Puckett Asks Judge To Go Easy On Criminal
Rep. Jimmy Puckett is seeking re-election in his Northeast Mississippi HD 20 seat. He won a first term in 2007 defeating Republican Chris Brown by about 100 votes. The two will meet for a rematch on November 8 in what is a race both sides are certainly looking at once again. But with about a month to go, we have received a letter from this past January in which Puckett attempted to use his office to get a reduced sentence for a criminal in his district who he knows personally.
Here is some background: Doyle and Virginia Harris, an elderly couple in Amory, were attacked and robbed in their house in 2008 with the attackers using claw hammers to carry out of their crime. At the time, this was a major story in and around Monroe county. They were assaulted and had to be transported to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. The crimes were orchestrated by four young people, all of which have been tried and convicted of the crime.
On January 3, Puckett penned a letter on House letterhead asking Judge James Roberts for a lighter sentence for one of the four, John Daniel Rodgers. Puckett spoke with his father before sending the letter and spoke of John’s behavior and character and essentially blamed John’s involvement in the crime on his father working a night shift and not being at home. He chalked his actions up to peer pressure and said that he provided the transportation, but did not participate in the crimes. Puckett added, “It seems that probation and house arrest after a matter of time and special counseling would be beneficial to this young man.”
Read what Puckett wrote for yourself:
A few months after this, the couple’s daughter sent a response to Puckett, obviously not happy with his decision to involve himself in this case. She apparently never heard back. Read her letter here:
Here was the sentence for Rodgers, according to the Monroe Journal: “He was sentenced to 25 years for one count burglary of a building with 10 years suspended and five years post release supervision. On the conspiracy to commit larceny charge, Rogers was sentenced to five years with five years suspended. Rogers was sentenced to thirty years for one count of armed robbery with 15 years suspended.”
Note: If you are reading this via RSS or email, please click through to see the documents.
Since Puckett deemed it neccessary to get himself involved in trying to influence a Couts decision in a Felony Conviction,perhaps he should volunteer to go serve the other suspended 15 himself.
Exactly the same thing!
I agree, this is horible. You know what else is horrible ? When a republican US Senator, uses his influence to help his brother in law bribe judges. The senator’s punishment is that he is allowed to resign and continue a lobbyist career and be a leader of our party.. ( Oh we are such hypocrites )
Ron, you really need therapy.
Why would you say I need therapy.
I left the Merchant Marines, Got married, started a family, and made an effort to be a positive part of my community. My wife and I are the American Success story. We built our business on sweat and faith. Not once did we ask for or receive any Govt. pork.
We created jobs and brought revenue into our community. All was going well until an elected official Phil Bryant )told one of our customers, that it would be better for our customer to use on of this officials campaign contributors, instead of us.
Now that elected official carries the ability to regulate and punish the customer. What do you think our customer ( after apologising to me ) did.
I don’t need therapy, I need ethical govt. officials and voters who will demand it.
Like maybe prescription meds?
I wonder if ole Cottonmouth is as “outraged” about this as he is about Steve Simpson trying to get his friend out of jail? I’m sure Cottonmouth will post a scathing post asking Puckett to withdraw from this race and threatening criminal action. It’s coming any minute now. No? How about now?
C’mon, TheMainThing, be fair.
It’s real simple: for dirt on Democratic officials/candidates go to MIM, Y’all, FireMcCoy and sometimes Jackson Jambalaya. For dirt on Republican officials/candidates go to Cottonmouth and sometimes Jackson Jambalaya. There’s plenty of dirt to go around on both parties, trust me.
You won’t see anything bad about Puckett on Cottonmouth just like you won’t see anything bad about Simpson on MIM. Both deserve some bad press and both will get it in the proper places.
But what do we go to the JFP for? LOL
Uh, fish cleaning? Wrap up the guts with it? Heh.
I can’t remember if JFP does a decent nightclub report or not.
One quuestion for you Rankinlawyer. Is it OK to bribe judges for favorable rulings.
Those bogus rulings end up costing businesses tremendously in the form of higher insurance costs.
The questio again, and I’m sure that you don’t have enough personal honor to answer it, is:
Is it OK for lawyers to bribe judges?
More of us need to pass along our comments in such cases. Too often it is a matter of clarity for a judge to receive outside information when the attorneys in these cases(especially in small towns dominated by bully boys masquerading as lawyers) have more influence than good sense. In this case it is disgraceful to use the elected position to try to influence the outcome of a criminal action. I hope the voters remember this on election day.
Why don’t we just face it. They’re all crooks. It’s easier to stir up the IRe of working class people and make them think you’re protecting them from some imaginary or exagerated fear. ( Preachers do it all the time )
I was watching the news tonight and there were about four stories that will require invetigation by various Govt. agencies. A bunch of connected lawyers will bill taxpayers, and nothing will come of it except a few folks will make money.
You see, if our Government officials can keep usw misdirected from the real issue ( stealing from taxpayers, through pork) then poor ole’ John Q. Public, doesn’t have a clue.
Ron, of course it’s not okay for lawyers to bribe judges, and I’m sure your concerns are valid and the things that have happened to you are real. However, while I won’t speak for any of the other readers here, I resent your attempts to turn every story into your personal soapbox. This isn’t about you – it’s about an old couple in Amory and the kids who beat her up. It’s about one – ONE – member of the House who did something questionable. You’re wrong to consistently accuse every elected official of being corrupt unless you have proof and are willing to present it. We have some good and dedicated people doing their best to serve us, and your refusal to give them some credit only undermines your credibility.
By the way, Brett, is the boy still in jail? I noticed that the story has been out for awhile and wondered why it is only being posted two weeks prior to the election. Had this been made public before the filing period closed Mr. Puckett might have reconsidered running for reelection.
Bill, I would think he’s in jail still but I have not seen any stories about this since the conviction. You’d think if he did get a lighter sentence it would make the news. I first learned of the letter in the past week. Tried doing a google search and the only other thing I found online was a mention by the Tea Party- this was back in August when they were laying out their case against Puckett. Not sure how well known this is within Monroe county. Doesn’t look like it’s ever received any coverage. And I have no info on if and how Chris Brown might be using this.
Mr. Puckett knew this long before the election…back in April because he was sent letters concerning it….
Thank you Bill Billingsly. It is so great that we can bring the controversy and the conversation out in the view of public eyes; as well as the opinions from all sides. It makes the rest of us REALLY THINK about what is true and to continue to question.
I mean it, Bill, thank you for your comment.
Bill you,re right. It’s not about me. But the more I share my personal experiences on line and in conversation, the more folks come forward and share their experiences ( mostly unfavorable) of their encounters with elected officials or those who they put in charge of our agencies.
As to the incident in AMory, let me be clear on what I would do. “Shoot the Bastard” As Governor I would have pardoned the person that shoots the perpetrator. I would have also pardoned anyone who killed a dope dealer that was sellingf drugs to kids.
But what will happen is, law enforcement, lawyers and the criminal, will get a lot of press attention and fame, while the victims are eventualy relegated to just a piece of evidence.
Ron
You are either not taking or taking to much meds. The strain of your ill fated run for public office looks like it has been too much.
Go & seek help.
Since I have such a big opinionated mouth,here,let me speak for everybody on this—
If a man OR woman makes the decision to run and be in public office,no matter WHICH Political Party you belong to,it is your personal responsability to watch your mouth,P’s&Q’s,and ethics.I for one will bash ANY Public office holder who does not live up to their oath and the Constitution.period.Public office is Public Service.Keep your dirty laundry list of money problems,sexual exploits,& political favors,non existant.We are not interested in them.Do your sworn duty to your family,community,County,State,and Country.Violate this trust we put in you,and your’re gonna get it–publically,and repeatedly.God gave you free choice,use it wisely.We have enough problems with a closet muslim socialist in the White House purposely destroying our Nation–we don’t need more from Public officials on this level.Lead ethicly,or get the Hell out of the way and make room for someone who will–no matter the party affiliation.
Those who are without sin should cast the first stone. My prayers go out to both of the families involved. It is a tragic situation with many emotional moments for both families. I don’t see any great injustice by Mr Puckett using official letterhead to write to Judge Roberts. I am sure he is not the first, nor will he be the last. Question yourself as to if someone you knew needed support from an elected official, Would you be as upset if he used that position to help you out?
To those questions of if he is still in jail, the answer is yes, he is. He is serving a 15 year sentence. The person who was found guilty of actually hitting Mr Harris with a tire iron is only serving 10 years. Who wouldn’t find some descrepency in this sentencing and ask for help?
The person who hit Mr. Harris with a tire iron is serving 25 YEARS! I do see a great injustice because the Harris’ are my family! We needed support just as well!
Bettie, As a member of the family, you should be privy to all of the same court documents that I was. I am not in any way related to any of the persons involved in this terrible crime, but these are public records. I pray for the healing of God to come to all of the families involved. What happened was indeed a tragic event. I still feel that Mr. Puckett did not do anything unjustifiable by stating his opinion and asking for a second consideration for something he felt was wrong. I don’t read anywhere in the letter that he asked for complete absolution for the young man, just a consideration of a reduced sentence and possible help for him. While it may hurt members of your families, please step back and look at it objectively and think that if you were his family and knew the facts of the case as they do, wouldn’t you ask for help also? I defend Mr. Puckett for the right of using his letterhead to write to Judge Roberts. I defend the right of the young man to have consideration of all the facts and possible reduced sentencing. I wish none of this had happened to your family or any family who have been victims of a crime, but I believe two wrongs never make a right.