Saturday, April 29, 2017

WATCH THE VIDEO OF DRUNK JUDGE "WILD BILL" PEARSON THAT WAS NOT SEEN BY THE SPECIAL PROSECUTING ATTORNEY OR THE JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE & DISABILITY COMMISSION

 
JUDGE "WILD BILL" PEARSON FALLS TO THE GROUND IN A DRUNKEN STUPOR

As mentioned in our last post, we discovered a video that had not been viewed by the Arkansas State Police investigators, the Special Prosecuting Attorney, or the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission in the case of the "Wild Bill" Pearson, the Circuit Court Judge that blasted through a sobriety checkpoint and took  

Here is the video for your viewing pleasure.  




After you watch it you will wonder how long it will take for citizens of that part of the state to seek Wild Bill's removal from office.

According to comments left on videos we posted on YouTube, the natives are upset off and restless.




Carl the commentator is not too far off in his statement about what might have happened if another law enforcement agency other that the State Police had stopped Wild Bill. In the videos, you can see a Clarksville police officer hand Trooper Smith his cellphone and he tells Trooper Smith that it is his sergeant.

Trooper Smith can been seen and heard in the videos tell the Clarksville police he doesn't care who it is , he broke the law.

Trooper Smith is relatively new to Troop J having been transferred from Troop A in Little Rock.

We commend Trooper Smith for doing what he is commissioned to do, uphold the laws of our state and protect citizens from dangerous drunk drivers.

This debacle will follow Judge "Wild Bill" Pearson for the rest of his professional and private life.  It will create problems for just about every case he hears if he remains on the bench.

If anyone is going to protest against Judge "Wild Bill" Pearson in Clarksville, we suggest that the protestors wear flannel shirts and a Cardinals ball cap.




 ************
Videos of Judge "Wild Bill" Pearson running through the checkpoint and being booked into jail we previously posted.
 



Wednesday, April 26, 2017

DRUNK, BELIGERANT, INTIMIDATING JUDGE GETS SLAP ON WRIST FROM JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE & DISABILITY COMMISSION

 
JUDGE "WILD BILL" PEARSON - HE CAN'T DRIVE A CAR NOW, BUT HE CAN STAY ON THE BENCH


Our original post detailed the sweet deal Judge "Wild Bill" Pearson obtained from a Special Prosecutor and Special Judge after local ones recused themselves.  

http://badgovernmentinarkansas.blogspot.com/2017/04/judge-fails-to-stop-at-checkpoint-is.html 

After all, that is what Rule 69 of the Good Ole Boy system dictates.


Videos (that we initially had some difficulty in obtaining) clearly show Wild Bill running through a sobriety checkpoint and nearly missing Arkansas State Troopers standing in the middle of the highway (with blue lights flashing on cars on both shoulders of the road) and being chased by two troopers for several miles.  

Wild Bill refused to stop and a trooper had to use his own vehicle to force Wild Bill to give up the chase.

Then Wild Bill refused to comply multiple times to troopers orders that he get out of the vehicle.

Wild Bill could barely speak, but you can hear him say "fuck you" and that he "will get out of the vehicle if officers quit ordering him". When asked how much he had to drink, Wild Bill says "none of your business."

When Wild Bill was finally extricated from the vehicle it took two officers to help him stand up and walk him to a troopers vehicle to be transported to the jail.

When Wild Bill arrives at the Johnson County jail, he throws up several times into a trash can and urinates on himself.

At the jail, Wild Bill claims his arrest is bullshit (he says that word about 1000 times) and he defiantly argues with detention staff, and no-so-subtly attempts to intimidate detention staff by saying "I haven't mentioned who I am and I don't need too."

How those detention officers were able to maintain their composure and cool speaks highly of them.

When a higher ranking deputy is called in to help, Wild Bill tells that deputy to "stop fucking" with him.

Wild Bill refuses to cooperate with the booking process and vehemently tells officers that he will not go into a holding cell and states, "I can sit right here."

Wild Bill notices one of the state troopers that arrested him and calls him over and starts berating him about a "bullshit felony fleeing charge."

The trooper tells Wild Bill exactly what transpired and Wild Bill's demeanor immediately changes upon realization that he was so drunk that he blacked out and has no recollection whatsoever about going through the checkpoint.

But that change did not last long and he subsequently called the trooper a son of a bitch and a Nazi as jailers were placing him in a holding cell (shielded to hide him from prying eyes).

Fast forward to yesterday (Tuesday 4/25/17). As the Arkansas Judicial Disciplinary and Disability Commission ("JDDC") was considering what punishment, if any, they would hand out to Wild Bill we discovered that key evidence had not been obtained in the investigation of Wild Bill's criminal case by the state police nor in the investigation conducted by the JDDC.

The evidence was video from the body camera worn by Officer Corey Ostendorf of the Clarksville Police Department.

OFFICER OSTENDORF

Ostendorf was one of the Clarksville police officers that arrived at the scene to assist the State Police.



Ostendorf was wearing a body camera and his camera had a first person point of view angle of the severely inebriated jurist.

We attempted to obtain dash camera video from the Arkansas State Police back in January, shortly after the event.  Our request was denied by ASP at that time with them citing the investigation was "on-going."



So when we received a Google Alert about Pearson entering a negotiated plea on April 17th, we re-submitted a request to the ASP for their entire investigative file.

While reviewing the videos provided to us by the ASP, we observed that a Clarksville Police Department SUV pulled up at the scene and CPD officers went to assist ASP troopers.  We also observed that the Clarksville officers appeared to be wearing body cameras, and our suspicion was later confirmed by viewing one video that CPD Officer Curtis took after Wild Bill had been transported to the jail.  The video taken by Curtis was for the accident investigation.  We found no other videos taken by Clarksville Officers in the ASP file copy provide to us.   

We then called the Clarksville Police Department and after a couple of days of phone tag spoke with Officer Weathers.  Weathers stated that they had provided all of the video taken by their officers to the ASP.  He also told us that the special prosecutor, Jason Barrett, had complied a packet containing all the videos and documents in Wild Bill's criminal case and we could obtain a packet by requesting one from David Gibbons, the prosecuting attorney.

When we contacted Gibbons, he was reluctant to accept a verbal FOI request but after some discussion about the AFOIA statute, he stated he would mail a packet to us.

We received the packet from Gibbons the next day and only found one video taken by Clarksville  police officers. So made another telephone call to CPD Officer Weathers.  Weathers was positive that all the video from his officers had been handed over to the ASP.  Weathers stated that one video was from Officer Ostendorf and one from Officer Curtis.

So when got back in touch with the ASP and burned another video only of the CPD officers footage obtained in their investigation.

Much to our surprise and dismay, the DVD contained the very same video previously supplied in the first response.

So another call was made back to CPD Officer Weathers.  Weathers stated he would be more than happy to send all the video and documents his department has provided to the ASP. He asked us to send an email with mailing instructions and we complied with his request.

The next day Weathers called and stated he did not get the email with the mailing address and that he had discovered some surprising information.

Clarksville PD had given the ASP an accident report and footage from Officer Curtis' body camera shortly after the incident.  The ASP later called and asked for additional footage (Officer Ostendorf) and for some additional statements. 

Weathers then stated that the ASP never came and picked up the additional video or the statement.  

Weathers told us he was mailing the DVD that they prepared for the ASP to us.
We provided both the ASP and the JDDC with information about the mislaid evidence and only the ASP responded.


So we were the first to discover that important evidence was not picked up by the ASP.  A a result of their failure to retrieve the video and statements, the information was not given to the Special Prosecuting Attorney.

We also know that the JDDC did not have the video (CPD did not provide the video to anyone else as of yesterday - we will be the first to have it) to reflect on when they made their decision about what action they would take against Wild Bill.

The JDDC publicly censured Circuit Judge William Pearson yesterday for actions that led to his arrest for drunken and reckless driving.

 






JDDC filed a motion today asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to reinstate Pearson to the bench. Pearson has been suspended with pay since shortly after his arrest Jan. 20th.







As the 5th Judicial Circuit's Division 1 judge, Pearson presides over the criminal dockets for Pope, Johnson and Franklin counties.

Under his agreement with the commission, Pearson will refrain from hearing driving-while-intoxicated cases for the remainder of the year, according to Sachar's letter of admonishment to Pearson."


 CLICK TO VIEW INFORMATION ABOUT JDDC PANEL MEMBERS 

Just like a cop that is caught lying is worthless to any law enforcement agency because of a lack of honesty and credibility (not to mention Brady v Maryland), a judge that exhibits poor decision making skills/poor judgement calls their credibility and ability of critical thinking into question.

******
NOTE: an update will be posted when the yet unseen and shared video from the Clarksville Police Department is received.





Saturday, April 22, 2017

CRAWFORD COUNTY DETENTION DEPUTY ARRESTED FOR FIRST- DEGREE SEXUAL ASSAULT

CRAWFORD CO. DETENTION DEPUTY MICA GALE'S MUGSHOT

A Crawford County detention deputy facing felony charges has been  placed on administrative leave after allegedly having a sexual relationship with a minor.
 
Micha Gale, 24, was accused of having a relationship with a 17-year-old female, who was left in the deputy’s care while her parents were fumigating their home for bedbugs, according to Crawford County Sheriff Ron Brown.

RON BROWN - CRAWFORD CO. SHERIFF

Gale was arrested by Van Buren Police and has been charged with first-degree sexual assault.






According to Sheriff Brown, Gale had been employed by the Sheriff’s Office for about one year.

Gales' LinkedIn profile lists that prior to her employment with the Sheriff's Department she worked one month for the Arkansas Department of Correction.











Friday, April 21, 2017

ARKANSAS ETHICS COMMISSION FINDS PROBABLE CAUSE FOR A FINDING OF A VIOLATION AGAINST JERRY JONES AND NLR POLICE OFFICER / FOP PRESIDENT DETECTIVE MICHAEL GIBBONS - COMPLAINTS AGAINST NLR MAYOR AND ALDERMEN ARE DISMISSED


 
A FULL DAY'S WORK FOR THE ARKANSAS ETHICS COMMISSION

The Arkansas Ethics Commission dismissed complaints against North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith and NLR Aldermen but found probable cause for a violation against Jerry Jones and North Little Rock Police Officer, and NLR Fraternal Order of Police President, Michael Gibbons.

It means that they violated state law in connection with Jones gift to NLRPD Officers.

GIBBONS AND JONES - WAITING ON WRITTEN OFFERS OF SETTLEMENT FROM THE A.E.C.

Gibbons was represented by former Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel 
who proudly stated that he had never appeared before the Commission as a respondent, but not doubt all of the members were thinking about the ethical dilemma McDaniel placed himself in a few years ago that kept him from being Governor. 

 
DUSTIN McDANIEL


According to documents produced by Ethics Commission staff, both Gibbons and Jones will be sent a written offer of settlement in accordance with the Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure. 

If the offer of settlement is accepted, they have 10 calendar days to do so. And that's that.

If the offer of settlement is not accepted, the complaint will be set for final adjudication hearing.

Gibbons and Jones settlement offer could be a Public Letter of Caution or Warning or Reprimand and/or imposition of a fine not less that $50 dollars or more than $1,000.00.

The Ethics Commission can also report its findings about Gibbons and Jones to a law enforcement agency and make recommendations to that agency.  

Stay tuned for another post that will go more into the findings of the Ethics Commission staff and what Det. Gibbons stated to investigators.

******
Our previous posts on this topic:




 

NEWTON COUNTY ASSESSOR CONVICTED ON FELONY THEFT CHARGES - RESIGNS FROM OFFICE A SECOND TIME

 
SHELIA McCUTCHEON

Sheila McCutcheon, the Newton County assessor was found guilty Tuesday of felony theft and promptly resigned.

McCutcheon (59) a Republican, entered a no-contest plea during her jury trial at the courthouse in Jasper. Two witnesses had testified before the plea deal was reached Tuesday afternoon.

Circuit Judge John Putman ruled McCutcheon guilty in open court while the jury was in recess.

JUDGE JOHN PUTMAN

As part of the plea agreement, Putman ordered McCutcheon to pay $10,040 in restitution to Arkansas Legislative Audit. She also must pay court costs and fees totaling about $470.

McCutcheon was sentenced to five years' probation and agreed not to run for public office again, Putman said.

As part of the deal, theft charges were dropped against former Deputy Assessor Desiray McCutcheon, 36, Sheila McCutcheon's daughter-in-law.

DESIRAY McCUTCHEON

The McCutcheons, both of Vendor, were arrested June 17 by the Arkansas State Police after a state audit revealed that $11,504 worth of personal items were purchased with county credit cards from 2010 through 2015, according to charges filed in Newton County Circuit Court.

Putman said the purchases in question included a lawnmower, rib-eye steaks, beer, cigarettes and Grecian Formula, a hair-coloring product for men.

The purchases were made with Wal-Mart credit cards that were meant for assessor's office supplies, according to a probable-cause affidavit from Ted Jones, a state police agent.

Bank records indicated the women had made attempts to repay the credit card account for personal purchases over time.

Vickie Bartholomew, the Newton County treasurer, said Sheila McCutcheon wrote a check to the county in June for $10,458.

VICKIE BARTHOLOMEW - NEWTON CO. TREASURER


Putman said McCutcheon contends that she has paid back more than the $11,504 in question.

He said the $10,040 in restitution to Legislative Audit will repay the agency for time spent working on the audit.

According to Legislative Audit, $7,483 in personal purchases were identified by McCutcheon and $4,021 in personal purchases were identified by audit staff based on interviews with county officials.

As part of the deal Tuesday, McCutcheon also agreed to plead guilty to a perjury charge in Boone County, but that charge will be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, Putman said. McCutcheon has yet to be sentenced in that case.

The perjury charge stems from a civil-court case regarding the estate of McCutcheon's mother, Frances Lorene Smith of Vendor, who died June 22, 2014, at age 82.

McCutcheon said under oath at a court hearing in Harrison on Feb. 11, 2016, that she had never forged her deceased mother's name, but a handwriting expert determined McCutcheon had forged Smith's name on more than 50 documents.

McCutcheon's resignation Tuesday marked the second time she has resigned within the past year.

She resigned in June 2015 when she was charged with theft. Then she was re-elected Nov. 8 as the only assessor candidate on the ballot. She resumed her old job as assessor in January.

Sheila McCutcheon was deputy assessor from 1993-96 before being elected assessor for the first time in 1997. She served continuously as assessor from then until her resignation in June.

Under Arkansas Code Annotated 21-12-302, a county officer who is convicted of a felony shall be ousted from office.

George Stone, McCutcheon's attorney,
told reporters back in 2016 that as a result of the McCutcheon's actions, the county had actually "made a windfall" of several thousand dollars due to them repaying more that they stole. He also stated that she was innocent.

GREG "ONE SHIRT" STONE - ATTORNEY OF THE 'INNOCENT' ASSESSOR THAT PLEADED GUILTY

Stone also stated, “Everybody strives to do things according to code and whatnot and sometimes we fall short,". "But it was not a theft of property and she’d been paying on whatever bill she had for her own personal use all along.”

Let's hope that criminal law is not something Stone regularly practices. Apparently he needs all the work he can drum up as he has only has one casual shirt to wear.  Check out the televised news stories, made on different days months apart, in which Stone has on the same shirt each time.













McCutcheon was a firm believer in nepotism in that she had family members (daughter-in-law and daughter) working for her at different times.

Her daughter, Amber Smith showed her professionalism on a television news report (can be seen in the 2nd video above).

This is what happened:

A reporter and cameraman from television station KSPR went inside the courthouse to try to talk to Sheila McCutcheon after a being arrested again — this time for perjury.

“Get the hell out,” said McCutheon’s daughter, Amber Smith.

Smith works for her mother.

“If you’re not going to help her, she’s done nothing wrong, then get the hell out of this office,” said Smith.

“Then why has she been arrested for perjury?” asked a reporter.

“None of your fucking business,” said Smith.

The KSPR News crews came back a second time to get video of Smith's mother’s office and this happened:

“Out,” Smith yelled.

“This is a public place,” said the reporter.

“I don’t give a fuck. I don’t want this here,” Smith said.

“This is a public courthouse,” said the reporter.

“I don’t care. They paid you off to run that bitch and I don’t give a fuck,” Smith said.

“We were not paid,” the reporter replied.

“Have me arrested. Have me arrested,” Smith said.

Then Smith said this: “She’s done nothing wrong and we’re tired of all this bullshit. Why do you think the judge wouldn’t talk to you the last time you was here? Because he’s not against her. You know what. I’m calling the sheriff. Fuck this."



AMBER SMITH - McCUTCHEON'S DAUGHTER

Deputies came and told Smith that is was a public place and the news crew had the right to be in the hallway.

Apparently this family slept through civics class in high school.

Readers will recall the the Prosecuting Attorney for this Judicial District, David Ethredge,  has issues following the law as well.

http://badgovernmentinarkansas.blogspot.com/2017/01/why-do-prosecuting-attorneys-have.html

http://badgovernmentinarkansas.blogspot.com/2017/01/prosecuting-attorney-tries-to-wiggle.html


Monday, April 17, 2017

JUDGE FAILS TO STOP AT CHECKPOINT, IS CHASED AND ARRESTED FOR DWI

The Arkansas State Police had to finally release the dash cam videos to us due to a recent court ruling.  We sent a FOI request to them in January 2017 for video footage of the incident, but they denied our request citing an on-going investigation.  We edited the two DVDs provided and placed a video on YouTube.   You can view it by clicking on the video below.




On January 20, 2017 Troopers from Arkansas State Police Troop J were conducting a Sobriety Checkpoint between I-40 and Highway 109 just outside Clarksville.

It was around 9:15 p.m. and not much activity was happening. Troopers were talking about gas from eating chili for supper, a naive local police officer, needing to urinate (he can be seen and heard taking a leak after the chase) and joked about stopping an individual with the same name as one of the state troopers (an instructor at a local school) which the trooper commented that there was another guy with the same name as his and he was "a turd."

As their conversation was drifting to places to go for a weekend trip, a pick-up truck blasted through the checkpoint narrowly missing the troopers standing in the middle of the highway between their vehicles parked on each shoulder with blue lights flashing.





Trooper Greg Smith jumped in his vehicle and gave chase.

ASP TROOPER GREG SMITH

During the chase the pick-up truck runs off the road a couple of times, and finally stops.  




Trooper Smith attempts to pull in front of the stopped vehicle as Trooper David Smothers pulls up behind the truck to block it in.

TROOPER DAVID SMOTHERS

But the driver of the pick-up truck decides to keep going, crossing in front of Trooper Smith and turning into the gravel parking lot of a local business.





Trooper Smith has to use his vehicle to push the truck sideways to get the driver of the truck to stop.



Both Troopers Smith and Smothers approach the truck with guns drawn, and repeatedly tell the driver to exit the vehicle.

After telling the driver to open the door and get out several times, the driver opens the door, but is too drunk to get out.

Trooper Smith approaches the open drivers side door and asks the driver what is wrong with him.  The driver mumbles something and both troopers tell the driver to get out of the vehicle again. The driver, in heavily slurred speech, appears to say "fuck you" twice and then defiantly states " I'll get out if you stop ordering me".

Trooper Smith then asks the driver how much he has had to drink and the driver states, "fuck you" and "none of your business".

By this time Clarksville police officers have arrived to assist and as they are holding up the driver to keep him from falling down, Trooper Smothers goes over to Trooper Smith and tells him that the driver is none other than Judge Pearson, a local circuit court judge.



Judge "Wild Bill" Pearson was so plastered that he couldn't be given any field sobriety tests and has to be held up and walked to the troopers car to take him to jail.



According to documents filed in the Criminal Case against now suspended-with-pay Judge Pearson (the Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission is conducting an investigation of Judge Pearson and obtained an order suspending him from his position as a judge), he pissed himself and puked all over the jail when being booked.



You might be wondering why we haven't posted Judge Pearson's mugshot.  Well, for some reason protocol was not followed and no mugshot was taken. 

Even though the judge was in the Johnson County Detention Center for more than three hours, Sheriff Larry Jones told reporters that jailers did not take a mug shot.

LARRY JONES - JOHNSON COUNTY SHERIFF
 
"I just really don't have a good answer. I am looking into it because our policy does require that each person that comes into our detention center be photographed," Jones said. "It does not matter who they are, we try and treat everybody the same."

Jones told reporters mug shots were taken of other inmates who were brought to jail around the same time.

Did jailers not want to incur the wrath of Judge Pearson?  Was it an Act of God?  We trust that Sheriff Jones will get to the bottom of it.

PEARSON WAS RELEASED AFTER PAYING A $1,400 BOND

Sheriff Johnson originally denied our request for video of Judge Pearson.


We have sent a follow-up request for video to Sheriff Johnson and will post an update when and if more video is received.

Judge Pearson is being represented by Little Rock attorney Jeff Rosenzweig.

ATTORNEY JEFF ROSENZWEIG

Rosenzweig has made a nice living getting the best deal possible for individuals guilty of committing crimes.

Afraid of repercussions, local Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons recused himself and asked for a special prosecutor to be appointed.



DAVID GIBBONS - SCARED TO PROSECUTE CASE

Last year Gibbons refused to file charges against other inmates or jailers in the death of a jail inmate in Franklin County even though the autopsy of the inmates body that was performed by Dr. Stephen Erickson, deputy chief medical examiner for the state of Arkansas found that the manner of death was a “homicide, in that the death resulted in some part from actions of people other than the deceased.” There were eight applications of the Taser over a period of 11 minutes by Franklin jailers.  http://www.swtimes.com/news/20160901/franklin-county-prosecutor-wont-file-charges-in-inmates-death

So another Little Rock attorney, Jason Barrett was appointed as Special Prosecutor.

JASON BARRETT - SPECIAL PROSECUTOR

 

As other judges in the circuit were reluctant sit in judgement of a fellow drinking and hunting buddy, retired judge John Langston has been appointed to hear the case.

JUDGE JOHN LANGSTON












We wonder why the elected prosecutor and judges are afraid to do the job they were elected and are paid to do?  Now the tax payers have to foot the salaries for a special judge and a special prosecutor.
 
Pearson, 57,  was first elected circuit judge in 2008 and re-elected in 2014. His term expires in 2020 if he is not removed from office.

 
******
UPDATE - 04/18/2017

Pearson got the deal of a lifetime in his criminal case yesterday. Take a look at the official record.













Pearson pleaded guilty yesterday (April 17) to driving while intoxicated in January, according to court documents.

“I regret my actions and look forward to redemption and making amends for this and assure all that this will never — ever — happen again,” Pearson said in a statement released Monday.

Pearson also apologized to his family, fellow judges and lawyers, and residents of the 5th Judicial Circuit, which consists of Franklin, Johnson and Pope counties.

The fleeing charge and the refusal to submit to a chemical test was dropped. Totally unbelievable.

No doubt a plea deal was stuck to drop the most serious charges and get the matter taken care of as quickly and quietly as possible.  That's the good ole boy system at work.

Pearson’s drivers license will be suspended for six months and returned only if he completes an alcohol education course, according to court documents. Pearson also is required to pay a $700 fine and speak to college students about the dangers of DWI and drugs.

“I have never considered myself above the law, then or now,” Pearson said. “I simply should have known better not to drink and drive intoxicated. The shame and embarrassment is mine.”


And the citizens of Arkansas have to pay an assclown like Pearson a salary when he should resign as a Circuit Court Judge due to this incident.


 ******
UPDATE #2 - 04/18/2017

This is the full statement that Pearson read in court.  It was released by his attorney.




******
UPDATE #3 - 04/20/17

We obtained additional videos, still images and documents from Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons, who by the way was extremely reluctant to accept a verbal Freedom of Information request from us, in the mail today.

The video from the jail is extremely embarrassing for Judge Pearson.  It shows an intoxicated, cursing, belligerent and at times confused individual. 

Judge Pearson calls the state troopers sons of bitches and Nazis. 

Judge Pearson refuses to get into a cell and has to be mollycoddled by a supervising deputy who is obviously treating him differently that they would any other person that was acting in such a manner.  Pearson remarks that the overly kind deputy is "fucking with me."

Had it been anyone else acting and talking smack like Pearson was doing, they would have picked him up and tossed him in that cell. 




Pearson states that the only thing he did was to drive drunk and when he is told he did not stop at a checkpoint, he claims he never saw it.

The photos show damage to the drunk judges truck and the vehicle of ASP Trooper Smith.





The estimate to repair the Trooper's vehicle:











We are processing additional video (no audio track) from the jail CCTV system and are trying to match audio available from the wireless microphone the ASP Trooper was wearing for a portion of the video.  Check back for updates.