Update: Judge Carroll Ross “Knowingly Suborned Perjury”

SHERIFF’S DEPUTY BENNIE BYRUM COMMITS PERJURY

by Sharon Rondeau

(Aug. 25, 2011) — Walter Francis Fitzpatrick, III has been told by an eyewitness that after he was escorted out of the Madisonville courthouse yesterday and forbidden to witness the proceedings against George Raudenbush, Judge Carroll Ross summoned Sheriff’s Deputy Bennie Byrum, called him to the bench, and placed him under oath.  Ross then reportedly described “a litany of crimes” of which Fitzpatrick had been accused, and then asked Byrum if Fitzpatrick had had “an audio recorder with him in the courtroom,” to which Byrum reportedly answered “Yes.”  Byrum was also asked if there was a sign on the door of the courthouse prohibiting recorders in the building, and he reportedly replied, “Yes, there’s a sign that says ‘no recorders.'”

However, there is no such sign on the courthouse door or outside of the building.

“Subornation of perjury” is described as “the crime of persuading another to commit perjury.”  “Perjury” is defined as “is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding.”

When Fitzpatrick was told on Wednesday, August 24, that he could not bring his recorder into the courtroom, he went outside and put it in his car but recorded the event as he did so, including his verbal exchange with Deputy Sheriff Bowers.

Fitzpatrick said that there are two laminated signs on the door and took pictures of them earlier today (see photos below).  “There are two signs attached to the door. One of them is a red laminate sign – red background with white writing.  I don’t think I got close enough for you to read the writing, so I wrote down what that says.  Underneath it is another sign with different language on it which I will also send to you.  Then there’s an A-frame sign in front of the door which says the same thing as the lower sign on the door: “No guns, knives or weapons of any kind.  No briefcases, no large handbags, no pocketbooks, no cell phones, no exceptions.  Any violation will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”  The red sign with white writing at the top says, ‘Felony state law prescribes a maximum penalty of six years’ imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $3,000 for carrying weapons inside a room in which judicial proceedings are in progress.’  It says nothing about recorders.”

The Post & Email has been writing about corruption in Monroe County for more than a year and has never been challenged on any of its reports by any Monroe County employee.  We have spoken with other individuals who have been incarcerated as a result of what they believe were tainted grand juries, rigged trial juries acting under Judges Amy Reedy and Carroll L. Ross, and for the purpose of “prisoners for profit.”

Fitzpatrick told us that he is expecting a confrontation with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department following Ross and Byrum’s false statements made in the courtroom.  He said, “I’m waiting any minute for a knock at the door. ‘You’ve violated your probation, Mr. Fitzpatrick; you’re under arrest.'”

The Post & Email contacted the Knoxville FBI today to report the allegations against Ross and Byrum.  When the gentleman who answered the phone asked if we had reported the crimes to Attorney General Robert E. Cooper, Jr., we told him, “Yes, several times, but his office doesn’t respond.”  We also told him that we left a message on the hotline set up for public corruption complaints but had not received a response.  The man stated that it might take “a while” for us to hear back, then turned us over to the duty agent.

We told the duty agent that state legislators Randy McNally and Jimmy Matlock are complicit in the corruption as well as Tennessee Attorney General Robert E. Cooper, Governor Bill Haslam, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (TAOC), court clerks and court reporters.  We have left a message with Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who is reportedly assembling a group of legislators to examine the transparency of the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary.

“This is going to criminal intent,” Fitzpatrick said.  “This was premeditated.  Ross took the testimony of the deputy, and now Ross is caught in a criminal act.   They did the same thing with George.  They have no compunction with locking up innocent people.  They do not want anybody to start looking in their back yard because they know what kind of bodies exist.  Ross took sworn testimony with witnesses in the room.  They’re doing this to whistleblowers.  This is the same thing that happened on the 27th of October.  Denise Barnes was sitting there while they were audio-recording it.  Ross is trying to destroy me.  Now they’re going to try and take me by surprise.  This was premeditated.”

Fitzpatrick reported the judge’s suborning perjury as well as Byrum’s perjurious statements made in the courtroom yesterday to the Knoxville FBI.  DS400323_A(1)  DS400323_B(1)

Fitzpatrick has reported that Bennie Byrum was the same deputy at the entrance to the same courtroom on June 23, 2011, when Fitzpatrick’s trial on the two charges of assault and resisting arrest was held.  Fitzpatrick stated that on that day, he showed Byrum his recorder and was allowed into the courtroom with it, at which time he asked Judge Donald P. Harris if he could record the proceedings, to which Harris gave his assent.  Fitzpatrick had the recorder on when he showed it to Byrum and when Harris gave his permission for it to be used in the courtroom.  The Post & Email is in possession of a copy of the recording of the June 23 trial, as is the FBI.

Fitzpatrick reported that George Raudenbush has been released from the Monroe County jail.  Raudenbush had been arrested on August 22, 2011 for allegedly bringing a recorder into Judge Carroll Ross’s courtroom.  Fitzpatrick has told The Post & Email that the “recorder” was not a recording device, but rather, a ballpoint pen.  The Mont Blanc pen, a birthday present to Raudenbush, was confiscated and has not been returned.

“They make up charges against people and then arrest them for nothing.  This is exactly the same thing that Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood did back in October.  Ross put the deputy sheriff under oath, and the deputy has just committed perjury.  He’s a captain on the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, and he did it in knowing cooperation with Carroll Ross.”

Fitzpatrick sent the following transcription of the signage both outside and on the door of the Monroe County courthouse in Madisonville:

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The red background sign, white writing placed highest on the Courthouse door reads:

“FELONY STATE LAW PRESCRIBES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF SIX (6) YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF NOT TO EXCEED THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($3,000) FOR CARRYING WEAPONS INSIDE A ROOM IN WHICH JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS ARE IN PROGRESS.”