A night of partying turned into a nightmare in Florence several months ago. The Attorney General arrested Rankin County Tax Assessor John Sullivan for an alleged rape that took place at his home after Byram police arrested him for drunk driving just a few hours earlier.
Sullivan's troubles began when he went out for some carousing at the Dockery Bar in Byram. Sullivan left the bar with a truck full of women in their late teens and early 20's but was stopped by Byram police around 2 AM on March 26. He admitted to having several drinks. He had a 0.19 BAC at the scene and a 0.21 at the police station. Sullivan posted bail and was released although the police impounded his vehicle. WLBT reported his DUI arrest and posted video clips of his Byram arrest last week. WLBT report and video.
Most people would have gone home after such a setback. Determined to party, Sullivan did indeed go home but not alone and that is when things really went haywire.
The Rankin County Sheriff's report states two deputies went to the Florence Police Department to investigate a sexual assault complaint at 4:53 AM. The victim was a 19 year-old woman. The complainant (not the victim) said she saw her friend with Sullivan in the hot tub. The Rankin County Tax Assessor was um, in a complete state of undress while the victim wore a body suit. A friend helped the woman out of the hot tub so they could leave.
The report stated: "While covering the victim with a towel, the complainant said she believed suspect then tried to hide the fact he was nude and walked the victim through the garage into a bedroom. Once in the bedroom, the suspect then shut and locked the door. It was during this period of time where the alleged sexual assault took place."
Another witness tried to open the locked door and beat on it. The door was allegedly locked for 7-10 minutes until the suspect came to the door and opened it. Two witnesses say they saw the victim laying on the bed with the bottom of her body suit undone. One said "the victim then said "Why did you do that to me?" The witness said Sullivan said he did not do anything as he grabbed the victim in the neck area and threw her back on the bed.
A witness took a picture of Sullivan standing outside the bedroom door in a complete state of undress.
The women left the home and went to the Florence police department. A deputy followed the victim to UMC "to collect the test and clothing for evidence." An "on-call investigator" met them at the hospital as well.
Byram Police Chief David Errington told WLBT that Attorney General investigators showed up a few hours later to collect evidence in the DUI arrest.
The Attorney General arrested Sullivan on April 5 and charged him with rape. His bond was $30,000.
WLBT reported his DUI arrest and posted video clips of his Byram arrest. Several young women were in his truck but Sullivan claimed he didn't know them all. WLBT report and video.
Sullivan has been Rankin County Tax Assessor for 15 years.
36 comments:
He may find jail very taxing.
Nothing good ever happens after midnight.
July 20, 2022 at 3:05 PM
But it is good for song lyrics.
This is as good an excuse as any to eliminate taxes.
He won't be hot for the gurls on the next stop of the tour. Another dumb ass from Rankin County.
Why do we vote on tax collector, assessor, county attorney, coroner, etc.?
John, John, John, John, John. What in the hell, John?
I just don't know how sympathetic I'd be as a juror to a rape charge if I'm understanding the facts correctly. Young woman goes home with a man from a bar, gets in hot tub with him and he's nekkid, goes into bedroom with him and then cry 'rape'?!? Something's fishy here.
I was going to say the same thing as 3:05. It’s the truth
He doesn't look like anybody I'd want to see naked, but I'll reserve judgement until those pics are available.
To 4:32, John Sullivan nor the girl were raised correctly. Somewhere, someone in their rearing has failed. It doesn’t matter who you are or who you become. If you are a product of your environment then it rises to the surface. Bet ya a hundred dollars the girl came from a bad background. Sullivan did too
@3:05/4:38 PM - especially if there is a full moon.
He said ; she said! I guess a jury may have to decide.
He should have been arrested for indecent exposure from the neck up.
Folk can't help being ugly, but they could stay home.
...7 to 10 minutes...that's love out in Rankin
He should have just went to Longhorn Steakhouse & ate a good steak than went home & got on pornhub.com. After that called it a night.
Your not going to cure being lonely in a Hot tube.
a big Church single group would have worked better.
AS Bobby "Blue" Bland used to say, "Ain't much happens after 1am that I haven't already seen."
Raymond detention center would be a nice place to get him a room for a few nights. It will only take a few nights, maybe less.
You can't fix stupid people, but Mississippi folks seem to elect a bunch of them.
Raised incorrectly? Are we seriously blaming his parents? This is a grown man. He needs to take responsibility for himself.
There is absolutely no excuse or justification for this kind of wretched behavior.
SHAME!
3:01 for the win. Well done.
just my view, got a bond fee blessing. seen up to 250K bonds in Madison and Rankin over less serious crimes. politics and bonds, the judicial system, cannot be separated. One thing missing was drugging the young lady, seems so common I tend to look for it.
@4:22: We vote on them so people that cant get a job anywhere else can have a chance at a six figure job. Look at the Madison county collector. She's never had a job in the private sector accept for her drive-on fast food place that was in Canton. She claims to be "part time" now. She come to her office maybe 3 days a week. She spends a large portion of her time in Florida cause she fancies her self a race horse owner.
I wonder how she came out when 5 of her animals got out on Hwy 43 and were killed she a car ran in to them. A person lost their life in that incident. She put that off on her "help". She claimed they must have left the gate open.
I've never heard of someone getting a DUI and being released that quickly, is that how they do it in Byram?
"I just don't know how sympathetic I'd be as a juror to a rape charge if I'm understanding the facts correctly. Young woman goes home with a man from a bar, gets in hot tub with him and he's nekkid, goes into bedroom with him and then cry 'rape'?!? Something's fishy here"
Something fishy like shaming a woman who was allegedly forced to have sex without consent.
@4:22 pm— because we want some ability to have some control on those folks who if left unchecked could cause a lot of problems.
The only other option is to let the county supervisors appoint those position. That’s a lot of power to a group known for abuse.
John Sullivan - How long are you going to lock me up?
The Judge - FOR-EV-ER....FOR-EV-ER.....FOR-EV-VER....
a .21 BAC is incredibly high. that's knee walking , commode hugging drunk.
yet this guy was still walking and talking and apparently still able to do the big nasty.
that particular phenomenon is called '' alcohol tolerance''
these professional drinkers build up such a huge tolerance over the years that super high BAC doesn't really effect them.
Response to July 21, 2022 at 4:38 AM. In reference to "One thing missing was drugging the young lady, seems so common ..."
I think you may be on to something. The toxicology should make that apparent. And, it doesn't appear that the AG office investigation has been wrapped up yet. Hence why there is still no indictment. Hard to draw any conclusions just yet.
Slow hand clap for 8:40am.
No he will not see a day in prison.
He’d better hope I don’t get picked as a juror.
I’m his age now, but I was once a naïve teenager who liked to party with her friends. We were always told to stay in groups to avoid something like this. Well, this girl’s friends didn’t save her.
Older men trolling bars for inebriated teens seems predatory even if not obviously illegal. I wonder if he put something in her drink or if she was just too drunk to resist… or consent. His taped commentary reveals his esteem for females - actually a lack thereof. He’s the kind of guy who thinks he’s owed something for the drinks he bought.
@6:26 The Madison County Tax Collector is a full time position. And I don't believe Kay puts in a full 3 days per week. If she puts in more than 10 hours weekly I would be shocked. But she draws a check.
Personally I like her and consider her a friend. I've known her for over 50 years. I know her 4 kids, and I knew her husband. But she's drawing a check and not putting in the work that the taxpayers deserve. And I don't like it.
@1:51- boo, hoo. Move. You've probably described every elected official from the lowest to the highest.
“…@1:51- boo, hoo. Move. You've probably described every elected official from the lowest to the highest…”
July 21, 2022 at 3:49 PM
As posted by another of your sweet, sincere elected officials who laugh at your concern.
What those young ladies possess has ruined many a man both bad and good.
I've been witness to it.
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