Mike Parsons Released From Prison

BUT FOR HOW LONG?

by Sharon Rondeau

(May 17, 2015) — On Sunday The Post & Email learned that TDOC prisoner Michael Wayne Parsons, whose story we have covered for nearly a year, was released from prison on Saturday afternoon.

He was remanded to the custody of Tipton County sheriff’s deputies, who released him several hours later.

Parsons was involved in commerce for his farm in February of last year when he received a call from his probation officer, Danny Johnson, asking to meet him at the gate to his property.  After Parsons complied, a “raid” was conducted based on allegations that the farm animals were being mistreated.  Parsons was then arrested for violating his parole by allegedly possessing firearms as a convicted felon, although the firearms in question were legally registered to his wife.

The claim of cruelty to animals was investigated and found not to be credible.

At the end of March, Parsons was arraigned on two charges based on grand jury indictments for possessing firearms illegally for which he will stand trial in August.

Parsons’ felony conviction stemmed from an incident from September 2007 when Barry Laxton arrived without provocation on the Parsonses’ property and began shooting, killing one of their wolf hybrids.  Instead of shooting back, Parsons attempted to stop the assault by conducting a citizen’s arrest on Laxton and confiscating his gun.  However, Judge William Peeler ordered Parsons arrested, and the Tipton County grand jury indicted him for aggravated assault and theft of property, among other charges.

A member of the jury was related to the arresting officer but reportedly was untruthful during the voir-dire process.  Grand juries and trial juries are known to be fixed in Tennessee to achieve the desired outcome of a conviction.  Citizens all over the state have been sent to prison for various crimes without proper evidence or due process as required by the Tennessee constitution, U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Parsons spent two and one-half years in prison from November 2009 to April 2012. Today is his first day of freedom since February 11, 2014, the day of the raid.

Before he was taken into custody, Parsons was asked, “Do you plan to run for county executive again?” in a reference to his 2006 bid which he was told he lost but believes he actually won overwhelmingly.

Before his incarcerations, Parsons was an entrepreneur, radio show host, Civil Air Patrol pilot, and adjunct college faculty member.

District Attorney General Michael Dunavant has not returned calls from The Post & Email.  Similarly, Tipton County Circuit Court Clerk Mike Forbess, who was very generous with his time in granting an interview early last month about the workings of the grand jury, has also not returned our calls of late.

Johnson did not respond to two voice messages from The Post & Email last month.

Located in the middle of the “Bible Belt,” Tennessee is also known for a high degree of government corruption and “good-ole-boy” network which runs the sheriffs’ departments, courts, and government agencies.  Public servants are typically reticent to speak with the press, and the state’s Open Records law is worded in such a way that records often are not released to requesters who do not reside in Tennessee.

Dunavant’s office is seeking “enhanced punishment” for Parsons in August.