Ray Sansom trial set for Sept. 29

Rep. Ray Sansom's trial has been set to begin Sept. 29, though that could change if his defense attorney waives speedy trial.

The date was set today following a hearing in which attorneys for Sansom, ex-college president Bob Richburg and developer Jay Odom asked Circuit Judge Terry Lewis to approve a motion for a statement, or bill, of "particulars."

The lawyers were effectively asking State Attorney Willie Meggs to spell out the time, place and manner in which the alleged crimes occurred. "It is one method available to a defendant to secure default of charge against him," according to Black's Law Dictionary. Lewis did not rule. Meggs has argued that all the information is available in the grand jury report and thousands of pages of discovery.

A grand jury has indicted Sansom, Richburg and Odom with official misconduct for their role in securing $6 million in taxpayer money for a building at Destin Airport that Odom in at least one point planned to use for his jet business, according to e-mails, interviews and other documents. Sansom and Richburg have also been charged with perjury.

Comments

[how 'bout them repiggies]

This should be good. I can hardly wait to see who will be receiving a subpoena as a witness.

[Gator(R)]

I would guess most of the same players that went in front of the grand jury, plus at least Mr. Odom and a few other unlucky souls.

This will change 'business as usual'.

[Bob from south walton]

Gator R, unless the House changes its way and has an open investigation of Ray there will be no change.

[But the fact of the matter is, the buck stopped here with this man]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edped-crist-judges-diversity-07070809jul08,0,4672645.story

[Coach]

My point of view will not be liked on either side of the aisle here. But its clear Meggs wants to convict Sanson, et al in the media without actually having to bring a case. He just wants a jury to convict just beacuse he says so. Not putting out a timeline or "particulars" is not done and he won't get away with it. If Judge Lewis does not allow a defense motion, a conviction can be overturned on appeal.
Sanson should never have taken the job from Richbourg, but sadly for all of us, its the way business is done in Tallahassee and Washington. And by both parties. I've afraid that when its all said and done and Meggs actually has to present a case to the jury, it will be discovered that no crime has been committed. That's why Meggs is trying to convict on an extremely ambiguous charge of "public misconduct"

[rot]

Sansom is a crook and should rot in jail for years to come.

[Coach]

Perhaps so, rot. But by this standard the President should also rot in jail.

[mark]

George W. Bush should rot in jail for war crimes.

[Coach]

Which crimes, rot...errrr, Mark?

[Paul D. Harvill]

Circuit Judge Terry Lewis is one of our great Circuit Judges in the Second Judicial Circuit.

[Coach]

Why doesn't Meggs want to give a timeline of just cause to convict Sansom of "misconduct"? Is it beacuse he can't count on a Scooter Libby like jury in Tallahassee to put it together with post-it notes? Maybe its why he's been personally incoherent anytime anybody asks him a question. And you Dems said Sarah Palin rambled Friday. Meggs can't get the sock ot of his mouth. Nevermind putting together a complete sentence. "Why its all right there in the grand jury testimony, Judge"

[Republican Revolution]

Wonder if Meggs would investigate Scott Maddox. NOT!

[Coach]

I posted no slur of Judge Lewis, but he has to know that if he doesn't make Meggs submit timeline he'll be open for reversal on appeal.

[Coach]

Please note that Republican Revolution and myself are two seperate posters.

[bill]

Coach is right on point. The way Meggs has attempted to try this case in the media will not hold water when it comes to putting forth a case in front of a jury. The grand jury report in its own words tried to cast blame on the whole system. Our constitution doesn't allow us to charge individuals with crimes because we don't like a particular system. When a jury hears everything, I think they will have a reasonable doubt at a minimum because unlike the grand jury, the defense will actually get to cross examine the witnesses and put on their own evidence. I'm not even sure this will get to the jury because Lewis is a bright judge and may give a JOA if Meggs doesn't prove every element of the charges, including criminal intent.

[Coach]

I'm glad you agree, Bill. Sansom's home town paper has already convicted him and this site actually reports facts much more accurately.

[Bruce]

Sansom should resign....WHAT WILL THIS COST THE TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA ??????
Resign Sansom !!

[Pretty Nice!]

For The Record:

TO: MARK

You are exactly right!

Now on Sansom et al - it looks like the lawyers for all these crooks are co-mingling their strategy. They will eventually think that their money will rule over justice. A no-brainer?

[Tom]

Is Bill McCollum ever going to return all the money that he got from Jay Odom?

And what about the $1,000,000+ in donations to the GOP?

[how 'bout them repiggies]

Repiggie, thy name is crook!

[Republican are it in 2012. Obama and Democrats liberal policies doomed to failure.]

In our jaded and cynical times, we expect politicians to speak in the language of vagueness and spin, making it necessary to sift through endless verbal dross to find nuggets of truth. But Palin speaks plainly, and spoke clearly about her reasons in her Friday announcement, reasons both personal and political. They included facts that are beyond dispute - her children have been the subject of the most savage attacks in the history of modern politics. She's been subjected to a barrage of frivolous legal complaints that placed her family in deep debt and bogged down the mechanisms of state government. This has been accomplished with the cooperation of a complicit press that gave a pulpit to every one of her enemies, while denying her the opportunity to present her own defense.

If Palin were truly the power-hungry, narcissistic backwoods grifter that her opponents eagerly attempt to portray her as, she would have stayed in office and enjoyed the title and the perks. (Such perks that remain - after all, she got rid of the state jet, the Governor's chef, turned in the state SUV in order to drive her own Jetta, and slashed her expenses to a small fraction of her predecessors'.) She could have coasted along as a do-nothing Governor - making no waves, introducing no controversial legislation, keeping the legislature happy by obtaining as much vote-buying pork for them as possible, and acceding to the wishes of their corporate and union campaign donors. But Palin is not the type to be a do-nothing Governor, she has a vision for Alaska - a vision that includes a major role as a source of energy for the nation, a strategic role in national defense, and local destiny in the hands of the people, not far away in Washington.

[just sprayin the lies]

waaaa waaa waaa the big bad government wants to take away my corporate welfare. Booo hooo I want my Hummer and now I can't steal from you to make my payments. Bwaaaa! Please I'll say anything just to get one more chance - I promise this time we'll destroy the middle class and leave nothing behind. please please please!

[Michelle "Dragon Lady" Obama: Let Them Eat Cake!]

Is First Lady Michelle Obama sporting a taste for ultra-expensive fashion pieces, or is she cementing her status as a savvy shopper?

Back in April she wore a pair of $540 Lanvin sneakers at a Washington food bank. Earlier this week (while strolling the wooded landscape outside of Moscow), she carried a sexy black clutch, which Italian luxury house VBH boasts is their shiny black alligator manila bag – with a retail sticker price of $5,950.

The White House says she was carrying the $875 VBH patent leather clutch.

The First Lady, who has impressed with her chic, affordable style sense, embracing Everywoman brands like Gap and J.Crew, flashed the shiny handheld while walking with her husband, President Barack Obama, during their Monday meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana.

Told that Obama's office denied the bag was the high-end VBH clutch, Kelly Vitko, a rep for the company replied, "It’s definitely ours [manila bag]."

[Pretty Nice!]

Looks pretty bad for Ray et al, but I'd bet if George W. Bush came to Florida there'd be a thousand people willing to give him about 9 standing ovations and the fact is 'he's a liar that caused humdreds of thousands, even 1.3 million innocent civilians to die horific deaths.

So go figure, but in the meantime count on lost blessings for the former USA. Without doubt, I believe this 100%.

This time I believe GOD has had enough......and you can NOT blame Him.

[Coach]

PN: huh?

[North Florida Democrat]

I just hope Meggs investigates some others that have done the same thing that Sansom has done - both Republican and Democrat. There is definitely one more situation similar to what Sansom did in the Panhandle that needs to be investigated. It would really be a shame if Meggs stops with Sansom.