Wednesday, April 8, 2009

NC Department of Corrections’s logic behind the illogical

In Monday, April 6, 2009’s “News & Observer,” Ruth Sheehan wrote a gutsy column titled, “Inmate’s plight a travesty.” It was right on the money, and brought forth many situations, which at first blush appeared to be illogical. The first of which was: why was it necessary to handcuff and shackle to a hospital bed a “prisoner” who was totally paralyzed since August 2008 because of a beating administered by guards at that time. He certainly wasn’t a flight risk, as he needed assistance just to sit up in bed. This doesn’t seem logical. However, the psychologists and administrators and those whose directives are responsible for this action have a well thought out reason for doing so. It is relatively simple and boils down to this: A hand-cuffed, shackled, and chained quadriplegic inmate lying half conscious in a hospital bed appears to be more threatening, more felonious, more dangerous, and less sympathetic than an unrestrained quadriplegic inmate. It is all for show. The D.O.C. is trying to market the inmate as being dangerous, a bad guy, and a menace (even in his quadriplegic state).

Another point that Ms. Sheehan addressed about the incident is why was the inmate, Tim Helms, charged for allegedly damaging property when no one was charged with severely assaulting and damaging Mr. Helms. After being beaten so badly that damage to his brain left him paralyzed, Mr. Helms, who was serving three life sentences for murder (vehicular manslaughter), was charged with two felonies: burning a public building and malicious damage to occupied property. Any rational person would not even consider filing such charges for someone serving a three life sentences for starting a fire which may have caused some damage in an isolation cell in a super-max prison. However, the Department of Corrections does not mind wasting taxpayer money on such nonsense because it believes that by doing so, it makes the inmate seem more sinister and more evil. Again, the DOC is trying to sway public opinion.

The article in Sunday’s (April 5, 2009) “News & Observer” titled “SBI investigates how inmate’s brain was badly injured,” is very tragic and troublesome. The heading reads, “Blunt-force trauma turns a state prisoner in solitary confinement into a quadriplegic. Officials say they don’t know how it happened.” It is obvious to any reasonable person that state prisoner Timothy Helms was savagely clobbered with billy-clubs by the guards, and allowed to remain in his cell for approximately 24 hours or more before prison official sought medical attention for him.

According to Tim Helms’s family, there is reason to believe that he was not even at the wheel of the truck which ran a stop signal and struck a car killing two of its occupants. Mr. Helms and another person in the truck were both thrown from the truck, with other man dying of his injuries. The prosecution based its case against Tim Helms on a signed statement he made in which he accepted responsibility for the accident and agreed to serve three life sentences. The only problem is that Tim Helms is severely retarded with an IQ of 79 (believed to be the result of a childhood head injury). This is not unlike the State’s case against Mr. Floyd Brown, a severely retarded man who prosecutors stated signed a written confession to a murder. He was later released after being held for fourteen years without a trial, and Attorney General Roy Cooper, who stated he would investigate the reasons for the outrageous delay in the Brown case, has yet to do so.

Furthermore, according to the Sunday article, in September 2008, the then-DOC Secretary Theodis Beck sent a letter to the State Bureau of Investigation asking for agents to be assigned to the Helms case. According to current DOC Secretary Alvin W. Keller, Jr., the SBI, which is under the supervision of Attorney General Roy Cooper, was unable to launch an investigation until early this March (shortly after “News & Observer” contacted a DOC attorney seeking information about Helms on February 24, 2009). I would imagine that any investigation by the SBI under A.G. Cooper would take quite a bit of time and essentially be a whitewash, similar to the investigation regarding Floyd Brown.

The only time Attorney General Cooper has acted with any speed has been in the Duke Lacrosse case. Within months of taking control of that case, his so-called “investigation” into it was completed, he stated no crimes had been committed, he proclaimed the privileged Duke defendants “innocent,” he led the effort to successfully have Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong disbarred (the only prosecutor to be disbarred by the North Carolina State Bar since its inception), and he sought to have the U.S. Attorney General investigate Mr. Nifong.

What is very troubling is the extent at which the Department of Corrections went to keep Timothy Helms’s family from seeing him. State officials lied to the family about the incident at the prison, about the injuries and medical condition of Timothy, and even went so far as to say that he did not want members of his family to be contacted. The last statement of an e-mail from Keith Acree, Public Affairs Director for the NC Department of Corrections (published in the Sunday “News & Observer”) to Tim’s brother Mike Helms, read: “Additionally there is no evidence to support any claim that Tim was beaten by officers while handcuffed.” Mr. Acree is playing word games. Whether or not he was handcuffed or not is not the issue. Mr. Acree is implicitly implying in the e-mail that Tim Helms was not beaten by officers.

The actions and cover-up by the state’s Department of Corrections and Attorney General’s office of the Helms’s incident, are shameful, an outrage, and an embarrassment to the state of North Carolina. That Mr. Helms’s story was brought forth by the “News & Observer,” is, itself, amazing. Although there are other similar stories, such as the assault upon inmate Theodore Jerry Williams by Union County sheriff deputies, the media has kept them under wraps. The frightening reality is that there are many such incidents occurring in prisons throughout the state.

The North Carolina Department of Corrections Public Affairs Director Keith Acree flippantly stated that “every prison receives complaints. Inmates don’t like being in prison.” The fact is that they may not like being in prison, however, I am certain that their complaints have to do with the systemic and statewide inhumane, degrading, demoralizing, and abusive behavior they receive from the corrections staff and directors. This mistreatment is a fact that Mr. Acree chooses to ignore and does not wish to acknowledge.

19 comments:

SouthernGirl2 said...

The only problem is that Tim Helms is severely retarded with an IQ of 79 (believed to be the result of a childhood head injury). This is not unlike the State’s case against Mr. Floyd Brown, a severely retarded man who prosecutors stated signed a written confession to a murder. He was later released after being held for fourteen years without a trial, and Attorney General Roy Cooper, who stated he would investigate the reasons for the outrageous delay in the Brown case, has yet to do so.



Talk about sickening. A severely retarded man held for 14 years without trial and Roy Cooper hasn't investigated why such an atrocity happened? You've got to be kidding? But hold on...Roy Copper did act with speed to investigate (gag) when the rich white boys were in trouble with the law. It was a drunken party where women were hired to degrade themselves. A party where racial slurs were hurled at the women that had been invited. A party where one of the invited guest had her money stolen out of her purse.

But this man spent 14 years of his life locked up without a trial. What kind of mess is this? This isn't Gitmo? This is America. It's an outrage!

Everyone has a right to equal justice. It's a Constitutional right! Leaving a poor severely retarded man locked away without trial is gross injury. What happened to Habeas Corpus? What shame that Roy Cooper hasn't found out why! What is this? Are some people more important than others?

gak said...

But hold on...Roy Copper did act with speed to investigate (gag) when the rich white boys were in trouble with the law. It was a drunken party where women were hired to degrade themselves. A party where racial slurs were hurled at the women that had been invited. A party where one of the invited guest had her money stolen out of her purse.

I am always amazed at how people like Justice58 keep bringing up "facts" that don't exist. I suggest you relook at the real facts and you will learn
1) the money wasn't stolen, Precious left her purse at the house because she was too out of it from HER booze and drugs.
2) the racial slurs you speak of were only 2 and the first came from Precious's partner Kim who admitted such on NATIONAL TV
3) the drunken party you refer to was a party with some underage drinking, but the pictures show nobody drunk except Precious.

The problem with your angle at this blog, (get mike his license back) is that you want the corruption to remain, instead you should be asking Cooper to go after ALL the other cops and prosecutors in your state.

SouthernGirl2 said...

I am always amazed at how people like Justice58 keep bringing up "facts" that don't exist. I suggest you relook at the real facts and you will learn
1) the money wasn't stolen, Precious left her purse at the house because she was too out of it from HER booze and drugs.
2) the racial slurs you speak of were only 2 and the first came from Precious's partner Kim who admitted such on NATIONAL TV
3) the drunken party you refer to was a party with some underage drinking, but the pictures show nobody drunk except Precious.




Gak

In the future, before you open your mouth, take President Obama's advice given to CNN's White House correspondent, Ed Henry...Know what you're talking about before you speak and then maybe it wouldn't make you look so....dumb! Or just STFU. MMMKay?

The facts do exist that money was stolen from Crystal Mangum's purse. Roy Cooper stated in his report about the stolen money.

I suggest you read here...

http://www.hackedbannedandlockeddown.yuku.com/topic/710


Witness Jason Bissey saw Crystal arriving at the party and quoted in his affidavit she was sober upon her arrival.

http://hackedbannedandlockeddown.yuku.com/topic/901


Gak, you're lying again about the racial slurs. The Lacrosse players/party goers injected racism into the case when he stated..."Hey bitch, thank your grandpa for my nice cotton shirt". The player injected racism into the case when he called the dancers ...."niggers".

Kim Pittman's statement:


http://hackedbannedandlockeddown.yuku.com/forum/viewtopic/id/753


I, Kim Pittman, was called by Melissa to do a Bachelor Party at 610 Buchanan St at 11 p.m. at night. I went to Priscilla's to purchase an outfit for the evening and proceded (sic) to get ready for the night. I left 1602 Albany Street and headed toward Buchanan where I arrived at about 11 p.m. I spoke to Dan F. and was told that this was not a bachelor party but a get together amongst friends. They told me that they were on a sports team and were all Grad Students at Duke.

I walked to the back of the house with Dan and Dave and entered the house thru a back door. There I received my $400.00 payment ($200/hr for 2 hours) from Dan and waited for the second girl to arrive. As we waited, I met a few of the fellas in the house and chit chatted for several minutes. The guys were anxious and asked me to call Melissa and check on the second girl. We were told that she was soon on her way. At about 11:30 Precious arrived and came to the back where we met for the first time. I waited outside and she went inside to collect her money. She showed me her payment ($400.00) and we went straight the bathroom where my outfit was to change clothes. Precious came w/ her dancing gear on and did not need to change.

We conversed about our plan for the dance. There was a knock on the door and we were handed two drinks of equal amounts. We did sip the drinks, but Precious' cup fell into the sink. We finished getting dressed and proceeded to the living room, led by Dan, to do our show. There were about 20-25 young guys there who were all sitting down. Precious and I began our show which, in my opinion, seemed to be going well. Precious began showing signs of intoxication at this point. We continued w/ the performance until one of the boys brought out a broomstick and after asking if we had any toys, said he would use the broomstick on us.

That statement made me uncomfortable and I felt like I wanted to leave. I raised my voice to the boys and said the show was over. The commotion riled Precious up and caused her to get irate. I went to the bathroom with Precious and I told her I wanted to leave. Precious felt we could get more money and that we shouldn't leave yet. She was uncontrollable at this point and was yelling at the boys who were knocking on the door to leave us alone. I finally decided to leave the house. I left the bathroom, grabbed my bag and exited the house w/ my dancing gear on. I went to my car, wanting to leave, but not wanting to leave the girl in the house alone. I changed my clothes in the car where some of the boys were coming to my window asking me to talk to them. I was told by one of the guys that Precious was passed out in the back and could I please do something with her. By this point, it seemed that the fellas may have been ready for the evening to be over. I told them that if they could get her to my car, I would get her out of their hair. Within minutes, she was being helped out of the back yard and into my car. At this point, she did not have the bag that I saw her come with and I asked her if she had the most important thing, her money. She told me yes but she did not seem coherent. She then told me that we should go back to the house because there was more money to be made there. I asked her again where her things were and she said "Here," "It's here". But I did not see her things so in my opinion, she was talking crazy. I made an attempt to get her things. I took my belongings, locked her in my car, and went back up to the house to try and retrieve her bag. I looked around with Dan and we didn't see anything so I said I've done all I could and went back to my car. I finally began leaving and the boys began yelling "Nigger" to us. I called the police to report racial slurs.

While in the car, I repeatedly asked Precious if she had her money. At this point, she was basically out of it. I tried to ask her where she lived but she would not tell me. I tried calling Melissa to get a hold of the driver that dropped her off but received no assistance from her. I decided go to the 24 hr. grocery store and seek the help of an off duty police officer. Only a security guard was there, so we proceeded to call 911. A couple of cars came out and they dragged her from my car after trying to wake her up with smelling salts. They tried to talk to her and ask questions but the only thing she would mutter was no. She obviously did not want to leave my car. The police said they would look out for her, take care of her, and that she was in no trouble at all. I then drove back to 1602 Albany Street where my night was over.

- forgot to mention that the first time Precious came to the car, she left because she felt there was more money to be made. It was after then, that the boys helped her to the car. They carried her by throwing her arms over their shoulders and assisting her walking to the car - I can't remember if only one boy helped or 2.

Kim M. Pittman 3/22/06 2:15 p.m.

The point in time where I went to get Precious' things from the house, I walked to the back of the house thru the side of the house outside. I entered the house from the outside from a back door. I looked in the bathroom to retrieve her things but could not find them. I exited the house the same way I came in, along the side of the house to my car without finding any of her items.

Kim M. Pittman 3/22/06 4:00 p.m.


http://hackedbannedandlockeddown.yuku.com/forum/viewtopic/id/672


VANITY FAIR: Kim Roberts, Other Dancer in Duke Rape Case, Talks to Vanity Fair



Excerpts from the July 2006 hard copy version

It was when she was in the car with the other dancer getting ready to drive off, she said that she heard one of the boys in the field yell the word, "nigger," followed by several other boys shouting the racial epithet.
Roberts was not the only person who heard a racist comment. Jason Bissey, the next door neighbor, said in an interview he heard one of the players say, "Hey, b*tch, thank your grandpa for your nice cotton shirt!" as the Honda was driving off.

"They just hollered it out,'Nigger,' 'Nigger,' 'Nigger,'" said Roberts. "They were hollering it for all to hear. They didn't care who heard it."



Humph... Gak, you're simply a lying liar by this statement...but the pictures show nobody drunk except Precious.

You didn't see the photo of the guy looking as if he's passed out with his shorts down? You admit you've seen photos, right? The drinking began around 2 pm that afternoon...and you're out right lying to even suggest no one was drunk but Crystal when a witness stated she was sober on arrival.

We do know both Crystal and Kim was offered drinks by Dave Evans after arriving to the party. Crystal began stumbling shortly after beginning the dance. What happen to her? She was sober when she arrived.



Gak, get your facts straight before you march your ass in here accusing me of keep bringing up "facts" that don't exist.


I suggest you read before you open your mouth. You do know how to read, don't you?

SouthernGirl2 said...

The problem with your angle at this blog, (get mike his license back) is that you want the corruption to remain, instead you should be asking Cooper to go after ALL the other cops and prosecutors in your state.





Gak....You're making a total ass of yourself by assuming I live in the same state as Roy Cooper! Roy Cooper doesn't have a damn thing to do with the Cops or Prosecutors in my state. You're a f-ing moron!


Talk to me when you make some damn sense!

Dakota said...

I am commenting here because I want my voice to be heard. KC Johnson refuses to clear comments that doesn't share his views. He is very dishonest and ever so sly.

Here is my comment that wasn't cleared:


Bill Anderson's 12:50 PM comment is utterly chilling:

It is indeed chilling because Bill Anderson is revealing himself to be a racist bigot. With his line of thought, it is frightening to know the man is raising black and hispanic children. I have my views about things at Duke but his views are way over the top. There was a time when I enjoyed the discussion at DIW but it has become infested with hate. I will not be a part of this hate fest. You want to see the downfall of Duke so you can pat yourselves on the back. It will not happen. Duke University will survive with or without your support. KC, you and a few have become rabid.

gak said...

Dakota on 4/11/09 @ 7:10pm
KC, you and a few have become rabid.Read Justice58's response to me and tell me again how KC and company are rabid.

I'll bet you folks loved Mangum's new book too!

gak said...

To Justice58

How do you square her "written statement" given after Nifong went to bat for her at her parole violation hearing with the one she made on National TV some 6 months later where she admitted she started it?

I read Jason's statement and it fits right with Kim's later statement that she started it. Jason came out as the car was driving away. Nowhere in his statement does the N word come up. As for the Jason saying she wasn't drunk, he wasn't anywhere near her to know. The pictures do a good job of explaining that. As for your not living in the state, Whatever!!!

ScarletHill said...

Thanks Dakota for your comments. I have seen the hate against Durham and Duke continue to grow on DIW as well as LieStoppers. Despite this, The Chronicle has continued to bow down to KC, even publishing a recent article singing his praises without a single hard question about his attacks on Duke University. DIW is now a place where the hard line conspiracy theorists gather. Those that desire for Duke and Durham to suffer astound each other with their amazing insights on a daily basis with few if any challenges to the lack of common sense most display.
Justice58,
Roy Cooper is without a doubt a creature of politics. He cares little for any case unless it furthers his career. Nifong was chosen as the bearer of punishment for all bad prosecutors, regardless of how worthy of punishment he was. Cooper can now claim victory of those evil DA's that would dare to do something improper, all the while, turning away from the misdeeds of those he favors.

The Great Kilgo said...

White House Dinner with Katie

April 23, 2007 - N&O

Attorney General Roy Cooper had dinner with Katie Couric this weekend.

He and his wife were the CBS Evening News anchor's guests at the White House Correspondents' Association's annual dinner on Saturday.

A tradition since 1920, the dinner is hosted by journalists, with newsmakers and politicians as their invited guests. This year's entertainment was by celebrity impersonator Rich Little.

Couric met Cooper when she was in town for his press conference when he dropped the charges against the Duke lacrosse players. He also sat for an interview with "60 Minutes" on that network.

Noelle Talley, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General, said Cooper was invited last Thursday.

He and his wife avoided the red carpet, however, and went in the back entrance in order to avoid the group mobbing "American Idol" singer Sanjaya Malakar.

http://projects.newsobserver.com/tags/roy_cooper?page=16

SouthernGirl2 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SouthernGirl2 said...

How do you square her "written statement" given after Nifong went to bat for her at her parole violation hearing with the one she made on National TV some 6 months later where she admitted she started it?How do YOU get Kim starting racial slurs out of little d***ed white boy? Where is the racist element? Little d***ed? Is it now racist to say someone has a little d***? **Snicker**


No Gak, you have it wrong. There were mean hateful racial slurs hurled at the dancers.


You take your time, Gak and read...


I made an attempt to get her things. I took my belongings, locked her in my car, and went back up to the house to try and retrieve her bag. I looked around with Dan and we didn't see anything so I said I've done all I could and went back to my car. I finally began leaving and the boys began yelling "Nigger" to us. I called the police to report racial slurs.Gak, did you purposely over-look the fact a party goer suggested the dancers use a broomstick as a sex toy? How evil and demonic! It is total disrespect of women. What happened to their home training? The parenting skills is telling in the home he was raised in.


Lastly, I take it your mind is pretty damn warped to believe the guys weren't drunk after almost 9/10 hours of drinking. The drinking started around 2:00pm that afternoon.

I repeat...Gak, get your facts straight before you march your ass in here accusing me of keep bringing up "facts" that don't exist.




ScarletHill,

It makes me furious to read that Roy Cooper has dragged his behind on investigating why a severely retarded man was locked away for 14years without a trial. It's gross injury! But yet he finds the time to clear the duke accused with expediency. Neither one of the accused spent any time in jail. Is not the disabled or mentally challenged people worthy of equal justice, expedient investigations? Damn right they are. They are loved strongly. The mentally disabled may not be able to cry out about injustice done to them but dammit they have people that will.

The Great Kilgo said...

Is Gak the half-wit brother of Ubes?

Another fecal dropping from Wonder-land?

Tell us Gak, have you ever stood on

Jason Bissey's porch, next to the alleyway,

where he observed a lucid Crystal arrive

at the drunken den of lacrosse punks?

gak said...

Never once did i call anybody "fecal dropping" or "the half-whit brother"... or anything else. Again, Justice58 you refer to the signed statement that she changed for her interview on national television. to kilgo, No i haven't been on jason bissy's porch, but I also didn't read anything in his statement about her being drunk or sober. so i guess to you folks, silence means sober. as for her statement about the guys calling her niggeer I suggest you watch the 60 minutes interview and see what she says on national television. but you will only pick the facts that fit your worldview so have fun walking into walls.

The Great Kilgo said...

.

Why does the DEFENSE affidavit of Jason Bissey omit this important exculpatory information regarding the demeanor of the lacrosse robbery and assault victim?

Direct quote of key prosecution witness, from the Fri,Apr.21, 2006 News & Observer:

Jason Bissey, who lives next door to the university-owned house, said Thursday that he had a clear view of the accuser's arrival and that she did not appear to be impaired. He said he saw her walk up a long alley to the rear of the lacrosse house, then talk to the other woman hired to dance before entering the home.

"They were both totally lucid. [The accuser] was not impaired in any way, I remember clearly," Bissey said Thursday. "It was a kind of a long way to walk so it would have been pretty clear if she was messed up."

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/430963.html

.

The Great Kilgo said...

.

WE SHALL REPEAT the salient quote, so that not even the thickest and most dishonest lacrosse excrements can ignore it:

"he had a clear view of the accuser's arrival and that she did not appear to be impaired."

"They were both totally lucid. [The accuser] was not impaired in any way, I remember clearly," Bissey said Thursday. "It was a kind of a long way to walk so it would have been pretty clear if she was messed up."

.

The Great Kilgo said...

.


Now let's do a bit of our own editing :

"They were both totally lucid. [The VICTIM ]
was not impaired in any way, I remember clearly".


. . .BOTH TOTALLY LUCID. . .


Did Roy Cooper's people talk to Jason Bissey?


.

SouthernGirl2 said...

Gak,


The guys hurled racial slurs at the dancers, a despicable party goer asked the dancers to use a broomstick as a sex toy, someone went into Crystal Mangum's purse and stole her money. It happened! You can't change it.


Crystal & Kim both arrived at the party sober. Jason Bissey, an eye witness confirmed it. That happened also. You can't change it.



Gak,

Stop relying on one sided bull from Bill Anderson or KC Johnson.

unbekannte said...

Sidnry Harr de Harr Harr

Biased prejudice racist bigot fanatic know nothing injustice58

silly chicken killy

Put up or shut up. If you have hard evidence about the cgm fraud, present it. So far you have not. Tha is a clear indication you know nothing. You are merely pushing a biased, racist, totally untrue story

The Great Kilgo said...

quack

quack

quack