Sheriff Violates Acceptable Standards and Guidelines

In 2012 we opened a suit against Marion County, officials, organizations, agencies and individuals. After two and a half years the case was dismissed largely due to us representing ourselves but we did have awareness and concerns that needed to be addressed. Unfortunately, the judge presiding over the case did not address a single issue which concerned numerous civil liberty issues. I’ve discussed this many times in this blog and TopCatsRoar; documenting the case as it were/is all this time. Until now, the general public; particularly the residents of the county. Often the things we spoke of seemed unbelievable but case files reveal the truth; submitted as documented evidence yet ignored by the courts.

As time went on, I have waited for the corruption to surface-Bad Karma always has a way of showing itself as it did for Weddings Dixie Humane Society of Marion County and Sheriff David McKnight as well as the Marion County type of judicial system which does nothing for the community. This business with McKnight has run amuck as he continues to be supported (protected) largely by District Attorney Angie Smoak.

Sheriff Elmer

https://jimplecute1848.com/2019/07/05/sheriffs-elmer-facebook-post-violates-county-city-school-computer-guidelines/?fbclid=IwAR0LDgPTsRsOU6IuTjVab6y8Ukn_MwBdJKOuYpl4o8XRRh0YpQeEA2l7FmM

Sheriff’s ‘Elmer’ Facebook Post Violates County, City & School Computer Guidelines

By BOB PALMER
Jimplecute News Editor

If Sheriff David McKnight had been a county employee rather than an elected official, his famous “Elmer” Facebook post could have resulted in disciplinary action or termination.

According to a copy of the Marion County Employee Manual the Jimplecute obtained through a Texas Public Information Act request, “the use of Marion County information systems, including computers, fax, machines, smart phones, tablet computers and all forms of Internet/Intranet access, is for Marion County business only.”

McKnight originally denied making the satirical post portraying an unkempt homeless man as the county’s new animal control officer, but TPIA requests unearthed text messages from McKnight to Chief Deputy Frank Cason where McKnight admits making the post.

[Bloggers Note: Sheriff McKnight LIED-How many times has he lied is the question!?! He began as a deputy with the sheriffs department and became an elected official after McKay left that position-How can anyone trust a sheriff that lies???]

“I was trying to piss of (sic) the shaw bunch,” McKnight said in the text message to Cason.

The employee manual is clear on the subject.
“Electronic communication should not be used to solicit or sell products or services that are unrelated to the County’s business; distract, intimidate, or harass coworkers or third parties; or disrupt the workplace,” the manual states.
The employee handbook warns,

“Employees must be aware that the electronic mail messages sent and received using county equipment are not private and are subject to viewing, downloading, inspection, release and archiving by the county.”
The threat of dismissal is repeated.

“Marion County monitors its entire informational systems and employees may be subject to discipline up to and including termination for any misuse of county informational systems,” the policy states.
Sheriff McKnight is an elected official, however, and not an “at-will” employee who can be terminaRules against misuse of government-owned electronic equipment or private communications devices used for a public purpose are also found in employee manuals for the City of Jefferson and Jefferson Independent School District.
“Employees representing the City government via City social media sites must conduct themselves at all times as a representative of the City and in accordance with all City policies,” the City of Jefferson handbook states.
Guidelines also include prohibitions against “profane, obscene, violent, or pornographic content or language,” as well as, “defamatory or personal attacks.”
The JISD Employee Manual is available on the district’s website. Employees are cautioned about the content of their electronic posts.
“As role models for the district’s students, employees are responsible for their public conduct even when they are not acting as district employees. Employees will be held to the same professional standards in their public use of electronic media as they are for any other public conduct,” the manual states.
“If an employee wishes to use a social network site or similar media for personal purposes, “the ted or reprimanded by a department head.

Rules against misuse of government-owned electronic equipment or private communications devices used for a public purpose are also found in employee manuals for the City of Jefferson and Jefferson Independent School District.

“Employees representing the City government via City social media sites must conduct themselves at all times as a representative of the City and in accordance with all City policies,” the City of Jefferson handbook states.

Guidelines also include prohibitions against “profane, obscene, violent, or pornographic content or language,” as well as, “defamatory or personal attacks.”

The JISD Employee Manual is available on the district’s website. Employees are cautioned about the content of their electronic posts.

“As role models for the district’s students, employees are responsible for their public conduct even when they are not acting as district employees. Employees will be held to the same professional standards in their public use of electronic media as they are for any other public conduct,” the manual states.

“If an employee wishes to use a social network site or similar media for personal purposes, “the employee is responsible for the content on the employee’s page, including content added by the employee, the employee’s friends, or members of the public who can access the employee’s page, and for web links on the employee’s page.”

Although the three manuals vary on specifics, the message is clear that at city, county and schools insulting, abrasive electronic posts are forbidden.

Jefferson Mayor Charles “Bubba” Haggard said the city has never had the need to discipline anyone under these provisions of the employee manual and was not sure how the city would exercise its right to monitor electronic messages.
“We would have to hire a tech person,” Haggard said.

The Jimplecute reached out to County Judge Leward LaFleur and Superintendent Rob Barnwell for comment, but had not received a reply by press time Wednesday

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This is the most backward place I’ve ever been to but not due to the residents of the county however, those elected officials as representatives of the county have left a very bad taste in my mouth and a horrible impression of the place. Imagine what a sheriff can do to your life when he’s a habitual liar…Yes, he is…He’s the high school bully wearing big boy pants unable to tell the truth. No one is safe in Marion County as long as McKnight remains in office.

What one resident had to say:

“The sad thing is that nothing has happened to him and nothing will, not even a formal response from the county commissioners or the county judge concerning the inappropriate actions of the sheriff.
The sheriff misused government property to harass citizens, and then lied he about it. This should be dealt with.”

It’s all a joke to these elected county officials including the fact that district attorney did NOT adhere to the guidelines of the law for prosecuting an animal cruelty case so, Carolyn Wedding runs free althou guilty of abusing 79 dogs with 2 freezers of dead dogs and a puppy stabbed to death found in her residence. Charges would also include bank fraud and fraudulently collecting donations. Any place else, she’d be locked up-Friends in high places allow murders to run free-makes me sick-just the thought of it…

Disclaimer connected to this blog…Things said are of my opinion and the opinions of others…Stay tuned, there will be more -B

DragnetJust the facts ma’m-then we’ll consider letting you go after we strip your property of the assets, prosecute you under color of law and then pat you on the ass so you can get more for us to take from you in the future.

 

Marion County, Texas is a Hot Seat Citizens Unhappy with Law Enforcement Specifically-Sheriff David McKnight

If you are the local government it would seem to me you should be mindful of the citizens who put you there!!! Not the case in Marion County-that’s for sure-Corruption coming from every department-Does McKnight actually believe the citizens aren’t going to do something about him to end his reign of terror before his two years are up??? Talk is, they want a full investigation…they want to impeach. Note: just imagine the harm a corrupt sheriff can do in 2 years besides being known as a liar.

You’d think to get the AG of his back, he’d do his best to comply with the law but this is LAWLESS Marion County where criminals run free and not charged with crimes when others have been charged with for far less…People go to jail there even thou they would be minding their own business and doing nothing to break the law.

Drugs are still a major issue and crimes go by as if they never happened at all…This group of law enforcement and the judicial system is the worst in the state and likely due to it’s remote location however, that doesn’t mean that that no crime exists or that the problems are solved quickly; far from it actually, including obeying orders from the Attorney Generals office.

What began as a ‘dig’ directed towards the residents involved in animal rescue has escalated to a much bigger issue as Sheriff David McKnight lied to residents about a FB post that he himself made. Rather than own his dastardly deed; he lied, claiming the FB site had been hacked-The only person to hack the account was himself.

The Jefferson Jimplecute stayed on top of this story causing friction between the local newspaper and McKnight. McKnight vowed not to supply the paper with public information after the paper exposed that he was responsible for the post and had lied to the public…A FOIA was then filed with the AG by the paper. The weekly arrest information that they place in the paper came to a screeching halt forcing the paper no other option than to contact the Ag office once again.

The FOIA request concerned not only the arrest reports but text messages on McKnights phone…All official equipment is supplied by the taxpayers and is subject to FOIA requests.

Hopefully I got all that pertinent information correct but certain you can understand the gest of it. Here’s the latest report published in the Jimplecute:

https://jimplecute1848.com/2019/06/28/ag-urges-marion-county-to-comply-with-tpia-request-smoak-says-no-more-text-messages/?fbclid=IwAR1bewELsgJfibftJvm_LJambHlcgx-o-9dqu16Wh-cx_9_tLJZt8LNoPo4

AG Urges Marion County to Comply with TPIA Request, Smoak Says No More Text Messages

By BOB PALMER
Jimplecute News Editor
JEFFERSON – County Attorney Angela Smoak advised the Jimplecute in a letter dated June 12 that all available text messages and emails sought in a Texas Public Information Act request had been delivered.

In a related matter, the office of the Texas Attorney General advised in a June 19 letter that Marion County comply with TPIA requests from the Jimplecute. “In response to your letter dated 6/6/19, please be advised that there are no emails or social media messages that are responsive to your request,” Smoak wrote to Jimplecute Publisher Mica Wilhite.
In her June 6 letter to Smoak, Wilhite reiterated the Jimplecute’s request for more than the screenshots of text messages on the night of April 24 where Sheriff David McKnight admitted posting the satirical “Elmer” post on the Marion County Sheriff ’s Department Facebook page.

“As you know, we requested ‘Records and copies of any electronic communication created, transmitted, received, or maintained on any device if the communication is in connection with the transaction of official business by Marion County for Sheriff David McKnight and Chief Deputy Frank Carson from April 17, 2019 through May 12, 2019,’” Wilhite wrote.

The publisher continued: “To date, we have received phone records for David McKnight dated April 24, 2019 through May 9, 2019 as well as screenshots of text messages from Frank Cason’s phone dated April 4, 2019 through May 23, 2019.”

Since Smoak’s June 12 letter, Wilhite has responded that Smoak’s claim that no additional messages exist is implausible. “Our request is not limited to messages regarding Facebook activity, but for all messages from Sheriff McKnight’s cell phone, Chief Deputy Frank Cason’s cell phone and all their emails whether those messages are to each other or to someone else,” Wilhite said.

State law does allow law enforcement officers to redact messages pertaining to a criminal investigation. The letter from the Education and Enforcement Section of the Open Records Division of the Texas Attorney General’s office was in response to a complaint filed by the Jimplecute when Marion County failed to comply with its request for text messages within the 10 business days.

“The easiest way to resolve this open records complaint is to release the requested information provided the information is not confidential by law,” the AG letter stated.
A Texas Attorney General’s ruling (No. 2011-08166) has determined text messages by public officials are public records. Phone calls and text messages made from cell phones either owned or paid for by the county are public records.

Related:

Hacking Claims False; Text Messages Show Sheriff Made ‘Elmer’ Facebook Post
In “Community”

‘Jimplecute’ Quest for Sheriff’s Text Messages Prompts Attorney General to Open Inquiry
In “Community”

Sheriff’s Department Misses TPIA Deadline, Blames Jimp for Missing Request
Updated: June 14, 2019, 10:16 a.m. Posted: June 13, 2019, 6:46 p.m. JEFFERSON – The Marion County Sheriff’s Department failed to meet the 10-day deadline of a Texas Public Information Act request by the Jimplecute. Sheriff David McKnight said Friday, the reason he had not complied with the request is…
In “Community”
June 28, 2019 Jefferson JimplecuteCommunity

Subscribe to the Jimp today! Special 4th of July Pricing Available Now!

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The Jimplecute does have a FB page however, not all the news coming from Marion County is shared on FB. It’s so great having a newspaper that will stay on top of a story that concerns the community!

Disclaimer connected to this blog…Things said are of my opinion and the opinions of others…Stay tuned and follow this blog -B

 

 

 

 

Demand Justice for the Dogs

 

Kangaroo Court in Session

Kangaroo court

Review of the facts concerning severe animal cruelty by Carolyn Wedding; assigned the simple task of caring for animals for the city of Jefferson, Texas and Marion County. It’s not a difficult job to provide proper food and shelter at a place created as a safe haven for animals in need. Some simply lost, others taken from their longstanding rightful owners then to be placed in humane conditions.

However, Wedding is a one-woman show who would not allow the public in; nor would she allow for volunteers for help. No one knew that there was something she was hiding behind those locked gates? Why is it that she was accustom to police officers and sheriff deputies coming out with animals needing rescue yet not one noticed the conditions? That smell alone had to be putrid.

I’m the last person that anyone would expect would be screaming about animal cruelty-however, it was intentional folks and went beyond that she had plenty to hide-Wedding knew all along that she wasn’t properly providing for those animals or there would have been people streaming in and out on a daily bases…Help with the care and to search to see if their missing dog had been picked up or simply to look around and take one home-In the end she’d claim no one would come to help-slick answer from someone who had three full freezers of dead animals and a puppy that had been stabbed to death…a dead dog found in her residence

You be the judge-Time for a little Kangaroo Court, after all, it’s Marion County and they do as they please and Kangaroo Court goes with the territory-It is befitting and considering the Grand Jury decided there wasn’t enough evidence to demonstrate any criminal offence was due to the fact that district attorney Smoak was over her head in pulling off her usual trickery; at least one juror was a city council woman…just as I had suspected…

Animal cruelty was NOT the main topic discussed with the Grand Jury, barely talked about but what did that matter-Calling for a Grand Jury for an animal cruelty case simply is unheard of and is not consistent with Texas Health and Safety Code 821-829, Government law.

Marion Co Courthouse

I call this Kangaroo Court to order-only fitting for the need for true judgement and conclusions…Presenting the evidence:

 

 

How much more evidence do you need-Had I been on that jury I would have had to be excused as I ran out of that courtroom to hurl…

GUILTY!!! GUILTY!!! GUILTY!!!

LOCK HER UP!!!

Wedding was whisked into and out of that courtroom that day…She was present for about 30 minutes before her daughter, a dis-barred attorney herself, took her home as if she was in some frail condition-If she was so unable to stand trial then get her to a doctor and demand that she receives treatment.

As promised, more from the Jimplecute:

https://jimplecute1848.com/2019/06/28/dixie-dog-disasterresults-in-no-indictments-by-marion-grand-jury/?fbclid=IwAR2NCoCBZsTozGDqcKU8knrS0jXfuqzPYdUz9mZNL5Xgc9cAQMylIn14ExI

Dixie Dog Disaster Results in No Indictments By Marion Grand Jury

Some Outraged, Some Okay

By BOB PALMER
Jimplecute News Editor

JEFFERSON – Numerous area residents lashed out following the Marion County Grand Jury’s decision to “no-bill” operators of the Dixie Humane Society.
“Just goes to prove it’s who you know and not evidence that gets you brought up on charges in this town, and how many dollar signs are behind your name,” Rita Barr wrote in a Facebook post.

“This verdict comes as no surprise,” Christie Woodson, who lamented that District Attorney Angela Smoak limited her testimony to the alleged trespassing, said. “None of us were asked about a single dog. Not one dog. Angie (Smoak) never said the words dog, abuse, freezer of dead animals or anything relevant to the true crime.”
Bob Avery, attorney for the Marion County Humane Society, which operated the Dixie shelter, disagreed. “The Grand Jury was in the best position to evaluate the evidence and I am certainly not going to second-guess them,” Avery told the Jimplecute this week.
Stephen Youngblood agreed, “The jury made their decision, I’ll have to agree with them.” A statement given last week by the Marion County District Attorney’s office revealed that the June 14 Grand Jury session resulted in no indictments of Caroline Wedding and the other operators of the Dixie Humane Society shelter.

Charges will also not be pursued against some who may have entered the property off SH 49 on North Street despite police warning tapes. More than 70 dogs were rescued in November and December by local volunteers at the shelter amid charges of neglect and abuse.

Following an investigation, Jefferson Police Chief Gary Amburn said violations of the law had occurred at the shelter and referred the matter to the district attorney’s office. D.A. Smoak presented the evidence to the Grand Jury.“

On June 14, 2019, a Marion County Grand Jury spent all day listening to the testimony of 13 witnesses, including those who faced potential criminal charges relating to the operation and eventual closure of the Dixie Humane Society in Jefferson, Texas,” the statement from Smoak read.

“When the facility closed, over 70 dogs were housed there in what were alleged to be inhumane conditions which sparked media coverage and calls from some members of the community for charges to be pursued for animal cruelty,” Smoak continued.
“At the end of a long day and after review of testimony from 13 witnesses and additional evidence, the Grand Jury found insufficient evidence to charge the operator of the facility or others who were facing potential criminal trespass or tampering with evidence charges.”

Smoak noted the dogs have since been placed with other facilities or individuals by community volunteers “who responded quickly after the facility closed.” Attempts to solicit comments from Sheriff David McKnight, Jefferson Police Chief Gary Amburn and MCHS Board President Brooklynn Bradley-LaFleur were not successful.
Volunteers active in the Friends of Jefferson Animals, however, were vocal.“The evidence that they should have concerned themselves with was the 70-plus malnourished and sick dogs living in their own filth, some of whom needed immediate medical attention,” Dina Carroll said.

“Of the 11 witnesses I saw enter the building, not one of them was there to speak up and out for the mistreated or dead animals found. As for insufficient evidence, it is my opinion that not all evidence was heard or even asked for.”

“Curiously, as I walked into the courthouse before the commencement of the proceedings I was approached by a prior DA who reminisced about a previous animal abuse case prosecution where they called in experts from Arlington, measured the level of contaminants present, etc.
He commented that they got a conviction and the perpetrator is still on probation,” Steven Shaw commented. Based on his observations, Shaw also reported to that none of that investigation was replicated on this case.

“The most disappointing part to the events surrounding the Dixie Humane Society was the overt, double standard application of the law,” Steve Woodson said. “We’ve got freezers full of dead dogs, dozens of neglected and malnourished animals, but apparently, that doesn’t warrant even a minor citation.

Instead, the volunteers have been treated like second-class citizens and were forced to defend their actions.” “By the grand jury not bringing charges against Caroline Wedding or the oversight board, they are allowing dog abuse to go unpunished and letting everyone know that abused dogs are not a concern of Marion County,” said Kim Shaw.
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Abused dogs were never a concern for Marion County-It was just another way to make criminals of the residents, get them locked into the system and take their money which could be as much as a thousand bucks…possibly more. Besides hiring an attorney for representation (minimum $5,000.00).

Plead guilty or I won’t represent you said Gleason to one longstanding resident who was charged althou innocent of those charges-he was her court appointed attorney…for what, she could have represented herself -he was useless.

Take all the animals in civil court but we’ll never take them to criminal court-We’ll get them next time because she can have animals, just not those animals (well of course not, nearly half were murdered or died by their unskilled hands.) No matter or attention of actual law was paid to by the JP judge, at that time, Lex Jones, that nothing was done according to the laws in Texas…County Judge Phil Parker took the case on appeal althou beyond subject matter jurisdiction of that court to hear the appeal but what did those defendants know? Parker was told how he would be ruling that day by Gleason, it was already discussed and decided before court even began; including denying the motion for a jury demand. Neither judge was trained in matters of law and Jones who knew one defendant was deaf, allowed the case to go to court without an ASL interpreter…No ASL interpreter was provided for any of it for him. And while I’m at it, I should add that the police records indicated that the defendants cooperated and no call for arrest was listed on the warrant but the two defendants that Wedding said of ‘alleged’ animal cruelty, were taken to jail with no consideration for PR bond. Instead, those defendants would remain in jail until it was decided that all charges would be dropped by giving up some of those animals (extortion used by Gleason) yet they held court the following day and decided to award the animals to Wedding…partially due to the fact that Wedding had a lot of weight affiliated with Sheriff McKnight…partially due to the fact that without permission from the court and without medical testing or permission from the defendants who remained in jail until the hearing, slaughtered nearly half the animals in the name of rescue under the color of law…Many animals died in the Weddings hands and the hands of Dr. Carol Hedges -Hedges complained that she was loosing business due to this blog accounting of what happened and occurred.

Karma played a role in seeing that Hedges, the Angel of Death got what she deserved…No rescue had occurred, in fact what occurred was animal cruelty by the accusers.

No justice was ever served.

With all charges dropped, the animals should have been returned according to the Texas Health and Safety Code…and the lives of the defendants were destroyed…Nothing would ever be the same with the only way out to relocate once again.

We left Marion County seven years ago and only now meeting its residents from beyond the gates of our property in another state.

Carolyn Wedding should have not only been charged with animal cruelty but numerous other charges including bank fraud and operating a NFP not listed with the state of Texas.

You can only find one conclusion-If Carolyn Wedding is not charged with over 70 counts of animal cruelty then there is no such thing as animal cruelty in Marion County and they need to answer to anyone and everyone previously charged.

What say you?

Disclaimer connected to this blog…Things said are of my opinion and the opinions of others…Stay tuned…follow this blog or join TopCatsRoar FB page…there will be more -B

DragnetWhat ya think Joe-Will she talk now? The facts just the facts.

 

Lawlessness Runs Deep in Marion County

Texas Health and Safety Code 821-829 addresses animal cruelty. It includes a remedy for animals found in deplorable conditions. -Those animals are to be removed and placed in humane conditions immediately. Animals are considered perishable property. People removing those dogs to place them in better conditions were never in danger of being charged-that was a community effort of actual necessary rescue.

Carolyn Wedding has broken more laws in the last 10+ years including claiming animal cruelty for members of the community when no cruelty ever existed. She was never properly trained to run such an operation and obviously was never an expert trained in matters of animal cruelty. She continued as a one woman show that failed miserably at the task of providing proper animal care. This was demonstrated years ago when she would haul animals to Marshall Animal Control where most were euthanized and without notification to the community that if they were missing their dog or cat to check in Marshall with MAC.

OMG they stole Kenny 2If it’s not nailed down-take it.

Marion County has never stuck to the rule of law concerning any issue of animal cruely, including when no animal cruelty ever exisited. ‘Dog and pony show’ for all of those cases-but this one is over the top. No where does the TX Health and Safety Code state that there is to be a grand jury. The rule of law is actually very specific. Marion County has denied a simple jury demand in order to get the end result they sought yet provides a grand jury for Carolyn Wedding without addressing the issue of cruelty and without calling in experts that took care of those dogs who are well versed in issues of animal cruelty. The vet in Marshall has handled quite a few cases of actual animal cruelty.

I venture to say, and I’ve said this for nearly 10 years, if they can’t get an animal cruelty case right, the lawlessness runs rampant in Marion County and runs deep. I’d put money that not a single case of animal cruely has ever been handled accordingly to the rule of law.

Carolyn Wedding and the board of directors must to be held responsible for the severe cruelty that took place. She must be held responsible for running a non-registered Not for Profit business. There is also an issue of bank fraud. There were so many crimes involved in this case that have never been addressed and that issue falls back on the very people who took an oath to obey the law and protect the community.

As a result there should be an all out protest including complaints filed. This case is an example of just how deep the lawlessness runs with people who are not qualified to hold any government position.

Kangaroo courtKangaroo Court exists like no place else in the United States-Law…What law? No one is innocent unless they make it so…A society of lawlessness where everyone is considered guilty of crime-Depends on who you’re related to or who ya know…Just who stabbed that puppy found in Carolyn Weddings freezer?!?

Intentional cruelty happened at the Dixie Humane Society of Marion County and Carolyn Wedding wasn’t accepting any help from anyone for any reason. After a bit of coaxing a volunteer was allowed to come in and help. What she saw was horrifying so she reported it to the chief of police for the city of Jefferson. She returned the following day and took numerous pictures to document what she saw. Those conditions didn’t happen overnight and those dogs were subjected to the worse conditions than anyone would have thought imaginable…If Carolyn Wedding isn’t charged with a crime then there is no such thing as animal cruelty. I wouldn’t subject a dead dog to such conditions.

Dixie HS is not a registered not-for-profit. Checks were written to the Dixie Humane Society –

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Jefferson Jimplecute reports-

https://jimplecute1848.com/2019/06/21/grand-jury-doesnt-indict-dixie-humane-society-operators/?fbclid=IwAR1BGhFGJ19TmMA7DTSZyqXh3M-PiY8SXYf7gmcLjdDutP7EYl3KU01lOgo

Grand Jury Doesn’t Indict Dixie Humane Society Operators

GraPosted: 6/21/19 at 10:33 a.m.
Updated: 6/22/19 at 11:50 a.m.

A statement given this week by the Marion County District Attorney’s office to witnesses at the June 14 Grand Jury session indicates no charges will be brought against Caroline Wedding and the other operators of Dixie Human Society Shelter.

Charges will also not be pursued against some who may have entered the property off SH 49 despite police warning tapes.

More than 70 dogs were rescued in November and December by local volunteers at the shelter amid charges of neglect and abuse.

Following an investigation, Jefferson Police Chief Gary Amburn said violations of the law had occurred at the shelter and referred the matter to the district attorney’s office. District Attorney Angela Smoak presented the evidence to the Marion County Grand Jury.
“On June 14, 2019, a Marion County Grand Jury spent all day listening to the testimony of 13 witnesses, including those who faced potential criminal charges relating to the operation and eventual closure of the Dixie Humane Society in Jefferson, Texas,” the statement from Smoak read.

“When the facility closed, over 70 dogs were housed there in what were alleged to be inhumane conditions which sparked media coverage and calls from some members of the community for charges to be pursued for animal cruelty,” Smoak continued. “ At the end of a long day and after review of testimony from 13 witnesses and additional evidence, the Grand jury found insufficient evidence to charge the operator of the facility or others who were facing potential criminal trespass or tampering with evidence charges.”

Smoak noted the dogs have since been placed with other facilities or individuals by community volunteers “who responded quickly after the facility closed.”
“This verdict comes as no surprise,” Christie Woodson, who lamented Smoak limited her testimony to the alleged trespassing, said. “None of us were asked about a single dog. Not one dog. Angie (Smoak) never said the words dog, abuse, freezer of dead animals or anything relevant to the true crime.”

Complete coverage on the Grand Jury’s decision not to indict the persons involved in the Dixie Shelter collapse will be in the June 27 issue of the Jimplecute.nd Jury Doesn’t Indict Dixie Humane Society Operators

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GRAND JURY Marion County

This small town enforcement and judicial system is political and behaves much like organized crime rather than any effort to protect the community. The sheriff, David McKnight, went out of the way to mock members of the community on the sheriff’s official FB page. A feud has begun between those in charge and the lawful community-Times have changed and they must be held accountable for current and past mockery of the law and the oaths they took to protect the community.

What others are saying:

“Wedding denied anyone entry. She knew all along that her actions were criminal. I find it hard to believe that law enforcement were unaware as they continued to bring dogs to that facility. Easier to believe they were in cahoots as they have been in the past. Carolyn Wedding goes out of her way to destroy lives of people and has amazed me that anyone would depend on her to provide properly for animals.
Way out of her league to properly provide.”

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“No judge. Just the DA and her agenda.

The grand jury was composed of 12 people she picked!! They serve a six month term and then a new grand jury is formed.

This grand jury’s term is almost over. So she has had this group for almost 6 months and knew how to play them.

I assure you, some of these people looked like they would be the type to be completely in awe and impressed by anyone with a badge or a title.

Smoak has only made things worse for themselves. This isn’t over and will be taken to the Attorney General.”

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Disclaimer connected to this blog…Things said are of my opinion and the opinions of others…Stay tuned and follow this blog…There will be more -B
Dragnet

Hey Joe, did you remember to bring the taser? 

 

A Bogus Attempt At Justice -DA Angie Smoak Fooled No One -HOAX

I’m not surprised…I am more than mildly annoyed…Truthfully, I’m fuming and my blood pressure is thru the roof…My heart is racing and feels like its beating out of my chest-No need to prepare you for a rant…If you find yourself reading my blog, then you know there’s going to be a rant as well as some documenting of the facts. Not sure if this will be one very long post or if I’ll divide it out-Its just so damn unbelievable. Once again, a Marion County district attorney has laid out bullshit for the community to wade thru and baffle any attorney that reads this stuff.

Only in Marion County can a Civil case be classified as Criminal in a court that is not allowed to hear a state criminal case yet has two court appointed attorneys (what were they thinking???…Oh they didn’t realize…that’s pretty scary within itself) but then on appeal it goes to another court lacking subject matter jurisdiction over the Civil appeal…Criminal is Criminal and Civil is Civil-Never the two shall meet…But in Marion County they can…

I have said this numerous times over the years that there is no justice in Marion County and the place is lawless including the ‘new’ District Attorney for the state, DA Angie Smoak or is that DA Angie Schmuck?!? The community is in shock tonight wading thru the absolute bullshit that this district attorney attempted to pull off but once the information settles, truth surfaces if you know the law concerning animal cruelty.

No where does the Texas Health and Safety Code that addresses animal cruelty does it allow for a Grand Jury-but Smoak made an attempt to pull it off.

Seriously?!? None of the people that has ever been accused ever had the benefit of a grand jury-This is not how animal cruelty cases are to be handled as dictated by the state.
The handling of such cases is very specific. See TX Health and Safety Code, Title 10 Health and Safety of Animals, Chapter 821-829
Refers to Disposition of Animals and refers exactly how it is to be prosecuted when criminal charges are filed.
If law enforcement and the judicial system of Marion County don’t get this right then I venture to say they have abused this community beyond what anyone could even imagine!!!
GRAND JURY Marion County

Note: She still states alleged and she is non-specific pertaining to the 70+ dogs being in inhumane conditions. Animals are considered perishable evidence and immediate rescue with or without a warrant it wouldn’t matter in this case considering the retched conditions for animals putting them in harms way. All the rescuers were residents of Marion County and ignored by the sheriff department as well as the Jefferson Police Department. If anything, they would be considered witnesses…But Smoak figured she would appease the residents of the county; Carolyn Wedding is her friend and a board member is the wife of the new County Judge LeFleuer.

By law the CEO and the board members would be held responsible-What a scandal…No matter what Smoak does its a scandal…but she’s a snake with a community crying foul-From the start she stated she needed to hold a Grand Jury and she guided it to suit the need. No only that, but this so called Grand Jury was loaded-When I first saw the item in the Jimplecute, I asked if the jury contained city council members and guess what…It did!!! Holy Smoak what were you thinking?!? There was at least one council member as identified by a witness who was there to testify….

INTERESTING and should be noted-No one called the vet who was hired to take charge of the 70+dogs…The rules of the Texas Health and Safety Code 821-829 weren’t applied-What’s going on here?!? I’ll tell you exactly what’s going on-KANGAROO Court…Marion County is famous for them…This time designed to fool the community-Epic FAIL!!!

Kangaroo court

When there are numerous complaints filed with the Attorney Generals office, the Texas Rangers and the FBI someone is bound to take notice.

How about I include just a few comments that I read today to finish this post off-tomorrow this will continue.

“In Marion County, TX., it’s legal to have 70+plus neglected dogs, 3 freezer full of dead dogs and a stabbed dead puppy .”

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“Sweetheart, I am so proud of you for standing your ground, upholding your convictions, and being naive enough to still believe that “justice would prevail”

“After spending the entire day with you as witness after witness went into the grand jury room and thereafter emerged totally dumbfounded that no questions were asked regarding the conditions of the abused animals, their strategy was apparent.”

“The DA had obviously structured the “dog and pony show” so that she could later state that the Grand Jury did not find sufficient evidence to indict. As I sat outside the grand jury room, never did I see anyone from the Marshall Animal hospital show up to testify as to the abusive conditions of the dogs they treated, no local vet to testify whether he authorized the “euthanasia” or killing of the three freezers of dead dogs, no expert witnesses on the level of contaminants present at the facility, and so on, and so on.”

“As a witness before many grand juries I know well that the entire process is orchestrated and controlled by the DA. If the DA wants an indictment it will happen. If not, no way in hell will it happen. ”

“Curiously, as I walked into the courthouse before the commencement of the proceedings I was approached by a prior DA who reminisced about a previous animal abuse case prosecution where they called in experts from Arlington, measured the level of contaminants present, etc. He commented that they got a conviction and the perpetrator is still on probation. ”

“The fact that none of that investigation was replicated on this case (which was much worse) can only point to the bias and desire of those in charge to insure the outcome of a No Bill.”

“After speaking to judges in surrounding counties I had been previously cautioned as to the “pervasive corruptness” that they saw as existing in Marion County for years, if not decades. I chose not to believe those allegations, and, instead to wait and make my own decision. Well, that decision is now clear and evident. It’s so sad, because we deserve more.”

“Again, thanks for your efforts and for being a champion for the true underdogs of our county. I love your passion and commitment. But most of all, I love you!”

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“all of this makes me ill. Since I moved here I have watched good honest working people get their names ran through the mud, my name included, crimes that go unpunished, people not getting the help they need because of who they are or where they live, businesses hurt because of what or who they support. This is a small town and county, this isn’t New York. If they want JFK status, then they are in the wrong place. We need strong leadership here, our judicial system is a complete failure here, Hell our city government is a failure and this is sad. If I was any of these people I would not be able to sleep or look at myself in the mirror. I have friends who this system has failed, shot the system failed my husband and I and now this with the Dixie humane society, I am blown away. Guess I have the wrong type of friends if I need any assistance in Jefferson. I love Jefferson and for the most part the residents of Jefferson. It just sucks that the underbelly of Jefferson it government and judicial system makes it an ugly place. So I guess if you are an animal, a child who is touch by an adult or a person who is the victim of someone trying to hurt them, look some place else for help or action cause unless you are Jefferson elite, you won’t find assistance here.
Sorry for the confusing rant, I am just so unbelievably upset at how wrong this is”

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One of my numerous comments-

“Please see Texas Health and Safety Code 821-829
No where does it state that a Grand Jury is to be called. This is a rather bogus attempt to allow a Wedding to go free and was at taxpayer expense. How many city council members were on the jury? Gives new meaning to jury of your peers doesn’t it!?! All hand picked to suit the need…Grand Jury while others are denied a jury-interesting isn’t it!?!”

“I expect them to be dipping into the funds for the Courthouse restoration…Keep your eyes on that money and hold them accountable…Actually, it’s not possible to hold them accountable and this proves it.”

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Those of you reading this can help-Call the Texas Attorney Generals office and advise them that the corruption  runs deep in Marion County; both law enforcement and the judicial system…This one case demonstrates how horribly corrupt it is for members of the community. Surely somebody knows someone who can make a big difference for the people who reside there #MarionCountyMatters

Disclaimer connected to this blog…Things said are of my opinion n and the opinions of other…Stay tuned, follow this blog…there will be more -B

Dragnet

 

 

 

 

What the Heck is Going on in Marion Co Texas

Seriously? The new county judge isn’t even a high school graduate? I realize it’s a position for an elected official but this is way over the top. It’s not that Lex Jones was doing the job any better cause he wasn’t but seems to me that people in charge that hold court hearings, making decisions on residents in the county, should at least have some knowledge in law…I don’t mean to pick a fight with this guy but certain he was elected to that position because he married Dr. Bradley’s daughter…not on his own merit…now where have I heard that name before-The plot thickens-Don’t you just love small town politics? Just wait for it cause I don’t even know where I’m going with this as reason for this post…Lets just say this tiny, barely a dot on the map, is in the news a lot lately…Praise the day that property is gone!

Let me back up, it’s difficult to wrap my brain around all this…

Leward Lafleur is the county judge.  Only has a GED. [Note: this was a small county election with a lot of Bubbas in charge-It’s surprising that anyone votes!!!]

Brooke Bradley (Dr. Bradley’s daughter) is his THIRD WIFE.  He won just by putting the Bradley name out there and lying about his past.

He also has a daughter from when he knocked up some chick before he married wife #2.  That lady had to take him to court considering the fact that Lafleur was denying paternity.

Wife #2 said he was a horrible husband.  No regular job and always overdrawing their account at the casinos in Shreveport. WAIT…we’re talking about the new county judge-which is basically an administrative job…Oh Lordy

Lafleur lied to the press about a tax lawsuit from Gregg County.  He wasn’t paying taxes on a property.  He told the media it was property he inherited in the Longview area and that he was unaware.  Wife #2 said this was a lie and that they received notices constantly regarding the past due taxes.

Moving right along-

Brooke has been overheard saying she and Lafleur will be the next JFK and Jackie O. Of Podunk Moron County-That’s a real jewel of a statement…

All the people involved with the Dixie Humane Society previously known as the Humane Society of Marion County are all intertwined.

Brooke was the Dixie HS president but denied involvement all together when the truth was exposed. Brook is Dr. Bradley’s daughter and married to the new county judge-Dr. Bradley is a vet who had to know something was up.
Dr. Bradley must have been the one to provide Wedding with the euthanasia drugs.   She was killing animals on the Dixie HS site and I truly doubt it was done in accordance as specified by law. Dr. Bradley he did not go out there but all the same by supplying those drugs he would know how many animals had been or intended to be euthanized. Wedding said the dead animals in the freezer came from Dr. Bradleys office…Maybe what she meant was that the result of the drugs provided by Dr Bradley…

Bradley went strangely quiet as soon as the crap hit the fan for Wedding.  He also sent those involved in rescuing the animals from the Dixie HS certified letters dropping them (the ones speaking out about the horrible conditions there and still in need of an actual rescue center) as patients.  The letter said he was downsizing his practice but everyone knows otherwise. [Note: no one downsizes their business turning away current patients it’s customary to no longer accept new patients however, it’s not a super busy office either.]

The DA, Angie Smoak, is a close friend of Brooke’s.  Amburn is a tight friend of  Wedding and even wrote “Happy Birthday Friend” on her Facebook page in January.

Birthday wishes Wedding
Betty McKnight is Sheriff McKnights wife…
Supposedly the results of Amburn’s “investigation” are sitting on Smoak’s desk.  She will NEVER bring this to a Grand Jury. Grand jury?!?…now that’s funny-no one puts together a grand jury over an animal cruelty issue…especially when Texas has set regulations on how to handle cruelty cases and they still don’t have a clue about processing a case in regards to the law. There’s also a matter of embezzlement of the funds intended for the humane society…the lest of issues goes on and on.

Bob Avery and his wife Kay funded many Dixie HS items (the van etc.) and then LIED that there was ever a Dixie board to oversee anything.  Everyone knows otherwise and they have the minutes from an August meeting as well as screenshots of incriminating Facebook posts.

But the law here (Marion Co) DOES NOT CARE.   Misappropriated city funds, collection jar donations misused, dead animals, abused animals- but no one will do or say anything because it involves their friends.
Marion County Judge

Stupid Bob Avery is an attorney yet he was too dumb to make sure Dixie HS was set up as a proper 501c3.  There is no Dixie Humane Society registered with the state.  Plus, Wedding was the only person on the bank account with no oversight. How dumb is Avery???? Frankly, no dumber than to rest of the gaggle of attorneys in Marion County.

Its also known there was no accountability for anything with Wedding at the helm…Not the animals, not her purchases, not nothin’ I can only imagine Wedding spilling all the dish she has on the entire county…She could easily strike a deal for spilling the beans…any place except Marion County that is.

Now I’m sitting here knowing all this when another bit of information came shooting at me with the worst kind of fast ball.

I found it odd that the new county judge, Lafleur, would leave his position and become a judge fulltime but figured that would become known soon enough-Boy did it ever!!!

This guy is in charge of what?!? Oh Lordy you just can’t make this stuff up!!!

Marion-County-Courthouse3

 

http://www.kltv.com/2019/04/23/historical-marion-county-courthouse-undergo-multi-million-dollar-restoration/?fbclid=IwAR3pawwZTeRCowUXtz_NSfjsE3xus7E8HuHsaAp_VYfTyHWj9c_yeLvE0HI

[NOTE: Video can be viewed at the link]

Historical Marion County Courthouse to undergo multi-million dollar restoration

JEFFERSON, TX (KLTV) – They have been raising money since 1999 for it, and talking about it even longer than that, but it’s finally going to happen: The Historically Designated Marion County Courthouse is going to be renovated. Now that the funding is in place, and a contractor hired, we take a look at the temporarily empty courthouse.

It’s been standing in downtown Jefferson since 1913, and has gone through a few changes, but Marion County Judge Leward LaFluer says it’s going to be fixed back to original. Joe R. Jones Construction got the winning bid to just that.

“It’s overseen by the Texas Historical Commission, so basically what they’re going to do is they’ve got all the specs of what this courthouse looked like; the flooring, the granite walls, all the arbitrary fixtures, and they’re going to put it back just the way it was built,” LaFluer said.

Marion County asked for a grant in 1999, and recently the Texas Historical Commission had good news.

“We were the recipient of a $4.7 million grant this award cycle,” LaFluer revealed.

And since 1999 the county has raised about a million for the renovation. They had to vacate the courthouse to have the work done so:

“We bought a building, and it saved the taxpayers a tremendous amount of money over the next two to three years in rent,” LaFluer stated. There are stories permeating the building, like in the courtroom where every judge taking the bench rests a hand in the same place as they walk by which has worn the woodwork.

Komatsu Architects were hired to get the restoration correct based on:
“A sister courthouse up in the panhandle: Roberts County. They did a renovation I want to say five to ten years ago and everything is just about like ours,” LaFluer explained.
The floating ceiling will go, and so will a lot of 1970s paneling. LaFluer says, bottom line:
“It will look like a completely different building.”

Maybe they’ll get the sliding cabinet on the judge’s bench opened. The key was lost and it’s been locked for years. They have no idea what’s in there.
And below the vaulted County Clerk’s office is what Judge LaFluer calls a secret room; spiral stairs in the floor leading to..

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You can follow the link for the video showing the hidden room but then you have to waste a lot of time watching the entire video until the end which reveals a prison like structure located under the clerk of the courts office. It likely was a holding area back in the day that building was built. The sheriffs office and the courthouse are all together located just behind the courthouse and across the street from the local bar and grill.

No matter what changes they make to that building-the corruption is apparent in the court cases. Now here’s where I see trouble starting as they likely will be able to misplace or even destroy cases they don’t want revealed…such as the fake animal cruelty cases with Wedding staking a claim to the animals and pushing for full prosecution. They gave her a free get out of jail card…Ringing in my ears is a statement made to us-It’s just business, nothing to worry about-Don’t take it personal-Boy what a smart ass statement that was when you consider the value of more than $300,000.00 compared to Wedding having nothing in it and able to live off the green pasture she created for herself…

Many of the animal cases are lacking a civil hearing over the animals in JP court with a judge not trained in matters of law, or a criminal case heard by any judge or wrongly placed in the county judges office who by law can not hear civil cases as he too is not trained in matters of law and anyone can become one of those judges -Your education or lack of education doesn’t matter obviously as long as you have some connection such as the connection to Dr Bradley-Lafleur sure made it quick to county judge and will be in charge of a multi-million dollar renovation…Watch the money!!!-It’s going to flow once no one is watching but if your friends with the current district attorney-well that’s OK then; it won’t be prosecuted.

This type of small town corruption will continue until others in the community step up-For one, they need to vote and take over these elected positions of government power.

In the meantime members of the community can report this to the state authorities-Hey, the older court cases are already boxed and ready to be removed. They need to collect the cases from the DA, the sheriffs office reports and the jail. And I wouldn’t stop with state authorities who have provided a free pass for this county for years. All state and federal representatives need to be informed for action.

Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton on line contact: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/contact-us-online-form

Texas Governor has several ways for contact:                                       https://gov.texas.gov/contact

https://gov.texas.gov/apps/contact/assistance.aspx

Texas Rangers main office: https://www.dps.texas.gov/TexasRangers/contact.htm

From the website:

Ranger Responsibilities

The Texas Ranger Division is the primary criminal investigative branch of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Murder, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, theft, and fraud;
bank fraud;
theft by credit card and computer generated counterfeit checks;
misuse of criminal history information;
misconduct and corruption of public officials;
threats against the governor and other state and federal officials; and
missing persons, parental abductions, questionable deaths and unidentified bodies

The activities of the Texas Ranger Division consist primarily of conducting criminal and special investigations, apprehending wanted felons, suppressing major disturbances, protection of life and property, and rendering assistance to local law enforcement officials in suppressing crime and violence. Programs under the direction and supervision of the Texas Rangers are:

  • Border Security – Ranger Reconnaissance Teams (Riverine operations);
  • Public Corruption investigations;
  • Major Case investigations;
  • Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program – Cold Case investigations;
  • Special Operations Group – Special Weapons and Tactics, Regional Special Response Teams, Crisis Negotiation Units and Explosive Ordnance Disposal;

[Ding-Ding-Ding so why didn’t he look into this problem?!? Oh I see the local Texas Ranger made a few calls and the county told him they were handling it-No not to the liking of the residents of Marion County-Time to become a nag and call again…Handling it really means I’m not doing anything about it…To Hell if she isn’t and can send the case to Texarkana]

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Complaints need to go to all agencies until someone steps up to the plate for a full blown investigation into the affairs of Marion County

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https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/map?address=&city=Jefferson&zip=

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Texas division of the FBI, Tyler office:

https://www.fbi.gov/tips

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I tried but needs to be more than just one voice-Explain what you know about what’s going on in Marion County -Had I known any of this I would have never relocated there in the first place!!! It’s cost me plenty including my career and life as I knew it just as it has for some many others who are tired of the double standard.

Remember, disclaimer connected to this blog, things said are of my opinion and the opinions of others…Stay tuned -B

#MarionCountyMattersMost