Walter David Sanders
According to the Robertson County District Clerk’s Office, District Attorney John C. Paschall and his staff have tried only one felony case out of 769 that were filed between October 4, 2009 and October 4, 2012. That lone case was tried in January of 2010, which means the DA’s office has not tried a felony case in 21 months.
Paschall has two full-time assistant DAs, plus two secretaries and several investigators. I am awaiting information from the county clerk’s office, but my courthouse sources say Paschall’s office tries perhaps 2 or 3 misdemeanor cases per year.
Is Paschall really that incapacitated by his alcohol problems? Or is he just lazy? And what are he and his assistant DAs doing all day? Clearly, some of his employees have too much time on their hands. You may recall that in 2009, local business owners in Hearne accused one of Paschall’s investigators of trying to intimidate them into removing signs about American Violet, a movie that was embarrassing Paschall.
With three full-time attorneys, Paschall’s office should be trying multiple felonies per year and multiple misdemeanors per month. In all fairness, many of the 769 felony cases were plea bargained, and that’s not inherently bad. But the plea bargaining process only works if the defense attorneys know that the DA’s office is willing (and able) to take a case to trial.
Shortly after I started taking criminal defense appointments in Robertson County in 2007, other local attorneys told me that Paschall never wanted to try a case, therefore you could always get easy plea bargains out of him. And they were right. Every criminal defense attorney within 50 miles of Robertson County knows that Paschall won’t try cases. [more…]
What are the consequences of Paschall’s unwillingness / inability to prosecute cases? My sources tell me the Robertson County News will break a big story on that subject on Wednesday. Meanwhile, I invite Paschall to tell his side of the story. If he wants to explain why his office has not tried a felony case in 21 months, I’ll be glad to post it here and on RedFacedDrunk.com. In fact, if Paschall wants to respond to anything I’ve written about him, e.g., the Marium Oscar case, I’ll be glad to post it here. Or I suppose he could try to get another gag order to shut me up.
Either way, the ball is in Paschall’s court. As one of my friends recently observed, Paschall’s supporters (including his daughter) have called me a lot of names on Facebook, but they’ve not yet called me a liar. None of them — not one — has denied that he refers to black people as “niggers” (and they can’t, because too many witnesses have already testified in Regina Kelly, et al. v. John Paschall, et al. about his use of that word).
None of his supporters have denied that he’s a drunk. None of his supporters have offered an explanation for what happened to the Marium Oscar estate. None of his supporters have denied that he is currently under indictment for a felony. None of his supporters have denied that he was arrested for public intoxication in 2005. None of his supporters have denied that he threatened Steve Stokely, a detective who was investigating Paschall’s brother-in-law for murder.
No, all the Paschall stooges are too busy calling me names, which is fine. I wonder when they’ll figure out that my name is not on the ballot.
UPDATE (1:25 p.m., October 8, 2012): I’ve learned that the Robertson County News story about Walter David Sanders has been postponed until October 17, 2012. After the first story broke on September 26, 2012, Paschall claimed the victims recanted. But was that true? Dennis Phillips, publisher of the News, decided to find out for himself.
UPDATE (4:00 p.m., October 17, 2012): Robertson County News will not be running a story on October 17, 2012 about Walter David Sanders.
A man of character speaks the truth even if he stands alone and it cost him his reputation.
What time does Paschall’s family wake up on Monday’s? The insults should be flowing soon.
How do assholes like this guy stay in elected office?
Good question, Don. But be prepared for incoming emails from Paschall’s family. :/
The Paschall minions have been awfully quiet today. Hangover?
Your writing on criminal law issues are always so meaningful and interesting to read. Let me please to invite you to submit your contacts to my directory of criminal attorneys http://attorney-online.info/dir/criminal/alabama/383 I try to gather a list of contacts of the best attorneys and you seem to deserve to be one of them.
So here is my question, has John Paschall ever taken a murder trial to court besides,Chandell Lewis and Harry Monson Murders in 2008?
He is afraid to take cases to court, he only does plea deals.
In the murder of Chandell Lewis and Harry Monson the driver Bibles got 99 years without parole. But he was not the driver. The others received plea deals for 30 yrs and 12 yrs. An the Lewis Family siad Shedrick Darnell one of the felon witnesses family was on the jury. Fredel Miles the other felon witness was also in Hank Johnson’s murder.
SICK!!!!
Opting not to take the case to trial, Robertson County DA/CA offered a plea agreement reducing the charges from *Aggravated Sexual Assault and Sexual Assault of a Child. Paschall filed a motion to dismiss these child assault charges and refiled a single lesser case of **Enticing a Child.
The minimum term of imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault against a child is 25 years if the victim of the offense is younger than six years of age at the time the offense is committed; or the victim of the offense is younger than 14 years of age at the time the offense is committed and the actor commits the offense in a manner described by Subsection (a)(2)(A)*. The grand jury indictments dictated this charge.
Sanders plead guilty to the lesser charge of Enticing a Child. This lesser charge, a third degree felony does not require Sanders to register with the State of Texas as a sex offender. According to the official order, Sanders was given deferred adjudication with seven years probation, court cost and fines. In the state of Texas, deffered adjudication will not even place a conviction on Sander’s record.
Nothing in the court records suggests that Sanders committed Enticing a Child. Sanders signed the agreement and was set free.
http://www.change.org/petitions/remove-john-paschall-conflict-of-interest-in-hank-johnson-murder.
I am a life long resident of Booger County and I think alot of the problem is that the majority of the counties residents are totally unaware of the problems that John has caused during his reign as KING. I can gaurantee if you ask a resident of the county, other than a citizen of Hearne, about the Regina Kelly case 90% of them would have no idea what you were talking about.The DA office and the Sheriff Office are very good at hiding things. The Village is just the tip of the iceburg. Also Mrs.Johnson keep up the good fight be like a pit bull DONT STOP untill you get justice for your child.
Paschall is just another great example of racism at it’s best. The big question is “why would he still get enough votes to still win an election?” Even after he has been exposed as a racist ? Way to go Robertson County. You are looked upon as a close first of the racist county in America by Americans.
And on a personal note: I love it when racist cowards finally expose themselves. Paschall, your azz should have been locked up for “public official abuse” charges at the least. You are a poor excuse, and a dark cloud on the whole entire judicial system. from Ted Jones, fearless of cowards
You know what I’ll say it ur a fucking liar. John is a good man and represents your district good. He has a lot of admirable qualities and has common interest for his community that he lives. As most Americans. Y’all say what y’all want but its a lie. I support john paschall
SINCERELY
CRYSTAL PRISE
oesn’t mean he a.int it means he don’t throw his business and other folks business around. So if I were u I’d shut the fuck up cause u seem like dumb fuck. SINCERELY
CRYSTAL THERE
more than just
What an embarrassment to real legal professionals. Hope Karma continues to find him.