18 NOV 08 (final edition): JUST LIKE MOM?

Just when you thought the Frank Lumpkin III case couldn't get more curious, we were tipped off to this....

Richard,

I appreciate your effort to follow up on that completely biased news coverage of baby's mama cryin about her poor innocent child drivin' around in a stolen Navigator. Let me help you! Turns out distraught mama can't return your phone calls because she was promptly taken into custody on outstanding warrants after her 15 year old's preliminary hearing. She currently sits in the Muscogee County Jail for her own part in a shoplifting ring. The kid was home schooled alright! AS IF Mister Dowdell isn't privy to this information. Dowdell is just as disgusting as the skank who wants to be paid for raising a thief! It is my understanding that he sought these "people" out. Anticipating his own payday perhaps? Maybe the newsleader can secure the exclusive jailhouse interview now!

Robbie

Not so fast here - "Distraught mama" Demetrius Matthews was NOT in the Muscogee County Jail Monday afternoon. We know, because we called and asked. So we did NOT have to take the extra step, of asking whether or not she currently was distraught.

But your blog did confirm Monday that Demetrius Matthews was arraigned 7 November on two shoplifting counts, along with one of "contributing to the delinquency of a minor." We don't know if that minor is her teenage son or someone else. Oh no -- are we going to have to check yet another passenger list?

(We stumbled upon the 7 November court docket during an online search, and found Demetria is her real first name - while the "Demetrius" name she used on TV is listed as an alias. That explains why the court clerk who checked her case kept calling her a "he." Or does a cross-dressing criminal explain that delinquency count?)

The arraignment of Demetria Matthews did follow that TV interview in late October. Sometimes people in grief can do themselves a big favor, by keeping their mouths shut....

But to be fair, that TV interview was followed the next day by another one - with the attorney for Frank Lumpkin III. If Lumpkin's mother or brothers want to talk about how nice HE was to go out with a gun to find his SUV, we'll be happy to hear it.

We must keep in mind that Demetria Matthews is innocent until proven guilty. But if she committed these crimes, this could be a Columbus first - proof of a somewhat organized "crime family."

These new charges only add to the theory one person told me Monday - that a grand jury never will indict Frank Lumpkin III. How quickly we forget. Only a few weeks ago, Sheriff Ralph Johnson said he was sure a grand jury would indict David Glisson - and he was probably sure he'd win re-election, too.

As for the actions of attorney Derrell Dowdell: how many attorneys over the years have NOT "sought people out?" Look at the commercials which dominate court shows such as "Judge Joe Brown" - shows where people ironically are encouraged to dump their attorneys, and have their cases settled on TV.

I'm hearing Derrell Dowdell is changing his tone a bit about the Frank Lumpkin III case. Now he supposedly wants to meet with incoming District Attorney Julia Slater about handling the case carefully. That would be different from Slater stepping aside for an out-of-town prosecutor [11 Nov]. You don't think a different haircut changed his strategy....?!

In another case which this blog broke in February, former Pioneer Little League Board member Ron Harris was arraigned last Friday on charges of sexual exploitation of a child. The Superior Court Clerk's office tells me Harris now faces six counts -- up from one last winter [28 Feb]. And as baseball fans know, six times up increases the chances of Harris striking out.

Our poker blog is getting visits from around the world. Check what's happening at "On the Flop!"

BLOG UPDATE: Confusion reigned for awhile Monday about the upcoming Georgia runoff. A well-known Columbus activist sent e-mails around town, claiming early voting would begin today at the Government Center. The Muscogee County Elections Board said no -- voting begins Friday. And when the Libertarian Party finds out about this, members will laugh every day in between.

The confusion stemmed from conflicting online information. The Georgia Secretary of State's web site claims Muscogee County has four days of early voting this week. But the Election Board web site shows there's only one day. At least the Republican Secretary of State didn't try to tell Democrats they had to wait until January.

As for the big runoff race, a new commercial shows a clip of Senator Saxby Chambliss talking in July. It suggested he does NOT know what a "recession" means. Did Mr. Chambliss help coach Sarah Palin before her TV interviews?

The Georgia Senate runoff is getting so serious that former President Clinton will come to the state Wednesday, campaigning for Democrat Jim Martin. If John McCain can have a post-election meeting with Barack Obama, maybe Bob Barr can show up at this event - and finally congratulate Mr. Clinton on escaping that impeachment trial.

Now let's step down from the political platform, and send some Instant Messages....

+ To Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama: Somebody has to ask it. Would you be against that big automotive bailout bill, if some money was included for Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai? You know, the companies with factories in your state?

+ To Roy Bourgeois: Now this is ridiculous! All the SOA Watch protests were OK - yet the Roman Catholic Church may defrock you for endorsing the ordination of a female priest?! Maybe that ordination in Kentucky needed some giant puppets.

+ To the people of Hurtsboro: Our check of Columbus court records meant all of you got a break from my phone calls Monday. Well, that along with the fact that Katie Couric is looking mighty fine in HDTV....

+ To the Columbus Civic Center staff: So that's all you're doing -- replacing lights in the scoreboard with LCD's?! I was hoping for a new Jumbotron. Well, in Columbus I'd be happy with simply a "Tron."

+ To the Georgia men's basketball team: Ouch -- losing 74-53 to Chicago Loyola?! A college which hadn't beaten a Southeastern Conference opponent since 1964?! Considering Alabama lost to Mercer one night before, the webcasts of Kansas games sound more appealing to me than ever.

Today's main item was the result of a blog reader's tip. To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

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UPDATE 1....