Saying that citizens have a right to attend public meetings without fear of physical intimidation, Second Judicial (Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson Parishes) District Court Division B Judge Jimmy Teat this morning in Jonesboro sentenced Willie Joseph to six months in jail, with all but thirty days suspended. Last month Joseph was found guilty of simple battery for an incident that occurred after the 8/14/12 city council meeting at W. Richard Zuber City Hall.
Joseph’s attorney, Monroe’s Louis Scott argued that simple battery is normally sentenced with a fine and court costs, and that no injuries resulted from the incident in question.
Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Durrett noted that Joseph is a former law enforcement officer and should have known better than to initiate a confrontation.
The judge also mentioned the potential perjury of witnesses at last month’s trial. Teat said he viewed the video of the meeting at least two times, and noted that the defense introduced the video into evidence.
Said Teat, “At least two witnesses intentionally did not tell the truth” when testifying in the trial.
Joseph is out on $2500 bond pending appeal to the Louisiana Court of Appeals, Second Circuit in Shreveport.
Lincoln Parish News Online 
06/12/2013 at 1:42 pm |
Well I be dog gone! Will wonders ever cease in Jonesboro
06/12/2013 at 1:58 pm |
A tidbit of nice news….can a little prejury be coming down the halls of justice soon?
06/12/2013 at 2:37 pm |
Can’t ever tell, I think someones eyes have had the scales removed.
06/12/2013 at 4:15 pm |
When are the perjury charges going to be placeds against MRS TAXPAYER Subsidized foundation employee, in other words Mrs Simmons. Seems to me like a perjury charge should make her get fired from a taxpayer funded entity, also the fact that you lie in open court even thought there is video tape evidence that will show you lied. I think that qualifies as extremely stupid, thus should she be allowed to operate a motor vehicle???…LOL Glad they have GPS nowadays so she can find her way to work, then again working for a “taxpayer funded foundation” that’s only function is to funnel money to the founder, his wife, uncle and whomever else is feeding at the trough, I bet she doesn’t go to work at all. Who is going to fire her, her husband????
06/15/2013 at 8:00 pm |
so why not investigate it and arrest them if the evidence is conclusive? too much politics involved in that one……red hot potato……warning will robinson……..where’s Dr., Smith when you need him? just lost in political space?
06/12/2013 at 4:20 pm |
Her day will come like every bodys will some good and some bad
06/12/2013 at 4:57 pm |
How funny!
It is now beginning to crumble a little faster for Hizzoner.
The question is, will the Mayor be true to form and smuggle a file in to the inmate?
06/12/2013 at 6:26 pm |
Will Willie be fluffing the jailhouse pillow for the mayor or will the mayor fluff for Willie?
This is just the start of the Simmons’ troubles. Let’s put the pressure on D.C. to investigate NCLDC, it’s investments and expenditures. These are our funds they keep putting in their pockets.
Thanks Jonathan Stewart for taking personal rights and safety serious. BJ Durrett is a bulldog, turn him loose on all of the offenses committed by the administration of the town of Jonesboro, less and except Sam and Renee who have remained blameless.
06/12/2013 at 9:17 pm |
Sam blameless? Where have you been hiding? He voted for the raise the first time. He has voted with them or abstained from voting on everything of importance. He is just as guilty as the rest of them.
06/13/2013 at 8:16 pm |
Check your facts, Sam vote against raise that is why he wasn’t sued by Essmier.
06/15/2013 at 6:42 am |
check your facts-he votes according to the dictate of his idol-or cowardly abstains-then cries that he doesn’t have a computer or know the ordinance-all the while knowing the king will support him-two of a kind.
06/12/2013 at 6:59 pm |
I bet Willie wishes he did not have them as friends now. With friends like that he does not need any enemies. See what you get for Being a solider
06/14/2013 at 6:00 am |
Funny….Really….he likes his friends….he just expressing him self in his own way….why would you think his friends made him act this way?
He can be the next police chief or alderman for TOJ
06/14/2013 at 4:37 pm |
Is your “next police chief” going to have to operate the department without any policemen? And for alderman, which of the three are you going to replace?
06/14/2013 at 4:39 pm |
A lawbreaker for police chief ? I don’t think so.
06/14/2013 at 4:49 pm |
Foolish talk. He can’t run for either one; doesn’t live in the city limits of Jonesboro.
06/14/2013 at 11:34 pm |
uhauls are rented every day-he can move to jtown and run and win it and word on the street is there are going to be 3 running for head of the po po…..so the hand picked candidate of the king is going to have to run a race against two others-one is from the Air Force
06/15/2013 at 3:21 pm |
Anybody know if Wesley is going to run again? Can’t imagine why anybody would want the job with only a couple of policemen. Of course if the mayor and 3 stooges were to get back in office they would probably re-instate the police department and staff it with hand-picked candidates. Seems to be the way they operate, only something that benefits them or their friends. Whole picture may change, though, if another fiscal administrator is sent to Jonesboro with increased power.
06/15/2013 at 3:25 pm |
I forgot, a third police officer was hired last week. Doesn’t change the picture much, though.
06/15/2013 at 3:29 pm |
That hire was just to the end of the fiscal year, which is just two weeks away. Anything could happen after that, remember the big raises coming then unless something happens.
12/22/2013 at 8:36 am |
Did Mr. Joseph have to serve any time in jail? I was told not one day.