Attorney Kevin Camp was arrested for simple assault Friday after Jackson Municipal Court Judge Jeff Reynolds held a probable cause hearing. Attorney Matt Boothe filed a complaint for simple assault against the attorney on March 11. Boothe was an associate at Camp's firm. The hearing was rather contentious at times as Camp attorney Mike Malouf vigorously challenged Boothe's account of what took place that day.
The Friday afternoon hearing opened with City Prosecutor Keith Gates questioning Boothe about what took place on March 11, his last day of employment at the Camp Law Firm. Boothe said he worked for Camp for two years and ten months. Boothe claimed an "employee" came in drunk several times and made up "stuff" about people in the office to "cover for her problems." Boothe said one such allegation was that he hated Camp and said his boss was sleeping with a previous employee. Boothe repeatedly testified the accusation was not true. However, Camp (allegedly) relied on her allegations and made it clear March 11 would be the associate's last day.
Judge Reynolds asked Boothe what the reason was for the assault, positing such assaults usually happen for a reason. The complainant said the two attorneys were both seated in chairs at one end of a conference table. Boothe said they were discussing what was said by the "employee." (Quotation marks are used because Boothe claimed she was only at the firm for a few months and was not paid by Camp.). Camp allegedly brought up Boothe's alleged allegations about an affair. Boothe said he did not say it and it was not true but admitted he lost his temper when he said the woman in question "wouldn't sleep with you but you might have."
Boothe said Camp became irate upon hearing the insult, stood up, placed his hands on Boothe's shoulders and pushed Boothe as he threatened to fight the associate. Boothe took pains to point out it would require some force to move him as Camp did since Booth is all of 300 lbs. Boothe said "you just assaulted me and need to back up" while Camp threatened to arrest him for trespassing. No one else was present during the incident.
Boothe walked outside while Camp called the police to report Boothe's alleged trespassing. The associate said he was "afraid of what he might do" because "he'd beat his wife before. I didn't know what he was capable of." He also claimed Camp carried a firearm. Boothe was referring to Camp's Ridgeland arrest for simple domestic violence on July 15, 2021. The case is pending in Ridgeland municipal court.
After the prosecution rested, Malouf moved to dismiss, arguing Boothe suffered no injury. Camp's lawyer said there must be an injury or a fear of one for the incident to be classified as an assault. Boothe tried to say he feared an injury but the veteran attorney did his job and did it well that day. Malouf cited Section 97-3-7(1)(a) of the Mississippi Code:
A person is guilty of simple assault if he or she (i) attempts to cause or purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another; (ii) negligently causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon or other means likely to produce death or serious bodily harm; or (iii) attempts by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily harm; and, upon conviction, he or she shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both.
Arguing Boothe's affidavit lacked any allegation of injury, Malouf said even if everything Booth said was true, it must be dismissed. However, the seersucker suit-clad prosecutor replied Boothe had a fear of bodily harm as Camp presented a physical menace to the attorney. Malouf quickly hit back, arguing Boothe never even testified under oath "he was afraid or serious bodily injury even when directly asked." "He understands the difference between intimidation and physical threat as a criminal attorney after Boothe said he was intimidated by his boss.
Judge Reynolds stepped in as Boothe and Malouf sparred and said "a simple assault had to be an act that went beyond mere words, which we have." He said the affidavit alleged Camp pushed Boothe and threatened to beat him as he denied the motion.
Denied, Malouf went on the offensive in his cross-examination as he subjected Boothe to a barrage of withering questions. Booth said he practiced criminal law for three years but admitted he would have to look up simple assault to know what it means, which he didn't do before pressing charges. He claimed his back was hurting since the assault. Malouf pounced and asked for evidence. Boothe said he had bruises but didn't have any pictures nor did he go to the doctor for back pain after the alleged assault took place. Thus no medical records of any injury or suffering existed.
Malouf claimed Camp "terminated" Boothe that morning and told him to leave the office. Boothe denied that took place before the alleged assault. He said the "employee" said he would be terminated but he and Kevin were "back on track" as they discussed his employment status.
Judge Reynolds interjected that the allegation of an affair seemed to be the "impetus" for the assault. Boothe said Camp didn't tell him to leave until after the associate accused Camp of assault. Both men called the police. The police arrived and interviewed everyone present at the office. No one was arrested as JPD advised Boothe to file charges.
Boothe went back into the office after the police arrived at Camp investigator's invitation. Malouf immediately took issue with this statement as he quizzed Boothe: "You were scared he had guns, had threatened you and went back in to talk to him." Boothe replied they were both at a conference table with two other people present. He said he would have stayed if Camp had just apologized but that his now-former boss "threw a tantrum and acted like a child." The police were called again but no physical confrontations took place.
Judge Reynolds denied Malouf's attempt to present an affidavit as testimony since no cross-examination could take place. The jurist said "this is a he-said, she-said case because nobody else was in the conference room that day." He complimented Malouf out of making the most out of Boothe's termination but said all he had was Boothe's testimony.
The Court found there was probable cause to issue an arrest warrant for Camp. He released Camp on his own recognizance as he is not allowed to set bond for a misdemeanor.
27 comments:
DUI Attorneys are the worst. All of them.
I know both gentleman here, Camp better than Booth. Booth is meek, mild, polite, well meaning but in the legal case I saw him, ineffective. Camp, however, is a very professional, determined and persuasive attorney who knows the law and the judges and prosecutors in Jackson Municipal and Hinds County Court.
Mr. Camp's unproven flirtation/affair with a previous employee is irrelevant except as an insult by Mr. Booth, perhaps motivating Mr. Camp to shove Mr. Booth.
Surely a shove is not assault when it occurs in response to such an insult. I think Kevin Camp deserved more respect and consideration than to be arrested for this stupid, insignificant dust-up.
That is the kind of representation you receive in Mississippi when you hire a lawyer.
5:19 characterizes this as a "stupid, insignificant dust-up." I bet it wouldn't be insignificant to 5:19 if a person as large as Kevin Camp did this to him/her in Kevin Camp's own law office.
Shark fight, shark fight, and it's not even "Shark Week."
I guess the ex got the house, huh 5:42?
5:42 seems to think the legal definition of assault ends with 'unless it's just a dust-up'.
All attorneys are scum and these two prove my point. Just thugs in a suit.
7:25 makes an ugly, unfounded, broad-brushed remark.
5:55
I guess you missed the part where Booth said he weighed 300 pounds. Significantly bigger than Camp.
Sounds like two big ole boys having a pushing match. Not much of an assault. I doubt either of them could actually fight for 30 seconds.
If you accuse someone of doing something bad/wrong/immoral/illegal haven’t you assumed the risk he may whip your a@#.
I can't help but feel that drunkenness played a bigger role than was represented...
That’s a quarter ton of white meat getting tangled up.
As a long-practicing attorney that strives to do right by clients, opposing counsel and judges, 7:25’s comments are offensive, as is the obvious intent. 7:25 is the type of client we all dread and do our best to avoid—the person who claims “all attorneys are scum”, until they need a lawyer; the tort reformer who thinks that tort reform is for everyone else but themselves, etc. the deadbeat dad who somehow blames his ex for not paying his child support, the client that wants to try too tell you how to do your job and everything you are doing wrong. He (not likely a she, since in 30 years I’ve never had a single female client express this guy’s attitude) must have been raked over the coals by a “scummy thug attorney” when he was charged with DUI, not paying his child support or other similar wrongs these types seem to find themselves on. The wrong side of. So for you and your ilk, next time you are in trouble, do us all a favor and don’t even look for an attorney-do what most of your kind do-represent yourself in court and take it on the chin from the thug wearing the suit and whipping you in court!
I am the one that said all attorneys are scum. I have paid several of them to win cases for me but they are still scum. They will lie and misrepresent the facts to win. Like these two upstanding lawyers they will call into question every thing from the cop to the breath test just to try to get their clients off on some technicality. They are just pinstriped hucksters who think they are the smartest people in the room. I wish I never had to use one but they have rigged the game.
Had a discussion with a crusty old associate a few years back about a court case where I was scheduled to testify. The old man ended our discussion with the statement "never, ever trust a damn attorney if they're standing in front of a judge."
He was right.
Where in the heck was a Richard Schwartz free ride home when it could have actually helped someone and avoid probable litigation?!
As my late sister that spent a lifetime as a paralegal once told me, "All Lawyers SUCK. They are ALL liars, some do a better job of lying, and they actually enjoy being the better liar. It's like a competition to them." From my past experiences with them, I agree. I can think of no other "profession" where the "professional" doesn't "bring their "A" game". For instance, if you were suffering from a heart attack, would you be ok with your Physician starting out by scheduling you a knee surgery in 6 months? Then 6 months after that a hip replacement surgery? Before addressing your obvious heart issues? Every other "professional" that I can think of does in fact attempt to "bring their "A" game". With the exception of Lawyers. They start out with their "Z" game and you are either fed up, out of money or both by the time they get to their "V" game.
10:24
Maybe it’s getting late.
Or maybe I’m just slow.
But what the hell does that mean?
I believe I would have brought up the Miss. Code 'Fighting Words' statute.
Kevin was a classmate of mine. Hate to see this, and that he’s alleged to have put hands on his wife.
Let us hope this doesn't end with someone shitting in the others bed.
certainly qualifies as one of the dumbest topics posted here.
who cares to hear a play by play of some attorneys fighting with words and simple push?
I'm fascinated by the people who seem unable to pick a good lawyer or perhaps they present such a losing case to their lawyer and don't listen to what the expected outcome will be, hard to tell from the internets. Thus far, I've managed to pick great lawyers and have had success in the matters where they were needed. I've known shady and incompetent lawyers and didn't choose them. I could have avoided a lot of that by picking better wives but that's another story.
If your lawyers are all crooked, slimy, incompetent, etc., perhaps the problem is in the mirror. Examine the common denominator in those relationships (hint: it's you). You know, "bids of a feather . . . "
2:10 I think you mean beds.
Lawyers who want drunks as clients get into a fight over a drunk employee.
Take a page from the Don Evans playbook, use that built up energy to chase ambulances.
3:28 : Birds
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