entirely.
Good work!
Q: Were you able to request a jury trial, and if so, why didn’t you?
hey guys…was thinking about ya’ll all day yesterday! i’ve come down with a cold, or the girls and i would have been there for support, sitting with chip and his mom! i’ve been waiting for an update, and when i hear from tim, i’ll let him know what went down….was great to meet ya’ll, and feel free to drop by anytime you are in this area! big hugs,
Jess
You are correct KB. I used a spell checker on the entire post and still got it wrong. Thanks for pointing out the mistake. It was a long day and I was tired.
“Before our trial started we were offered a plea deal – the State would dismiss the charges levied against us and refund the cash bond that we paid on May 14th if we agreed not to pursue this any further.”
With Dale Danks, former Mayor of Jackson and high profile attorney and Tom Schornhorst, Emeritus Professor of Law Indiana University School of Law representing you guys pro bono do you think the JCSO smelled a lawsuit coming. The deal was the best way out for the JCSO.
The last time a sheriff in Jones County lost a large lawsuit it cost him the election and he was a good sheriff. Jones County will make change at the polls but many of them do not know what is going on with the JCSO.
You guys may accomplish what may not have happen without all of this.
Robert, if you are worried about the taxpayers footing the bill for this whole event, then why do you (the taxpayers of Jones County) keep electing sheriff Hodge and allowing his officers to do the things they do. The sheriff of any given county in this country answers to noboby but the people of that county. Not the President, Governor, or any of the ABC groups, just the taxpayers of that county. So maybe the taxpayers of Jones County should fire Hodge and and elect an honorable person that will hold their department accountable for their actions, maybe then you wouldn’t have these embarrassing events that you wish would just go away. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about footing the bill for the wrongful actions of your deputies. Go MHD keep standing up for your rights.
In liberty, Wade Price
TYPO my comment was to Willam not Robert.
Wade – I believe this is Sheriff Hodges first year in office so we Jones Countians don’t “keep electing him” we made a mistake and voted him in. Hopefully we can correct that mistake next election.
MHD – I have a friend who recently left the jail because of the issues there. He said they no longer have control over the inmates and that soon someone either a inmate or a jailer would get serously hurt or die because of Sheriff Hodges changes there. He had worked there for years . . .
Wow, makes you wonder how many other times, and not just there but all over, that charges were dropped just so someone wouldn’t pursue a wrongful action taken against them.
And hey Adam, I’m curious, did you stand when the judge came into the courtroom?
In the words of a great Tennessee and Mississippi patriot, “Keep the skeer in ‘em!”
Arbitrary abuse of power is arbitrary abuse of power no matter where it occurs.
Don’t let up!
Memo to Sheriff Hodge:
“You’re in a heap of trouble, son.”
Nice work guys! I’m sending MARV a sip of his favorite beverage.
NO!….election time is not the only time to bring change! Instead of sitting around being embarrassed about Hodge, the citizens of Jones County need to call WDAM, newspapers, etc., and demand investigation. If they keep hearing enough, they will finally smell enough smoke to actually begin reporting with integrity on this silly little ego-driven excuse for a Sheriff. People have the power, they just don’t do anything with it. Somehow, they as a whole either really rather gossip about the serious goings-on in than use their authority. They have forgotten that Jones County is THEIR county, THEIR chosen place of residence. Sheriff Hodge thinks Jones County is HIS county, HIS domain. It is similar to a Justice Judge who says something like, “This is MY courtroom and blah…blah….blah…..,”…..NO! That court is not HIS court at all….that court belongs to the people of Jones County and he represents them and should be expected to uphold the law without regard for the ‘good ole boy’ system swirling around reeking havoc on the citizens of Jones County, particularly those who have no means, either $$$$$ or knowledge, to defend themselves properly.
To all of your posters above who like to shine the light on other posters’ mistakes with regard to spelling, etc. Why don’t you spend your time shinning a light on injustice and those who suffer from it here in Jones County. You may not have a horse in this race but how about a little respect for those who do. If all you want to do involves grammer and spelling, go back to school or become a teacher’s aide. This stuff is serious business here in Jones County and you need to have some respect for that fact.
I will admit I have never met Judges Lyons and have not heard anything about him. Maybe he is fair and true to the law. However, he is in charge of saving face on the behalf of Jones County for now. I’m looking forward to the Judges’ ruling.
I have witnessed two trials in Brother Billy Joe’s court and I was not impressed with Jones County Justice.
Have a good day.
No, Lyons is NOT in charge of ’saving face’ for Jones County right now or any other time!!! This idea you just expressed, Robert, is a prime example of how the people, the votesrs, have given up the right and true idea that THEY hold the power, THEY can use their power collectively and individually to see to it that THEIR community where THEY pay taxes, where THEY vote, where THEY choose to live and raise a family is a reflection of how THEY see things and NOT how people who are supposed to be WORKING FOR THEM abuse the office they hold by either directly abusing their power or by being complicit in cover-up. , He and other judges may ‘take on’ that endeavor but that is NOT THEIR SWORN DUTY. Judges are sworn to uphold the law with justice and fairness according to the law and constitution and before God. Anything they do outside of that is exactly what the people who elect or appoint them in the first place should be up in arms about and stop putting up with.