Free Republic

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) -- On leave from the violence he had survived in the war in Iraq, a young Marine was so wary of crime on the streets of his own home town that he carried only $8 to avoid becoming a robbery target. Despite his caution, Lance Cpl. Robert Crutchfield, 21, was shot point-blank in the neck during a robbery at a bus stop. Feeding and breathing tubes kept him alive 41/2 months, until he died of an infection on May 18. Two men have been charged in the attack, and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason said Friday the...

A sentencing hearing for longtime Democratic lawmaker Ward Crutchfield of Chattanooga has been reset to Jan. 17 while his attorneys gather more medical information that could affect his bribery sentence. Crutchfield, 78, who was to be sentenced here later this month, was among a dozen elected state or local officials or their aides indicted in the FBI’s Tennessee Waltz undercover investigation into public corruption. He was charged with taking a share of $12,000 in bribes in return for his legislative influence. Crutchfield pleaded guilty in July to one count involving a $3,000 cash payment from an undercover FBI agent in...

NASHVILLE - Attorney and former Sen. Ward Crutchfield, who pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge last month, won't be practicing anytime soon in Tennessee after being formally disbarred by the state Supreme Court. In the order issued Monday, Justice Janice M. Holder wrote that the 78-year-old Chattanooga Democrat "has consented to disbarment because he cannot successfully defend himself against the charges under investigation and has discontinued the practice of law." Under court rules, Crutchfield can apply for reinstatement in five years, but Jones wrote he would have to "prove by clear and convincing evidence" that he has the moral...

Seven, Including Four State Lawmakers Arrested in Bribery Scheme Memphis, TN - Federal authorities arrested four Tennessee state legislators, a former state legislator and two others Thursday (5/26) as part of a corruption probe into the business dealings of state Senator John Ford of Memphis. At a news conference in Memphis, authorities said those arrested are Ford; Senator Kathryn Bowers of Memphis; Senator Ward Crutchfield of Chattanooga; Representative Chris Newton of Cleveland; and Roscoe Dixon, a former senator who is now a top aide to Shelby County Mayor A. C .Wharton. Also charged were Charles Love and Barry Myers....

For Immediate Release – July 19, 2004 From the desk of Linda Shaw, RNC National Committeewoman: Miner Ignores RNC Requests to 'Cease and Desist;' Hijacks President’s Voice Richard Morgan also told to 'cease and desist' RALEIGH On Friday, July 16, 2004, Representative David Miner was contacted by the Republican National Committee Counsel’s Office regarding the unauthorized use of President Bush's voice in an automated phone call. Miner was told to "immediately cease and desist from any further use of the President's voice." Miner ignored the request and continues to use the President's voice in his automated calls to voters of...