Jackson Jambalaya

 The sentencing of former JPD officer Anthony Fox in Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten's court drew no small amount of controversy as she lectured the defendant and his supporters from the bench.  JJ took the liberty of transcribing her remarks and posting them below as some readers may not have time to watch a twelve-minute video.  

The Court has listened to the argument that has been presented on behalf of the Defendant. The Court has listened to character witnesses that have testified on behalf of the Defendant.  The Court has listened to the State’s rebuttal of the Defense’s Counsel’s presentation of the facts in this matter as well as the sister of the deceased. 

The Court wants there to be an understanding.  This Court has only but one responsibility at this point.  Counsel for Defendant stated it very wisely in saying that this Court had a very limited role when it came to the trial of this man.  

Both the State and the Defense were given an opportunity to present their cases as they saw fit within the Rules of Law of the State of Mississippi.  There were 12 people from different walks of life, who this Court did not know, who did not know the Defendant, who sat for approximately two weeks and heard the same evidence that this court heard and observed.  And based off of what they heard, the Defendant was not found guilty of second-degree murder. Why? Because the Jury weighed the evidence. They did what they were required to do.  And rather than them find Anthony Fox guilty    of second-degree murder, they came back with culpable negligence manslaughter.  The Law states that when there is intention, you will be found guilty of the charge of murder, if you can go within those classifications. But when there wasn’t an intention, and there was a death that occurred, that is manslaughter. 

So the Jury did their job.  They gave the testimony and the evidence the weight that they felt that it deserved, based off of the jury instructions that were presented by both Counsel for the Defendant and the State.  Having considered that, having considered these 58 letters that were presented on behalf of Officer Fox, this Court doesn’t dispute that Officer Fox isn’t a stand-up man in his position as law enforcement and of the community.  But what this Court’s responsibility is is to determine the sentence for the act that was committed at the time that is alleged in the indictment and that he was found guilty of – not basing a sentence on what he’s done in the past leading up to that point, but what happened that ultimately led to the death of George Robinson. 

You’re absolutely correct, Counselor; I’ve read the memorandum, and I’ve read all 48 character letters, and there was but one character letter that was provided, by Elder Lacy Coleman, Jr., that even acknowledged that a man lost his life. Out of all 48 letters, only one spoke to the fact that there is a man that is no longer here, that nobody can speak on behalf of other than his family.  This has gotten so convoluted, because there are two things that have been affected by the events of that evening – not one, but two.  The Court understands that Officer Fox has a family, and every defendant that stands before this court has a family. The Court understands that Officer Fox didn’t wake up that morning with the intention of what occurred occurring, but every defendant that stands before this Court generally has that same mindset, and the Lady of Justice is blind to all of that. She’s blind to position, she’s blind to sexual orientation, she’s blind to your color of skin, she is blind to all of that.  When a person stands before this Court, I don’t look at them in the position that they held in the community, I look at them as what they are.  He is a man who has no title in this courtroom, like any other man that stands before this court and any woman that stands before this court.  And to ask some special privilege be given because of that is an affront to the Jury.  The Jury knew what his role was in the community. They knew what his position was.  And they listened to the evidence and determined that he was guilty of manslaughter. 

The Court appreciates what has been presented during the trial. And Counsel, you asked the Court, and there were letters in here that asked the Court to consider the testimony in this matter. There was even one person that said to reverse the verdict of this matter because the evidence didn’t fit the crime – a person who was not even present in this court, doesn’t even live in the state of Mississippi – because they love this man.  I understand that.  But someone also loved the deceased. In considering the request to look at the evidence in this matter, there were two eyewitnesses that testified. There were police officers that testified.  There was cross-examination that occurred of every witness that was put on the stand.  And every witness that was put on the stand, based on the verdict that came down, weren’t being truthful.  Now the Court certainly will consider the evidence, and the Court is going to consider what has been presented here on today.  But as the Court has indicated, the laws of justice are blind. 

With that being said, Officer Fox, you need to rise for sentencing.  

Officer Fox, this Court believes that every person that has submitted a character reference letter on your behalf knows you to be that person.  This Court has no reason to refute that.  But the position of the Court is one to see all that appear before it equally.  This Court cannot and will not begin a precedent of discriminating because of a person’s position in the community, because of who they know, because of where they live, because of their status in line.  This Court took an oath not to do so, and this Court stands firmly on that.  With that being said, the Court also considers that we have a person that’s no longer here, and as a result of that, what started and what ultimately led to the death of the person George Robinson that is no longer here, was your decision to veer away from the task that you had been given, which was to find the person who was responsible for the death of Pastor Longino, I believe that is his name. But for some reason, you decided to veer off the course and to take it upon yourself to engage with Mr. Robinson.  Even after what occurred, he wasn’t even charged with a felony.  This gentleman lost his life for a misdemeanor.  And the Court understands that there were two others that appeared before a different judge. This Court will not take into consideration or won’t even dare to try to understand what happened in that courtroom, because 12 people did not have the opportunity to make the decision about the guilt or innocence of those two, but in this particular case, 12 people did.  Officer Fox, you were found guilty by 12 of your peers.  You were found guilty of the crime of culpable negligence manslaughter.  The Court, in considering everything that has been presented here today, is going to sentence you to a term of 20 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.  The Court is going to suspend 15 of those years.  You will serve five.  When you are released, you will be placed on five years of supervised probation.  That is the order of the Court. 

Anything Further?

DEFENSE:

Not from the Defense, Your Honor. 

JUDGE WOOTEN:

Anything Further?

PROSECUTION:

Your Honor, this is in terms of the probation.  We would like no contact with the victim’s family and witnesses in regards to this trial. 

JUDGE WOOTEN:

Officer Fox, once you are released, you are to have no contact with the victim’s family, any of the witnesses that testified in this matter, in addition to [indistinct] related to the jury.  No contact, none whatsoever. Okay?

The Court wishes you much success after you are released. 

Court is adjourned.