ANDERSON COUNTY — An Anderson woman who sued over the distribution of an anonymous flyer has added an allegation that sheriff’s office resources were misused in development of a response to the lawsuit.
The original lawsuit filed in September claimed a local radio host, a former Anderson County Council candidate, a local reporter and an unknown number of anonymous people spread what could be ruled a libelous story.
The attorney for two of the accused responded, in previous court filings, that the target of the potentially libelous story is a public figure and has an arrest record significant enough that she cannot be libeled.
The newest filing includes allegations that Anderson County Sheriff’s Office resources were used to access criminal records “through an improper use of internal governmental resources of the Anderson County Sheriff’s department, and in violation of state and federal law.”
No individual in the sheriff’s office is named, and the claim says only that sheriff’s office resources, not necessarily officials with the department, were used to gain the material.
Attorney Candy Kern-Fuller represents Doreen Montepara, who was the target of possibly libelous fliers accusing her of being involved in a medical disciplinary case in Connecticut. Connecticut officials confirmed that Montepara had the same name as the person who was disciplined by the state but is not the same person.
Kern-Fuller said some of the records that were accessed and included in previous court documents could not have been obtained by anyone outside of law enforcement, who would not be allowed to access or share that information in a civil lawsuit.
Charles Griffin Jr. represents the radio host, Rick Driver, and the former council candidate, Rick Freemantle.
Griffin said the sheriff’s office did not access the records improperly for him, and that he paid for all the records through the proper channels.
“Everything we got was legitimately obtained,” he said. “I’m going to file a response to that bogus claim that we unlawfully obtained information from the sheriff’s office.”
Sheriff John Skipper said he had not heard about the new court filing that mentions the sheriff’s office until he was asked to comment on it late Wednesday. Skipper said he would check into the allegations before talking about them.
Kern-Fuller also amended Montepara’s complaint to add that “Driver read on the air what he purported to be an ‘anonymous e-mail’ asserting that instead of (Montepara) and her husband ‘getting rid of the drugs and crime in the area, they are only really interested in getting rid of the competition.’ “
Griffin said his client has denied making that statement.
Attorney James Cox represents the reporter, Stan Welch. Welch’s defense has not directly involved Montepara’s arrest record.
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Comments » 20
StupidShouldHurtMore writes:
Paging Captain McCluskey . . . Michael Corleone is on line one for you . . .
- SSHM
JDTippett writes:
Wow, how did this story get buried on the website so fast?
StupidShouldHurtMore writes:
JD,
It was never put on the front page of the Independent-Mail website. In any other market, this would have been "story #1."
Instead, you can see where Butch, et al, opt to follow the directives of the home office and print things that are non-controversial.
Pardon me while I call my local paper on the carpet for shirking their duties as journalists and AVOIDING NEWS!
For the record Butch, green-lighting these types of REAL news articles is only half the equation. You MUST publish it and publish it in a manner that does not bury such news as this among the fashion and culture articles.
- SSHM
Carlos_Pellegrini writes:
While the complaint only says that ACSO resources were used, the unanswered question is, who allowed them to be used.
vtx1800 writes:
It is a relatively simple process to get criminal records on anyone. These are public records after all and unless the records have been sealed by court order you can order them from a number of sources.
Carlos_Pellegrini writes:
Unless NCIC was used. That could raise a federal question.
aplummer#245756 writes:
Thank you Doreen for fighting back! YOU ARE MY HERO!!!!!
Carlos_Pellegrini writes:
Am I the only one who read Charlie Griffin's comments and felt that he was straining to say that his office didn't act improperly but left open the possibility that someone in the ACSO may have acted improperly.
DWade writes:
So now, in addition to Driver, Stan "pardon me", "one-shot" Welch, the twice convicted of felony drug distribution goon, Freemantle, and various John & Jane Does, Mr. Griffin is having to answer for his actions. Does this group of folks, including their attorney not sound like one big clustermuck?
Carlos_Pellegrini writes:
I've heard that one of the documents that Charles Griffin filed had a caption on the bottom, "For Law Enforcement Purposes Only."
DWade writes:
You're exactly right, it did. Now wonder how he got that, through appropriate channels?
1catlover writes:
I don't recall seeing ANY blame on John Skipper for this illegal release on internal documents. What some lesser capable individuals are NOT understanding is that a document stamped "For Law Enforcement Use ONLY" is specifically for THAT purpose. Whether it was one of the UFO plants who work for the ACSD, or someone who has "contacts" who pulled an illegal document is immatereal. What IS important is that Cox, Griffith and those involved with supplying that document have comitted a civil rights violation and are facing FEDERAL charges. Wanna make a wager on the likelihood these charges will NOT be vigorously pursued by those affected? After years of harassment and LIES spread by those feebleminded and hypocritical among us, it looks like the tables have finally turned.
And with this one action, would one wager as well that those in the past finally grow a pair and begin THEIR pursuit of justice and retribution against those who've LIED and passed false information against those living or working here?
Scared no more!! You cannot stop JUSTICE with some "parody" airplay and lies guys.
So the mantra of Orange jumpsuits, three hots and a cot, and the REAL criminals finally seeing jail are coming true day by day!
DWade writes:
Tell em Cat.......fake SSHM (SDHM....would you be "pardon me", "one-shot", by chance), where are you these days? How about the fake JDTippett.....you know JDTrippett? Ya'll practicing again for the polar bear jump over at Darwin Wright today, since it's nippy today and the water is up with the recent rain? Did ya'll bring along someone that it is rumored (and I repeat, rumored) that his wife has left the marital home, and moved in with her female companion? Now, if he is one of your friends, and if this rumor is true, he might be interested in finding him a male friend over there at Darwin Wright?
Fake SSHM and fake JDTrippett, was it cold in the singlewide this morning? How about on the mopeds?
SSHM writes:
Now you may have some people fooled some of the time; but, you ain't foolin' Butch with no made up, set up, self servin' stories. Is that all you got these days GG? Made up, setup qrap, that ends with you the hero for figurin' it all out? Come on now, get some level of professional.
Dwade, Wyatt1sc and all you other vessels of rancor, get a day job.
DWade writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
SSHM writes:
Aren't you just pathetic!
DWade writes:
The sobering truth hit home with you, huh? Now, do I need to refer you to your post here on the AIM, where you were spouting off that I would regret any day I had the pleasure of meeting you, just so we can remind readers what you said?
And so, when confronted with that opportunity to get your wish, this is all you have? Were you the woman your friend's wife is rumored to have left him for?
It really is simple for you.....if you think I'm the fraud you proclaim I am, muster you up some courage and name a time and place, and I'll give you the opportunity to judge that, in-person, since you claimed you were up to it? Then you will have yourself a real live encounter to report back about here, on the Buzz, and anywhere else you would like, as will I. You can even bring your camera.
DWade writes:
NEWSFLASH.....UPDATE ON THE RUMOR MILL.
Apparently that couple, who possibly (and I say possibly, because this is a rumor, and no public documents, yet, to support the "rumor").......apparently,according to this source, it is the husband, that has taken a liking to men, not the wife taking a liking to other women, as the rumored problems in their marital home.
Now, SDHM, doesn't that just sound....hypocritical for someone that might present himself to be a "manly man", and now, if he is a well-thought of member of the CAVE crowd, does this mean possible one or more of you are the object of his desires???
Now, according tom my unnamed "rumor source", this tidbit of information has been circling the wagons in Anderson County for 6 months.
I just had a feel those comments I made about ya'll hanging out over at Darwin Wright for meetings might have some substance to it.....you know....sort of like an old person can feel rain coming on in their bones?
WHAT A STUNNING REVELATION!!!!
For those of you that attend public meetings in Anderson, maybe it would be wise to sit in the back now, if you're male? Could be checking you out if you don't?
SSHM writes:
There you have it folks...why we have to never give up the fight to get rid of the scum like the above posters. Take a close read and a careful ponder as to why they needed to go.
Limiting us only to deals they could work or enrich their group, limited us to real competition jumping out there in the county. If you weren't hooked up with Joey Preston, it wasn't gonna happen. We only moved as fast as the crooked deals could be set up. Most of them required grants or bond money or something to make them float. So each deal had to wait until those processes could be completed. They basicially shut down all other competitive development by limiting or expanding the utilities towards "friendlies" versus what made good economic sense.
We should have long since developed the I-85 frontage road system and focused on sewage to support it. Instead we spend our, grants, TARP money, votes we bought in Columbia with consultants contracts, penny taxes and bond referendums trying to build the east-west connector because of the A-list of people with property along it.
The manipulators of our county government must not shackle us with their use of public funds for furtherance of personal projects. We need to fall back, refigure and refocus on what other counties have successfully accomplished through their frontage road development.
DWade writes:
Fake SSHM (SDHM), you live on Hwy. 20 heading out of Pelzer towards Piedmont, don't you? It would be really cold for you to ride that moped over to those "frontage roads" you dream about over near I-85, you know, near that what could be progressive side of the County? Now, passing through Williamston/Pelzer back home to Simpsonville last night after having dinner with my parents in Belton, I didn't see your moped in the parking lot at the "Just One More" Lounge in Williamston/Pelzer.....did the guvment money run out early this month?
So how's your friend....found him any more male friends over at Darwin Wright?
Speaking of I-85 development......that opportunity for the county was there long before Preston arrived in Anderson County, and has been there since he left, but no focus is being placed on it. You must be speaking of CWilson and Bod Waldrep seeking to line their pockets? Did pretty well for themselves, huh? Didn't mind jobs coming in that allowed you to ask, "would you like me to biggie size your order", but heaven forbid well-paying jobs, huh, or really bright people? Easier to look smart around a bunch of dummies and bigots, huh?
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