At the start of the third day of the trial, Defense Attorney David Teddy correctly made closing arguments to the jury that the only matter under consideration was the questionable $25 computer case and correctly stated that nobody had conclusively proven that that particular case that Mindy Morrow had sold on eBay had ever belonged to CCS as well as other yard sale items that Mindy Morrow had sold on eBay.
Then ADA Sally Kirby-Turner gave her closing arguments to the jury saying that Mindy Morrow had stolen every item that CCS had alleged, even though Judge Ervin had ruled the previous day that all but one item had not met the burden of proof that was necessary to “rise beyond a reasonable doubt.” Judge Ervin also did not instruct the jury of that fact.
Most egregious of all was the judge allowed Jennifer Wampler’s testimony, and her own accounts of what she (Wampler) said Mindy Morrow did or did not tell her, to be seen by the jury. Attorney David Teddy raised cane that Jennifer Wampler’s own notes did not meet the standards of evidence against Mindy Morrow. The Judge ruled that the testimony and notes “were NOT evidence but could be used to establish the “credibility” of Jennifer Wampler.
By then, the jury was totally confused about the items that had or had not been excluded by the judge. Between the jury and me, I was the only one that actually heard the Judge’s ruling to that effect. But, for the life of me, I could not understand why the Judge did not allow the jury to be properly told that there was only one item in question-the $25 computer case.
Then, the jury is sent to the jury room to decide its verdict. But the jury is hung. Three times the jury wants to hear more instructions on Jennifer Wampler’s Testimony and especially about her notes. Each time the Judge tells the jury that Jennifer Wampler’s notes “were not evidence,” but an indication of her credibility as a witness.” From all appearances the Juror named Turner, the Preacher’s wife from Upper Cleveland County was at least one of the holdouts on the jury.
Now, consider this. If you are on jury duty and the Judge tells you something “is NOT EVIDENSE,” what do you do? The answer is simple. If you DO NOT have “evidence” to find somebody guilty, you say NOT-GUILTY. That is what I would have done. Not because I had already heard things that the jury MEVER got to hear, but because that is the basic principle of Justice in a criminal jury trial. An accused person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury of their peers. No evidence is NO EVIDENSE, no matter how it is “dressed-up” by a crooked judge.
The jury members who were hung eventually gave up and voted Guilty. Later I learned from people that I know who were in the original jury pool, that many people on that particular jury were tired of the long trial and just wanted to go home. The person who was telling me tis said that a fight almost broke out in one of the other jury rooms (there were multiple trials going on during that particular Superior Court session) among some women who were just determined to get the trials over with and go home, no matter if there was justice or not.
That being said, I believe no jury anywhere would have convicted Mindy Morrow of anything if they had heard what I had heard. I would have hung that jury ‘til hell froze over.
Now, let’s fast forward to the Special Called School Board Meeting of May 27, 2020. And wonder why there was such a fuss while Schools were closed down by order of the Governor?
This Special Meeting agenda was benign and unnecessary when looked at with the naked eye. No reason at all for a special meeting.
That is until you hear the audio recording of the meeting. And whose name pops up???
Right in the middle of this closed down school system, Shelby Middle School Principal Dr. Dustin Bridges is going to be transferred to Number Three Elementary School as Principal. Only school board member Danny Blanton has the gumption to ask “is there a reason for this transfer.” CCS Superintendent Dr. Stephen Fisher goes into his “fast-talking” mode. Something he does whenever he knows he can’t dazzle you with brilliance, so he has to baffle you with bull-shit. Fisher goes on and on that by demoting Bridges from a Middle School to an Elementary School is in reality a promotion for Bridges and provides him an extra opportunity to excel. But, don’t believe me on this. Go to the CCS website for yourself and listen to Fisher’s “fast talking.” I have mentioned this “fast-talking” mode several times in other articles and I can tell Fisher is working on it. But that old habit is hard for him to break when he is cornered with a question about something he is trying his best (or worse) to cover-up.
But there is MORE!! This Special Called Meeting has a closed session on the agenda. Right after the Dustin Bridges transfer (demotion) announcement. The Closed session is the only unknown in the agenda capable of covering up a present major situation that would justify calling such a meeting to begin with. The Closed session is to discuss a personnel matter per North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)6.
That law is stated below. The underlined part of the law is what is allowed in closed session and the non-underlined part is what cannot be discussed in closed session.
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(6) To consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee; or to hear or investigate a complaint, charge, or grievance by or against an individual public officer or employee. General personnel policy issues may not be considered in a closed session. A public body may not consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, appointment, or removal of a member of the public body or another body and may not consider or fill a vacancy among its own membership except in an open meeting. Final action making an appointment or discharge or removal by a public body having final authority for the appointment or discharge or removal shall be taken in an open meeting.
For a Special Meeting to be called per the noted NC General Statute only the part of the law underlined and in large letters justify such special treatment.
Again, that part says: or to hear or investigate a complaint, charge, or grievance by or against an individual public officer or employee.
This is serious business. A complaint, charge or grievance against a school board member or an employee. Knowing that Principal Dr. Dustin Bridges, already named in Cleveland County Superior Court as having problems keeping his zipper up, has been demoted, in the name of a promotion. And just before the Closed Session in the Special Called Meeting agenda. Therefore, a conclusion based on deductive reasoning has to be reached that there are most likely others involved in this matter. And likely Dr. Dustin Bridges’ “consort” who has fallen from his graces and is now filing, or has filed, a lawsuit against Cleveland County Schools.
Imagine that. More lawsuits arising in Cleveland County from improper leadership from a county or city governmental agency???
But, don’t believe me. Ask School Board members Shearra Miller, Richard Hooker, and Roger Harris who are running for re-election what the heck is going on here?? Also ask Phillip “Bully” Glover, Jack Hamrick, Danny Blanton, Jo Boggs, Coleman Hunt and Dena Green too. You have the right. These folks have asked for your vote in the past so you can ask for the truth now. Ask them about the Court Case I described. Ask about this questionable meeting on May 26, 2020. Ask them when they are going to resign from office and be done with the shenanigans.
Also, ask DA Mike Miller why the DA’s office dropped the Death Penalty in SPD Officer Tim Brackeen’s killing. Where the DA’s star witness identified Irving Fenner, Jr. as the killer, saying she “could see his face well in the bright street lights,” while Brackeen’s body-cam showed total darkness. Ask the Shelby City officials that too. Including Police Chief Jeff Ledford and the bevy of black ministers Chief Ledford showed the body cam footage to soon after the killing. And ADA Sally Kirby-Turner showed the footage to the public after announcing the plea-bargain deal for Fenner.
Stay tuned folks. You will never get the truth of the matter anywhere else, but here. And Election Day 2020 is getting closer and closer.