Jackson Free Press

Here is a preview of information we have in the print edition this week. We did some factchecking in response to Robert Smith's comment that Peterson isn't involved in trying cases in her office. Here are some of the cases she herself has tried and the outcome of the cases.

The following violent crimes are among the cases that she has tried and the defendant has received a jury verdict of guilty:

Omar Jackson (01-1-128) armed robbery jury verdict guilty and jury set sentence at life w/o parole... 9-18-03

Sinardo Moffett (04-0-276) murder jury verdict guilty life sentence 10-5-06

Adrian Willard (03-0-459) jury verdict guilty cap. Murder sentence of life w/o parole 4-11-06

Richard Mitchell (03-0-798) jury verdict guilty cap. Murder sentence of life w/o parole 11-30-06

Demarius Banyard (03-0-460) jury verdict guilty cap. Murder sentence of life w/o parole 7-26-06

Darrius Eubanks (04-0-285) jury verdict guilty cap. Murder sentence of life w/o parole 7-26-05

Ronnie Edward Smith (03-0-967) murder jury verdict guilty life sentence 3-11-05

James R. Williams III (03-0-309 murder jury verdict guilty life sentence 3-18-05
(please notice the back-to-back trial weeks and murder guilty verdicts)

Clarence E. Ferguson (03-0-645) murder jury verdict guilty life sentence 7-11-05

William Scott (02-1-149) jury verdict guilty cap. Murder sentence of life w/o parole 3-31-05

Cassandra Younger (01-1-103) jury verdict guilty cap. Murder sentence of life w/o parole 4-7-04

The following violent cases were disposed of by plea by Faye within the last few years. Most of the cases were pled on the date of trial, which means, although the case did not have to be tried, the prosecutor had to prepare for trial:

Andrew Eubanks (04-0-057) pled guilty to murder (Judge Green sentenced to 30 years, 20 suspended, 10 to serve) 10-5-06

Marvin Harris (04-0-289) pled guilty to murder life sentence 10-24-05

Eric Robinson (04-0-275) pled guilty to manslaughter 20 yr. sentence 10-16-06

Eddie Smith (03-0-306) pled guilty to murder life sentence 7-12-05

Damion Prince (04-0-830) pled guilty to murder life sentence 11-6-06

Robert Bufford (03-0-800) pled guilty to accessory after the fact to murder sentenced to 2 years, 11 months 7-19-05

Note: This list is only cases Peterson has tried and does not include cases tried by assistant district attorneys (ADAs) in her office.

Previous Comments

ID

94850

Comment

I just heard Kim Wade tell people about this list, which I had posted int he McMillin endorsement thread. So, welcome to Kim's listeners, and here is the list bumped to the top of the site. Also, Bob Hickingbottom just said on Kim's show that Carolyn Redd no longer works for the city. If that is true, why did she send out a press release Sunday for the city? So, I assume that it's true that she has moved to WAPT? Intriguing.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-21T16:49:01-06:00

ID

94851

Comment

What has WAPT said?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-08-21T17:00:05-06:00

ID

94852

Comment

I guess Mr. Smith wasn't honest about Peterson trial record. I wonder what else he has been less than truthful about. I'm sure that some of the Smith supporters will explain this away as well.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-21T18:55:35-06:00

ID

94853

Comment

WJTV ran the Purvis endorsement story today. Smith said that he can't understand how she spent $84K to get Peterson out of office but now she wants Peterson to stay in office. It's easy to understand that Purvis spent $84K to get into office because she felt she was best for Hinds County. Purvis said on Bluntson's show that she felt that Peterson was better for Hinds County than Smith. It's not that hard to understand Robert.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-21T19:03:47-06:00

ID

94854

Comment

Did they include McMillin?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-21T19:05:10-06:00

ID

94855

Comment

No they conveniently left that out.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-21T19:20:04-06:00

ID

94856

Comment

Also, Bob Hickingbottom just said on Kim's show that Carolyn Redd no longer works for the city. If that is true, why did she send out a press release Sunday for the city? So, I assume that it's true that she has moved to WAPT? Intriguing. I think it was Ironghost who said something about it a short while back. I had assumed that Carolyn had left the city and went to WAPT (?).

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-08-21T19:35:18-06:00

ID

94857

Comment

Yes, Carolyn Redd is employed by Hearst Argyle the company that owns WAPT. I spoke with her and she tried to give me some lame excuse that she still believed in the city and still supportes the mayor 100% and that details were still being worked out where she could do some events for the city. I spoke with reps from 16 WAPT and they said she is an employee in sales (an account executive), and no longer worked for the city. Why didn't she go back to Houston, where she said she had a very profitable sports management?PR firm?

Author

blkokc

Date

2007-08-21T20:18:50-06:00

ID

94858

Comment

As of when? The press release came from her two days ago.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-21T20:24:03-06:00

ID

94859

Comment

Thanks for this info I will use them in my talking points as to why vote for Faye. I am working hard to help her. We must re-elect Faye.

Author

jada

Date

2007-08-21T21:51:47-06:00

ID

94860

Comment

WAPT Sales Rep? Come on. That is a step backwards for someone who was once written up as one of the top women in sports marketing in America. She moved to Nashville from Houston continuing to market Eddie George among other athletes. GameFaces! Top of the world. Then she ended up back at her alma mater sometime in 2004 as an Interim Sports Marketing Director. They don't even mention her previous experience. What happened?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-08-21T22:08:44-06:00

ID

94861

Comment

To clear it up, I said that according to my source back when, the people at WAPT hadn't heard anything about her joining up. Things seem to have changed since then. Though I wonder if she's a Melton plant in one of the few places that'll speak up against him? :D

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-08-22T07:55:16-06:00

ID

94862

Comment

Donna, I believe Mr. Smith is holding a press conference as we speak on the courthouse steps.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-22T09:10:05-06:00

ID

94863

Comment

Carolyn Redd went to Texas Southern University. I didn't know that. I'm bias in her favor now since Kenneth Stokes and I attended the law school there -Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Incidentally, the president of the school until about a year ago was a beautiful and smart black female from Jackson Mississippi who attended Mississippi State, Jackson State and the University of Texas where she earned a doctorate or phD in accounting. I was proud of her despite the facts she is a republican and good friends with the Bushes - both presidents. She lost a $400,000.00 plus job for alleged accounting indiscretions which I won't detail here. She got caught after she purchased a million dollar home in an exclusive neighborhood in Houston including spending about $200,000.00 on landscaping alone. She is facing criminal indictments right now in the Houston District Courts as I write this. The jury was picked yesterday. She hired Dick Deguerin, one of the finest criminal lawyer to get out of bed.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T10:25:45-06:00

ID

94864

Comment

We missed Smith's press conference? Any word on what it was about?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-22T11:36:10-06:00

ID

94865

Comment

Redd's exit from the City is very interesting: Almost as interesting as her being hired. Ain't nothing Wrong; but, Something Ain't Right.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-08-22T13:23:45-06:00

ID

94866

Comment

Mr. Smith talked about the insignificance of the endorsements. He also continued to attempt to distance himself from Melton. He was surprised when a female reporter from one of the TV stations asked him about his child which he alleged took away from the mother. He didn't expect that one. He is beginning to look desperate.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-22T14:46:13-06:00

ID

94867

Comment

Lord, a TV reporter asked him that? How did he respond? I wish we had his whole thing on tape. Let me know if anyone out there does, please. Or throw it on youtube. I feel for him a bit in all this. He's in WAY over his head. He should have waited and run when Melton isn't there acting like Smith is his man, whether Smith thinks he is or not. The stakes are very high in the city when it comes to Melton controlling the DA's office, and people are feeling that strongly. It's another situation Melton created. I talk about Smith being over his head in my editor's note this week. It should be up shortly if it's not already.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-22T14:49:37-06:00

ID

94868

Comment

Also, I want to hammer a point that is so vital. A major reason we're at this point in the community is that media coverage of facts has been so bad. I was telling a writer friend from another state last night about The Clarion-Ledger et al's habit of just repeating false accusations without factchecking them. I mean, how in hell do we exist in a city where someone like Smith (or, previously, Purvis, and constantly Melton) can say things that just aren't true like: "Peterson isn't involved in cases in her office." I mean, look at the list above. It is the media's job to factcheck statements they run, so they don't get passed around as truth.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-22T14:51:59-06:00

ID

94869

Comment

Robert said on Channel 13 at noon and 16 last night that he can't understand how anyone would spend $85,000.00 saying we need a change, but now says we don't. I understand it though. Someone was lying about Faye in the past, and is now trying to make sure her ex-manager isn't the benefit of any false claim of needing a change.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T14:53:22-06:00

ID

94870

Comment

Smith's response was that he has custody of his child. I had heard this rumor before but I didn't blog about it because I try not to report gossip. A Church member mentioned it to me recently. Apparently the child's mother is in this country on a visa and she and the child attempted to leave but Smith allegedly intercepted them in Florida and brought she and child back to Jackson. They were kept in his/his parents home until she signed some type of paperwork then he kicked her out. The mother had been staying in different shelters. The Hinds County Chancery case number is G-2007-000093. The mother's name is listed on the case but I won't post it here. However, you might want to get one of your reporters to contact her.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-22T14:59:10-06:00

ID

94871

Comment

I might add, that someone else has lied about Faye's trial experience whether on purpose or inadvertently.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T15:00:20-06:00

ID

94872

Comment

Someone needs to tell me how Smith's situation with getting custody of his child, under those corcumstances, belies or prove his lack of fitness for the District Attorney's office.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T15:03:01-06:00

ID

94873

Comment

Ray, Robert lied about Faye's trial experience. He made that statement on numerous occassions. As far as the $86k dollars, Purvis spent that money because she could do a bette job than Faye. That doesn't mean that she thought that Robert could do a better job than Faye. Hence her endorsement of Peterson.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-22T15:03:13-06:00

ID

94874

Comment

I agree that his wanting custody of his child has nothing to do with his qualifications for DA. However if Smith coerced or forced this young lady into doing something that she didn't want to do or treated her unfairly, I think this does say something about the personality of the person that is running for DA.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-22T15:07:58-06:00

ID

94875

Comment

I think Purvis used the word "Integrity".

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-22T15:09:07-06:00

ID

94876

Comment

Purvis can't do a better job than Faye. No reasonable or truly knowing person believed that. Michele is guilty of exactly what I'm saying she is. She was never better than Faye. Lots of lawyers believed what Robert said about Faye's trial experience was true, but they were wrong. So too was Robert. What does his child has to do with any of this? If you think it matters, and the JFP or someone else investigates it, I can't wait to see the results. I don't expect any findings that Robert abused that women. I've met his parents. I'd be shocked to know they condoned something evil and abusive with respect to the child's mother and other relatives. I'm not against Faye, and Frankly believes she's the most qualified for the job. I will do what ever I can to prevent an injustice to Robert or Faye. I have a high opinion of both.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T15:13:16-06:00

ID

94877

Comment

Ray... "SOMEONE" was lying about Faye in the past? Robert Smith is the one who said Faye just looks in the courtroom occasionally and doesn't try cases. Her record certainly speaks for itself and is in direct conflict with Robert's account of Faye's resume. And aren't you an attorney, Ray? Do you know of ANY case in the municipal court of Jackson that is tried before a jury? Where does the jury physically sit in the municipal court of Jackson? Robert says he had a 100% conviction rate in municipal court and that he tried cases before a jury in municipal court? HUH? He says that he has prosecuted "felonies". Nowhere do you see these "felonies" documented that he has tried. And he and Michele both trumpeted their experience in prosecuting crimes. Absolutely unbelievable. But 61 percent of those voting in the first election bought that hogwash.

Author

xxgreg

Date

2007-08-22T15:15:26-06:00

ID

94878

Comment

I hope you're right Ray.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-08-22T15:16:40-06:00

ID

94879

Comment

I hope I am too. I've already said who I believe is he most qualified and ready for the job.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T15:20:00-06:00

ID

94880

Comment

Faye has been exposed. but it won't hurt her.

Author

laughter

Date

2007-08-22T15:28:48-06:00

ID

94881

Comment

Greg, I'm not touting or denigrating the qualifications of either. I've seen both in trials in both places they've practiced criminal law in Jackson. I'm not trying to tell anyone who to like or vote for. I just want a fair contest. Let their credentials and personalities speak for themself. I like both and would trust both. I have high expectations of both until I see something to change that.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T15:39:25-06:00

ID

94882

Comment

Just asking again. Have you ever seen a JURY trial in municipal court in Jackson in all your years as an attorney? Secondly, have you ever seen Robert prosecute FELONIES? Both statements were made by Robert in his interview with WAPT last night.

Author

xxgreg

Date

2007-08-22T15:42:08-06:00

ID

94883

Comment

Greg, I have never seen a jury trial in municipal court, but have wanted one because I knew the judge was going to put the screws to me. I haven't seen him prosecute felonies either. But if I could become a republican or Frank Melton while in this jam, I'd say I haven't watched him at all times or just lie and say yes. Of course, everybody with any sense would know I'm lying.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T15:49:59-06:00

ID

94884

Comment

I should add that Robert went to law school in Missouri, St. Louis, I believe. Greq, how in the fluck you know he didn't prosecute felonies and have jury trials up there in municipal court? How do we know he ddn' work for a higher court up there. Do we know how the system is structured up there. In other words, may be he lied, maybe he didn't. I don't know. I just saying.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T16:18:51-06:00

ID

94885

Comment

Not accusing you of all people of lying. But going just from your experience, the truth detector needs to be applied to those statements that Robert says over and over. Of course, neither the CL nor any of the three television news outlets in town will call Robert on those statements regarding his felony prosecution record or trying "jury trials in municipal court".

Author

xxgreg

Date

2007-08-22T16:19:33-06:00

ID

94886

Comment

I have heard that Robert had some sort of custody issues. But I have chosen not to pursue it because it sounded too personal. Some of what is posted above is news to me, however, and I'd like to see the documentation on it to back it up. 601.510.9019 fax

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-22T16:21:43-06:00

ID

94887

Comment

Yeah, Greg, I surely hope he's done something somewhere else to back up those assertions.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T16:23:41-06:00

ID

94888

Comment

I have to agree with thetruth about Puris. Certainly, it makes sense that *she* thought *she* would do a better job than Peterson, but not Smith. There's nothing illogical there. I don't think Smith attempt on that makes make sense.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-22T16:23:55-06:00

ID

94889

Comment

I also suspect that all of this has ultimately been good for Peterson. She seems to know better that she needs to tout her office's accomplishments (as if regular press releases about cases won, and perhaps a public listing on a Web site?). She also needs to do a better job of reaching out to the entire community, which I think she is doing now. And it doesn't serve the city well not to answer the accusations because, unfortunately, media here do not factcheck, present company excluded, of course.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-22T16:25:44-06:00

ID

94890

Comment

So, Robert got him a Russian bride? What does 'here on a VISA' mean?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-08-22T16:32:09-06:00

ID

94891

Comment

So, I guess no one believes Michele is being vindictive or vengeful to Robert, more than anything else. I can't knock her for choosing Faye, but I certainly see how a person could desire to punish someone who they think crossed them. If enough is enough was ever a viable claim it didn't suddenly become enough is not enough after losing the race. A lie stays a lie. Michele wanted Faye's job and realized she needed something catchy and hooking to use as a ploy whether true or not. Maybe she even believed what she claimed. I can accept that. The fact is, though,in my opinion, Faye was always doing a good job. I don't believe that can be rationally disputed.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-22T16:37:16-06:00

ID

94892

Comment

Actually, I didn't say that, Ray. I suspect it's a combination of things. I'm guessing that she feels a bit used about now—perhaps to pull votes away from Peterson and get him into the runoff with her. And he talked pretty badly about her when we asked him to explain why he signed on as her campaign director and then pulled out. You're right about Peterson. I think the upshot of this whole campaign, ironically enough, is that many, many more people now know that she's been a much better D.A. than the Melton crowd, The Clarion-Ledger and some local Republicans want you to think. She's been forced to get her message, and that can't be a bad thing. That is, Melton's support of her opponents has opened a lot of eyes.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-22T16:42:27-06:00