Friday, February 8, 2013

Quitman County Circuit Clerk & Deputy Circuit Clerk indicted over absentee ballots

A Quitman County grand jury indicted Circuit Clerk Brenda Wiggs and Deputy Circuit Clerk Bobbie Buggs for one count each of violating the laws concerning absentee ballots (Section 23-15-751 of the Mississippi Code). The indictments charge that Ms Buggs signed more than fifty absentee ballots as a witness while she was a candidate for Justice Court Judge. State law bars candidates from acting as a witness when absentee ballots are signed by the voter. Ms. Buggs is charged with allowing her Deputy Clerk to violate the law. A conviction is a misdemeanor and carries a fine of up to $1,000. The Circuit Clerk can be removed from office upon conviction.

The contest for Justice Court Judge in Quitman County was very close and a new election was ordered after a judge found a few problems with the absentee ballots. The Panolian reported on January 3:

"A Quitman County justice court judge, who went to court to seek a new election, has won re-election to his post. Joe Brown won re-election Dec. 13 after defeating challenger Bobbie Buggs 584 to 523, Brown told The Panolian.

An independent candidate, Jimmy Edwards, dropped out of the race after Brown won re-election, the incumbent said. A new election for justice court judge was ordered in November, when Circuit Court Judge Robert Chamberlain tossed out 192 absentee ballots that he declared illegal after holding a one-day trial.

Brown, a two-term justice court judge, contested the election results after Buggs won 788 to 776, a twelve-vote difference. Brown was represented by Batesville attorney Tom Womble.
Buggs serves as deputy circuit clerk in Quitman County, where the one-day trial showed that she witnessed 122 absentee ballots in the clerk’s office.

Mississippi election law forbids people from witnessing absentee ballots on which their name appears as a candidate. Buggs was represented by Oxford attorney Tom Freeland IV, who has told The Panolian his client was unaware she was forbidden from witnessing the absentees.

The court tossed those 122 absentees and 70 others, stating “there were enough illegal votes to challenge the outcome of the election and to call into doubt the will of the voters,” according to Chamberlain’s order.


The judge’s order further explains that 61 absentee ballots were thrown out because the over-65 voters failed to have their absentee ballot notarized before they were mailed in.
"

The indictment states Ms. Buggs participated as an attesting witness for 92 absentee ballots for the election. The indictment charges Ms. Wiggs with one count of knowingly allowing Ms. Buggs to break the law. Ms. Wiggs is the mother of  WLBT meterologist Barbie Bassett.

23 comments:

Benny053 said...

This awesome...great coverage. Thank you!

Shadowfax said...

Wiggs and Buggs. Need we wonder?

Anonymous said...

And we should care why?

Anonymous said...

Helloooooo!!!! The arm of the law works in other counties when a public official does not do the right thing. Will someone wake up in Hinds County! It amazes me that you can read almost every day about someone being called on the carpet, be it DMR or many other officials in city, county and state offices in MS. BUT... not in Hinds County. No sir, get elected to office and you can pretty much ignore the laws that are in place and set up your own set of rules. It makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

This story can't be true. There is no such thing as voter fraud.

Anonymous said...

KF again with the scoop...not a word of this on WLBT WJTV WAPT websites!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dig a little deeper KF. You'll find a non-story. That's why the tv news stations aren't touching it.

Anonymous said...

@2:46 PM ... agree completely ... the Airwave no-bid professional services contract that Kingfish has documented at length does not meet the letter of the law ... not a peep out of Pickering and even if he acted now the damage to the Hinds budget has been done ... and maybe that is the plan to allow Hinds and Jackson to go under ... maybe that is the only way as we are witnessing in Detroit for the state to finally take over the City and County.

Anonymous said...

Feb. 8 @ 2:43 pm

Maybe disenfranchisement, or the probability thereof, doesn't concern you, but it bothers the hell out of me.

Good work KF!

Anonymous said...

Nope. The real news stations won't cover this because they know it's a non story. Why waste your precious blog space on this when you can't even get it right?

Anonymous said...

Is'nt Wiggs Barbie Bassets mother? If that's true maybe that's why the local news stations are not covering the story.

Anonymous said...

Whoops. See several defamation lawsuits a comin'. Bet the lawyers are lining up for this one!

Kingfish said...

How so? I merely quoted from the court file.

Anonymous said...

Yep, it's her mother.

http://www.mc.edu/news/department-of-communication-honors-wlbts-barbie-bassett/

Opps.

Anonymous said...

And we should care why? What does the weathergirl have to do with this story? I'm with the other poster--see some defamation lawsuits on the horizon.

Anonymous said...

Absentee ballots, Again? KF can we please go get a shot of bourbon ??

Rodney

Anonymous said...

And we see, again, absentee ballots are where the fraud is. In-person voter fraud is not a problem, but one party makes us believe it is.

Anonymous said...

Heard the latest? AG dropped the charges. That's why the news stations and C-L refused to touch this one. They smelled a rat. You asked about defamation? Now you know why. Better "make nice" with the weather girl before you hear from her attorneys.

Anonymous said...

There is NO defamation contained in the public and truthful information presented in the pubication of this post. The information presented herein is public record.

Kingfish said...

I reported an indictment that was in a public file.

Please file the lawsuit. We'll rake up in sanctions against the lawyer and damages against the plaintiff for filing something frivolous. The bar complaint will be fun to file as well.

Anonymous said...

Wait for it...wait for it.... in 3,2,1...

Anonymous said...

Then, after 3,2,1, that will be the story!

Anonymous said...

Wait for it...wait for it.... in 3,2,1...


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.