Run, Popcorn! Run!
Posted on 03/14/2008 7:29:38 PM PDT by girlangler
Local man facing firearms, moonshine violations
Posted: 4:39 PM Mar 14, 2008
(WVLT) A Cocke County man is now facing federal firearms and moonshine violations.
61 year old Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton of Parrotsville is charged in a four count complaint with three federal charges, related to the making, possessing and selling of untaxed whiskey.
Sutton also faces one charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, Sutton faces up to ten years in federal prison on the firearms count and five years for each of the moonshining counts.
He faces up to a $250,000 fine on each count.
Sutton will be back in court, March 28th for a preliminary hearing.
Not really. A few years ago I 'got wind' - in passing - that Popcorn was, on occasion, in and out of Maggie. Just sayin..
"They are hillbillies too, but I doubt any of them know how to make moonshine."
Oh..I don't know (grin). I've "heard" that some old folk in Maggie know how to make it. They're just to old to do that kind of work anymore.
"No, old Popcorn is up near Dell Rio, up in the mountains where they don’t have taffy making and sovenir shops — where they still run hounds for bear and ‘coons, and still show up for Church and “All Day Singing and Dinner on the Ground.”"
Hell I like taffy. The souvenir shops I can do without. In the 'outlying areas' (Plott Balsams, High Top, Soco etc.) around Maggie, young'ns still hunt coon, bear, hog, and possum (with dogs) on a regular basis. And yes all day church meetins' and dinners still occur as needed.
"When they ain’t making moonshine and betting on those fighting roosters."
Old traditions are a good thing.
"Those folks up there are pretty independent, they don’t pay much attention to laws and the stock market!!!'
That's true. I have kin (near and distant) in Macon, Jackson, Haywood, Madison, Henderson, and Buncombe Counties of North Carolina. I know exactly how a lot of mountain folk are and how they can be.
/jasper
Time to get ol’ Rafe Hollister
Thanks for the link, I’m going to read it. A while back there was a show on TV about Jr. Johnson, I only saw part of it but what I saw was really good.
I’ll drink to that Girlangler, but everybody knows the most sinful and dangerous thing that goes on in this country is not paying enough taxes.
LOL.
It doesn’t get any more hillbilly than Madison County.
Up until three years ago I lived in Greene County, on the border with Madison County, N.C. Madison County definitely has a reputation for moonshining and even a few longstanding feuds.
I thought Maggie Valley had been pretty much overrun by folks from other states, but I’m sure there are still natives.
No doubt Popcorn has roots up in that area too. But I think he lives in Cocke County, which is the equivilent of Madison County N.C. He probably sells his ‘shine over there too.
Thing is, Popcorn has been open about it for years. One of his kinfolks from Cocke County showed me a video he made about making moonshine. It was hilarious to watch, especially his hillbilly accent.
Did you see the photos of Popcorn posted below in this thread?
SO good to hear from you. I thought you were sick, or mad at me for accidentally getting you on the garden ping list (grin).
You doing okay?
Yes, they should leave this poor old man alone, let him make his moonshine. He doesn’t hurt anyone, and is part of the local color here.
Too bad the authorities don’t spend their resources going after the real criminals, like the ones pasted below, who recently made headlines here:
Report: OR Man Sentenced For Incest
According to the News-Sentinel, a 64-year-old Oak Ridge man was sentenced to three years in prison resulting from his plea earlier this year to charges that he molested his then-14-year-old daughter. The man, whose identity is being withheld to protect his victim, will serve 30 days in jail at which time he could be eligible for release. The man will have to register as a sex offender, undergo therapy and even if he is released early, will have to spend the rest of his sentence on supervised probation. The paper reports that he expressed remorse over his actions in March of 2005 and said that he would be willing to undergo therapy.
Correction Officer’s Arrest For Marijuana Explained By Police
Published: 2:02 AM, 03/15/2008 Last updated: 2:01 AM, 03/15/2008
Source: The Greeneville Sun
Trooper Searched
The Trunk Of Car
When The Riddles
Seemed ‘Nervous’
By BILL JONES
Staff Writer
A Louisiana State Police public information officer released details Friday concerning how his agency came to charge a Greene County Detention Center corrections officer and his brother last Sunday with possessing marijuana with intent to deliver it.
During a telephone interview with The Greeneville Sun from Lake Charles, La., Senior Trooper Stephen LaFargue, a spokesman for LSP’s Troop D, said Greene County Corrections Officer Jason Riddle, 27, was arrested with his brother, Charles Bradley Riddle, 33, about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9, after Trooper Steven Vincent stopped their Chevrolet Cobalt rental car near mile post 55 on Interstate 10 in Jefferson Davis Parish, La.
Senior Trooper LaFargue said Trooper Vincent stopped the car, which was being driven by Charles Bradley Riddle, after seeing the eastbound vehicle swerve abruptly and “cross the fog line” of the road.
When Trooper Vincent approached the car, according to LaFargue, he noticed that both Riddle brothers appeared “nervous.”
While speaking with the Riddle brothers, Trooper Vincent became suspicious when he asked the brothers where they had been and where they were going.
“Their stories didn’t add up,” LaFargue said.
The Riddle brothers, LaFargue said, claimed to have traveled to a number of cities, including Houston and Dallas, and Panama City, Fla., plus the state of Illinois on the same trip.
LaFargue said the brothers said they had been applying for jobs with various law-enforcement agencies, but were unable to name any of the agencies with which they had filed applications.
Trooper Vincent obtained verbal approval to search the car occupied by the Riddle brothers, Trooper LaFargue said.
When Trooper Vincent opened the rental car’s trunk, he noticed the odor of marijuana, LaFargue said.
Inside a blue duffel bag in the trunk was a white plastic trash bag that contained several smaller plastic bags that each contained a substance believed to be marijuana.
“It weighed out to about seven pound,” LaFargue said.
LaFargue said Interstate 10 is a major drug transportation route from Houston, which he described as a “source city” for illegal drugs.
Case’s Background
Jason Riddle had been employed as a corrections officer at the Greene County Detention Center for approximately three years prior to his arrest in Louisiana, Sheriff Steve Burns said earlier this week.
“As a result of these charges, his employment was immediately terminated,” the sheriff said. “We’re disappointed,” the sheriff said. “You can’t be involved in that kind of activity and work for us.”
Jefferson Davis Parish is located in southwest Louisiana. The county seat is the town of Jennings, off Interstate 10 between the city of Lafayette to the east and the city of Lake Charles to the west, not far from the Louisiana-Texas state line.
I lived in Greene County, bordering Cocke County, until three years ago. My ancestors settled that area in the 1780s.
Our homestead is at the foot of the Mountains, which is now part of the Cherokee National Forest. It’s an interesting area, lots of history, including the birthplace of Davy Crockett, which is in the same area as the homestead.
The folks there are “memorable,” to say the least.
I lived in Greene County, bordering Cocke County, until three years ago. My ancestors settled that area in the 1780s.
Our homestead is at the foot of the Mountains, which is now part of the Cherokee National Forest. It’s an interesting area, lots of history, including the birthplace of Davy Crockett, which is in the same area as the homestead.
The folks there are “memorable,” to say the least.
Whoops, sorry for the double post, the moonshine does it every time (hickup).
Thanks for posting those pics. You have have to actually see old Popcorn to get the feel for who he is (LOL).
Thanks for that ping. Popcorn Sutton is a colorful character and looks the part. He kind of reminds me of my Grandad whose family was from that area.
Maggie Valley is a great place to visit and play golf. Maybe I’ll look old Popcorn up on my next trip.
The Crappie are beginning to wake up. The spawn should be in full swing in another ten days or so. The 12 inch minimum size poses no problem for the Arkabutla, Sardis and Enid fishermen and fisher persons like girlangler. I’ll be taking the boat out of hibernation next weekend.
Cocke County may be the wildest county in Tennessee.
Johnson and Pickett and Polk and Grundy and Hancock counties too....TN has many wild counties settled over 200 years ago by mainly Orange Scots Irish folks who have been doing things their way a long long time and don’t cotton so much to outsiders.
Hillbilly is reckoned to be to be from William of Orange ..protestant Scots-Irish overlord English king ...hence the “billy” part and hill speaks for itself
I live in simply knobby Nashville but drive to Boone NC almost monthly......TN hillbilles are more numerous than NC variety and more “culiar”, but SW Virginia and deep SE KY may be the spiritual home though some think NE GA is too....West Virginia is the most total hillbilly state maybe.
I get on fine with them but they are very different from flatland Southerners.....much more clannish and tight lipped.
Peach is the best moonshine in my view btw.
I would not want a bunch of hillbillies on my ass.
Hells Bells! Pick up a copy of the first Foxfire Book and you can learn all about makin’ Moonshine yourself, LOL!
Poor guy. I make a lot of my own wines and cordials, and husband has turned out some mean beer over the years, but I’ve never “sold” it to anyone else. Given it away? Sure. “Sold” it? Nope. ;)
P.S. Freakin’ Revenuers!
Run, Popcorn! Run!
Just got my still cranked up and now ready for bed.
Yes, I know them crappie are ready. My Uncle (we have discussed him) the liberal, very nice OR contractor, called me the other day and invited me to accompany him to Weiss Lake for a crappiethon, a contest.
My sister and her hubby (I sent you pics of their catches and crappie sweeping technique) go to Weiss several times a year, and turns out the uncle does too. So, we are planning to all meet and have a showdown. Before and after sundown (grin).
I warned him the half of me without his roots/bloodline would kick his butt catching crappie, and he laughed, said “We’ll see.”
He’s my daddy’s brother, and I know better than to pass up a chance to spend some quality time on the water with him — he might not be around long, and my heart tells me not to waste time.
I’m really looking forward to it. He monitors water temps, knows when it is just right. Plus, he told me about one of his secret crappie techniques. Said he’d call and we’ll jump in the car on short notice and go.
I won’t tell you about the “super secret” special technique he told me, on this post. But, if you’ll remind me, I’ll send you a freepmail about it. It is amazing, down right brilliant, a way to pinpoint the fish when they are bunched up, a way other crappie anglers can’t detect and move onto your honey hole and fish it out.
LOL, you're right. There are good folk up there though. A lot of them are cordial and polite just to the point of murder - if ya cross 'em the wrong way . (chuckle)
"Up until three years ago I lived in Greene County, on the border with Madison County, N.C."
You were lucky to live in part of God's country.
"Madison County definitely has a reputation for moonshining and even a few longstanding feuds."
LOL. Yup, there are some die-hard, hard headed people up there. They don't forget very easily.
"I thought Maggie Valley had been pretty much overrun by folks from other states, but I’m sure there are still natives."
Sadly, as you well know; the outsiders, half-backs, and flat-landers - not to mention illegals are trying their damndest to overrun the place. But the old culture still remains - at least for now.
"No doubt Popcorn has roots up in that area too. But I think he lives in Cocke County, which is the equivilent of Madison County N.C. He probably sells his ‘shine over there too.'
Hmm..could be. (grin)
"Thing is, Popcorn has been open about it for years. One of his kinfolks from Cocke County showed me a video he made about making moonshine. It was hilarious to watch, especially his hillbilly accent."
LOL, I'd like to see that video.
"Did you see the photos of Popcorn posted below in this thread?"
I've seen his picture before. Also, I watched a CMT program - I believe it was last year - that documented the moonshine 'business'. Popcorn was prominently featured in the program. It was an interesting.
/jasper
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