Somebody needs to tell Jim Black that judges can read. Prosecutors too.
Spreading the word to long-time enablers like Cameron Harris that the only reason you pleaded guilty to something was because you were short on money for a defense is great way to enrage both judge and prosecutor.
First off, in Black’s case, it is not even true. As Jim Morrill and Eric Frazier document, Black has real estate holdings of at least $3.4 million. Most people faced with defending themselves against a crime they did not commit would find a way to keep fighting for their good name even if it meant putting a dent in their personal fortune.
Second, the claim makes no sense. Is really cheaper to plead guilty to a charge that carries a possible $250,000 fine, plus restitution? Oh, and you are also going to run around and demonstrate zero contrition for your acts, thereby almost forcing the judge to max out such penalties? (Let’s not even think about what Black’s latest spin job means his chances for active jail time.)
Third, Jim Black just called the prosecutors in his corruption case liars. There’s dumb and there’s monumental stupidity. Jim Black just constructed a temple to idiocy.
As we noted the other day, Black’s was extremely lucky that prosecutors did not add witness tampering/obstruction of justice charges to his rap sheet. If the prosecution has evidence that Black told grand jury witnesses to lie about why they gave him money — and that is what the factual basis for Black’s guilty plea clearly indicates — prosecutors still have the option of pursuing that.
Finally, but in many ways most importantly, Black just made a very clumsy appeal for more money from his one-time supporters and, quite obviously, his co-conspirators. Black quite clearly made the connection between having money to mount a defense and cooperating with prosecutors. The more money Black has, the less he cooperates. Hint hint. Nudge Nudge.
Will that be a check payable to the Jim Black Legal Defense Fund, or an orange jumpsuit?
This is why it is absolutely vital that the legal defense fund be closed down immediately. There can be no secret way to funnel money to Jim Black, not now. Read between the lines:
“The money dried up,” Harris said Friday. “All the guys who got help from him stopped returning phone calls.”
Addison Bell, a Matthews businessman who set up the fund, could not be reached Friday.
“They’re hopeful that there’s more money coming,” said Stan Campbell, the fund’s trustee. “But I don’t know what plans they have to make that happen.”
Oh, Stan c’mon! The plan is in plain view!
Bonus observation: If you were Stan Campbell, Cameron Harris, or Addison Bell, wouldn’t you be a little bit tired of explaining and defending Jim Black?
