Abbeville Is Mad At Me - Who Am I Gonna Call? - Well, Houston County Has Done The Same Thing and Failed To Walk The Walk
Rickey StokesViewed: 9952
Posted by: RStokes
thehoustonnewspaper@yahoo.com
334-790-1729
Date: Oct 21 2009 10:43 PM
HOUSTON COUNTY: We wrote a article on Tuesday “ Abbeville – Guilty Until Proven Innocent…And Then”.
This article chapped someone, ( and I know your comments!!) but listen to the message instead of being critical of the messenger ( me ).
The article concerned the City of Abbeville City Council and Police Chief termination of Officer Davey Jones. Jones was arrested on misdemeanor charges which are pending in Henry County District Court.
We stand on the principle…you are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Here is a Houston County case, where the Houston County Personnel Board and Houston County Road and Bridge persecuted a man, but when it came time for them to “walk the walk” they failed.
On September 13, 2006 Houston County Road and Bridge employee Jerry Futch was arrested on a felony count of Theft of Property 2nd.
On October 7, 2006 Futch was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of Theft of Property 3rd.
The accusation involved the theft of asphalt.
Futch was fired. At this time I am not sure if the all white male members of the Houston County Personnel Board held a hearing.
( Please note this board has been violating the Alabama Open Meetings Law and they have an attorney and retired Judge on the board. I have proof in their own admissions they have been violating the law ).
On November 28, 2006 Futch was on trial before a Houston County District Judge on the misdemeanor. You do realize in a trial before a Judge and not a jury you stand a 75% chance of being convicted.
Then on December 8, 2008 the felony count of Theft of Property 2nd degree was dismissed.
What am I saying? Press statements, which were posted on this web site, said Futch was arrested and the charges.
Who with Houston County called a press conference and announced Futch being aquitted on the misdemeanor and the felony dismissed?
Did Futch get his job back?
Futch was Guilty until proven innocent. You know kinda like Abbeville has done Davey Jones. Adult men and women, making uniformed decisions of all of the facts.
They could have placed Jones on administrative leave until the adjudication of his case.
Houston County could have placed Futch on administrative leave until the adjudication of his case.
But no. We can not follow “Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law”.
Mr. Futch, we apologize for not making a big deal of your being found not guilty and the felony dismissed.
On behalf of the citizens of Houston County, we sincerely apologize that our leaders apparently made false allegations against you, cost you embarrassment, mental anguish and suffering. We apologize, on behalf of the citizens of this county, that our so called leaders talked the talk but never were able to produce in the walk.
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