Sources: Walter Fitzpatrick at BCCX

HAS MCMINN COUNTY SILENCED HIM?

by Sharon Rondeau

(Aug. 29, 2014) — 3:21 p.m. EDT – The Post & Email was informed just minutes ago from a reliable source in touch with a source inside the Bledsoe County Correctional Center (BCCX) near Pikeville, TN that CDR Walter Francis Fitzpatrick, III (Ret.) is now there.

He was moved from the McMinn County jail on Tuesday morning but still does not appear as a registered inmate at the Bledsoe facility, which is considered an “intake” facility for all state prison inmates.

On Friday morning, The Post & Email spoke with an administrator at BCCX, who said that a three-day waiting period for an inmate’s name to be entered into the system is not unusual given the number of inmates who arrive in groups each day.

According to our sources, Fitzpatrick “is fine, but wants no mail, money and he does not want to make phone calls.”

Fitzpatrick was convicted of “aggravated perjury” and “extortion” on June 24 without an accuser, police report or criminal complaint after having taken a criminal complaint himself to the McMinn County grand jury unsuccessfully.  Fitzpatrick believes it is his duty to expose corruption where he sees it, as in a judicially-appointed foreman who serves unlimited terms and votes with the duly-empaneled members of the grand jury, thereby influencing whether or not citizens of the county are indicted for crimes.

Fitzpatrick is a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who learned about “attainder” in 1989 when he was falsely accused of misspending Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) funds, which his accuser, who also acted as prosecutor, later admitted in writing caused an unnecessary end to Fitzpatrick’s Naval career.  When in 2009 he discovered that grand juries in Tennessee are infiltrated by a government employee, Fitzpatrick likened it to his court-martial and the military system of “justice,” wherein a defendant is denied a review by a jury of one’s peers.

Contributions to Fitzpatrick’s legal defense fund established by his attorney, Van Irion, for an appeal can be made here.

A video on Fitzpatrick’s attempts to expose systemic judicial corruption in eastern Tennessee is currently in production by filmmaker William F. Fain.  If enough support is garnered, Fain intends to make a documentary on the routine abuse of the citizenry by the judiciary and law enforcement within Tennessee’s Tenth Judicial District.

Update, 3:50 p.m. EDT:  An excerpt of a letter from our prison source reads:

Last evening (Tuesday) I was flooded with notes and inmates informing me that Walter was here, well, and passing along that he wanted to see me.

Immediately there was a flurry of action for I was reparing for this day for the last week and within 15 minutes, as I stood waiting for him to enter the building, he was there, right in front of me.  He saluted with a smile from 30 yards, and after our reunion a good hug, and we were in my office chatting away.

I want everyone to know that although he told me he doesn’t like it here, he is well.  He is faithful, he is upbeat, he looks great and he is safe and well fed.  Rested.

He does not want anyone sending him money.  He does not want letters.  He does not want to write letters.  He does not want to place phone calls.  He wants visits from only his attorney.  He is not saying this because he is mad, upset, or being difficult.  He loves you all.  As I said, he is in great spirits.  He just needs to adjust.  Get his bearings.  He needs to adjust to his surroundings.  Jail and prison are night and day differences.

In classification, inmates have limited access to reading as well as supplies.

Not for Walter.  Last evening I brought him a myriad of reading material.  All the newspaper articles of his court appearance.  All of the Post & Email articles since his sentencing.  A Bible, a special book published by Norman V. Peale, and some magazines.  He is stocked with anything he is allowed to have.