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Supreme Court Orders Judges to Plan for Jail Reductions

A new order from the Tennessee Supreme Court directs judges to submit a plan to reduce jail populations as a way to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The new order came Wednesday as the court extended its March 20th order mandating all courts stay open but suspend most in-person proceedings through April 30th. The previous order asked judges to work with others in the judicial system to make inmate reduction when possible. The new mandate orders them to make a  plan.

“Reduction in local jail populations is a critical component in controlling the spread of COVID-19,” Chief Justice Jeff Bivins said. “There are low-risk, non-violent offenders who can safely be released and supervised by other means to reduce local jail populations. Judges, law enforcement, and attorneys must work together to identify and create an action plan to address this issue.”

The order does come with a list of exceptions. Some cases will proceed, for example, to protect constitutional rights of criminal defendants. Proceedings will also continue in matters related to child safety, emergency mental health orders, those directly related to coronavirus, and more.

The order applies to state and local Tennessee courts, including appellate, trial, general sessions, juvenile, and municipal courts. The court strongly encourages court proceedings to continue by phone, video, teleconferencing, email, and other means that do not involve human contact.

“Judges from around the state and the technology team at the Administrative Office of the Courts hit the ground running March 13th when it came to finding and utilizing technology in courtrooms to keep court proceedings moving,” Bivins said. “Through the AOC court security grants, approximately 30 video arraignment systems have been installed over the past two years and judges are also using WebEx, Zoom, Skype, and other tools to hold hearings and meetings.

Tennessee judges have proven to be innovative problem-solvers when needed. The court greatly appreciates the flexibility and accommodations shown by all in the legal system, including court clerks, attorneys, court staff, and law enforcement personnel.”

The order came after criminal justice reform advocates urged the court to release many incarcerated in Tennessee’s jails and prisons.

Read the court’s order here:
[pdf-1]

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Four Shelby County Jailers Face 20 Years for Smuggling OxyContin

CREDIT: Louis Goggans

Four Shelby County Corrections Deputies are facing up to 20 years in federal prison for attempting to smuggle OxyContin into the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar.

Louis Goggans

U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton discusses federal indictment of four jailers.

The four defendants are Anthony Thomas, 27; Marcus Green, 33; Brian Grammer, 35; and Torriano Vaughn, 28.

All four men were indicted last week.

A press conference was held at the U.S. Attorney’s office Monday regarding the federal indictments. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Edward Stanton, Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Todd McCall were all in attendance to discuss the jailers’ illicit endeavors.

During the press conference, it was disclosed that an undercover operation was arranged by the FBI’s Tarnished Badge Task Force in July 2014. The effort involved “cooperating” inmates who requested for the defendants to smuggle OxyContin, a narcotic pain reliever, in exchange for cash payments from a third party outside of the jail.

Cooperators would give the defendants the name of an individual, who they would meet up with at various locations throughout Memphis. The individual would provide presumed OxyContin pills (actually placebos) and cash to the defendants. Subsequently, the prescription pills would be smuggled into the county jail and provided to the cooperating inmates.

After transactions were completed, the cooperators would turn the pills over to law enforcement.

When asked if there were potentially more jailers smuggling contraband for inmates, Shelby County Sheriff Oldham said, ‘You always have that possibility.’

“One of the things we’re going to continue to do is be as vigilant as we can, using all of the resources that we have to prevent that from occurring,” Oldham said. “And when it does occur, to make sure that those individuals are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

U.S. Attorney Stanton said the investigation is another example of the uptick law enforcement has seen with the demand for and addiction of prescription drugs.

“These four individuals, they were sworn to uphold the law and protect contraband from coming in,” Stanton said. “And, as the indictment alleges, they were simply drug dealers looking to make extra cash by bringing drugs into 201 Poplar — the same place they took an oath to protect contraband from coming in.”

If convicted, all four defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. 

The case was investigated by the Tarnished Badge Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Memphis Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Oak Court Mall Shooter Sentenced to 14 Years

Otis Reddic

A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for shooting another man inside Oak Court Mall last spring.

On March 6th, 2014, Otis Reddic reportedly fired a small handgun at 22-year-old Theodis Pitchford as he stood with some friends near a kiosk on the mall’s lower level. Pitchford was struck once in the left side during the shooting. Seven others in the area fled for safety.

Today, Reddic was sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempted second-degree murder, employing a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony and seven counts of reckless endangerment.

According to the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office (SCDAG), Reddic entered an Alford plea in which a defendant proclaims his innocence while admitting prosecutors have enough evidence to obtain a conviction.

The shooting last March left Pitchford hospitalized, but he managed to survive. Following the shooting, Reddic fled the scene and remained on the run for nearly two months before turning himself into law enforcement on April 30th, 2014.

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Career Criminal Receives 27 Years for Theft of Truck, Wendy’s Chicken Breasts

Felix Hall

  • Felix Hall

A career criminal has been sentenced to nearly three decades in prison for stealing a semi-truck and frozen chicken breasts from Wendy’s.

In May 2012, police pulled over 51-year-old Felix Hall at Brooks Road and South Third in a maroon 2005 Freightliner Columbia. The semi had been reported stolen a week earlier.

According to the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office, police found a large pair of bolt cutters, a cut lock, and a cardboard box of frozen chicken breasts from Wendy’s inside the truck’s cab. During trial, it was revealed that the chicken was stolen from a Wendy’s restaurant located at 4320 Elvis Presley.

This week, Hall was sentenced to 15 years in prison for theft over $10,000 as a persistent offender. He received an additional 12 years for burglary of a building as a career offender and 11 months and 29 days for theft under $500. Hall will serve the prison sentences concurrently.

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Rickey Peete Gets 51-month Prison Sentence

Same courtroom, same defendant, same charge.

Former Memphis City Councilman Rickey Peete, who pleaded guilty to accepting $14,500 in bribes while in office in 2006, was sentenced to 51 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Samuel Mays.

That was the upper end of the 41-51 month sentencing range in the guidelines, and Mays said he was influenced by “the serious and repetitive nature of this offense.” Peete, 52, was convicted of bribery in 1989 when he was a first-term councilman.

“Honest representation is the basis of a free society,” said Mays, who told Peete he found it “really painful” to have to send him to prison.

“I don’t sentence many evil people,” said Mays. “I sentence good people who do stupid and illegal things.”

Peete, a Morehouse College graduate with a master’s degree, was reelected to the council in 1995 after serving 30 months in prison. He was a Memphis school board member before going on the council.

Choking up at times, Peete spoke on his own behalf.

“I am humiliated, remorseful, and ashamed of my actions which have brought me to this time and place,” he said.

He apologized to his family, friends, constituents, and fellow citizens.

“I accept responsibility for my error in judgment,” he said.

Peete took $14,500 from lobbyist Joe Cooper for his support on a billboard issue. Cooper was working undercover and Peete was taped and recorded. His deception and willingness to take multiple bribes worked against him and showed that he had not learned his lesson from his previous conviction, said assistant U.S. Attorney Vivian Donelson. She said Peete was more concerned about getting caught than serving his constituents honorably.

Three people spoke on Peete’s behalf: Alma Morris, Rev. Melvin Wade, and Virginia Anderson. They said Peete was especially helpful to children and senior citizens in his council super-district.

“We need him back in the community,” said Anderson.

Under council rules, Peete cannot run again. No date was set for him to report to prison. He will be in minimum security and will be as close to Memphis as possible.