Find Your Valentine
Slog
News & ArtsSunday, November 29, 2009
News Seattle Times Has Details on Suspect: Long Criminal History, Released From Jail Six Days Ago, And... A Mike Huckabee Connection?
Posted by Dan Savage on Sun, Nov 29, 2009 at 8:25 PM
What the fuck?
Maurice Clemmons, the 37-year-old Tacoma man being sought for questioning in the killing this morning of four Lakewood police officers, has a long criminal record punctuated by violence, erratic behavior and concerns about his mental health.Nine years ago, then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee granted clemency to Clemmons, commuting his lengthy prison sentence over the protests of prosecutors.
"This is the day I've been dreading for a long time," Larry Jegley, prosecuting attorney for Arkansas' Pulaski County said tonight when informed that Clemmons was being sought for questioning in connection with the killings.
Clemmons—who recently punched a cop in the face—was in a Pierce County jail six days ago "pending charge of second-degree rape of a child." He also thinks he's Jesus Christ...
Clemmons was accused of gathering his wife and young relatives around at 3 or 4 in the morning and having them all undress. He told them that families need to "be naked for at least 5 minutes on Sunday," a Pierce County sheriff's report says."The whole time Clemmons kept saying things like trust him, the world is going to end soon, and that he was Jesus," the report says.
1
Unbelievable. WTF! Clearly this guy had a mental illness and never should have been on the streets.
3
If there is an upside to this twisted story it's that clemency wasn't granted by a democrat. Let's see how Fox News handles this inconvenient fact...
4
So what? Huckabee thought he was giving a poor troubled black youth a second chance (a very liberal sentiment by-the-way) and it turns out to be a very wrong decision. Happens all the time.
6
"... and by the way, I'm Jesus" was probably the clincher for Huckabee.
How will FOX handle it? Mike Huckabee, D-AR is their usual construction.
How will FOX handle it? Mike Huckabee, D-AR is their usual construction.
7
@4:
It's extremely relevant because it had looked like Huckabee would probably be in the race for President in 2012. This is really, really bad for him because an act like this (having granted clemency to a criminal who went on, assuming this proves out, to kill again) is exactly the kind of thing his primary opponents can hammer him on. Random general election voter won't care as much, but the Republican base can easily be whipped into a frenzy over this. I can't see him being competitive in the primaries after his opponents paint him as being liberal-like and weak on crime.
It's extremely relevant because it had looked like Huckabee would probably be in the race for President in 2012. This is really, really bad for him because an act like this (having granted clemency to a criminal who went on, assuming this proves out, to kill again) is exactly the kind of thing his primary opponents can hammer him on. Random general election voter won't care as much, but the Republican base can easily be whipped into a frenzy over this. I can't see him being competitive in the primaries after his opponents paint him as being liberal-like and weak on crime.
8
@4: Haha, what.
Read this story from 2007 about his commutations: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/…
It's becoming suspected that Huckabee commuted his sentence because the guy "found jesus".
Read this story from 2007 about his commutations: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/…
It's becoming suspected that Huckabee commuted his sentence because the guy "found jesus".
9
Remember, this would not be Huckabee's first parolee run amok. I remember reading during the '08 primaries about others. There was the rapist/murderer Wayne Dumond, for instance.
11
Dunno, though, I bet potential republican voters won't be swayed by this little incident because Obama is literally trying to destroy America and outlaw freedom and make everyone gay and so forth.
13
Thanks for the confirmation, Baconcat. That was exactly my thought as why an Rethug would dole out anything as Christian as clemency.
14
Was he even named a suspect yet? Or person of interest? Let's stick to the facts because those are two different things.
17
It's as likely that this guy is Jesus of Nazareth as it is that Jesus of Nazareth was the virgin born son of the creator of the universe.
18
It is reassuring that the suspect is a nutter. If a rational person were going around doing things like this we'd have a lot to worry about.
21
I would like to see some in-depth news coverage of how someone with this history got access legally to all these firearms.
22
He is a suspect and person of interest they are looking for. His other police run ins within the last week or so are being discussed along with the pardon he received in Arkansas.
I'm am hoping for suicide by self or Cop. I'll take it however we can get it.
Rest in peace Lakewood 4. Some gave all.............
I'm am hoping for suicide by self or Cop. I'll take it however we can get it.
Rest in peace Lakewood 4. Some gave all.............
24
I'm typically naked for five minutes every Sunday. If you add shower time to sex time, it comes out to about 4, maybe 5 minutes...
25
Clemency for Clemmons?
Nobody else thinks this is funny?
I keep trying to get my head around the idea that four more cops -- four more people who had sworn an oath to protect me and my family -- have been murdered so soon after the assassination of Officer Brenton and not quite managing it. Keep thinking in a pointless kind of way that I should do something but, of course, there's nothing really to do.
Nobody else thinks this is funny?
I keep trying to get my head around the idea that four more cops -- four more people who had sworn an oath to protect me and my family -- have been murdered so soon after the assassination of Officer Brenton and not quite managing it. Keep thinking in a pointless kind of way that I should do something but, of course, there's nothing really to do.
26
I hate to defend Huckabee, but if the Arkansas state police aparatus had done its job it would have kept him in when he violated the parole Huckabee argued for and racked up additional charges/warrants. My understanding is that the problem was that the state didn't serve him with the warrants when they had him in on parole violation and then delayed 3 years in trying to serve them on the outside. I don't know if Huckabee had anything to do with that failure to hold him after he showed he had wasted his second chance. I'm sympathetic with his reasons for the first parole recommendation and the system got Clemmons back pretty quick as it should if its working but failed to follow through.
But this is all pretty subtle. I'm not sure if Huckabee can weather it all that well, especially as it will get people very interested in the other guy he helped get out.
Of course, fox will say it's Obama's fault...
But this is all pretty subtle. I'm not sure if Huckabee can weather it all that well, especially as it will get people very interested in the other guy he helped get out.
Of course, fox will say it's Obama's fault...
27
I'm a cop and an anti-theist. I don't think Huckabee's clemency of Clemmons is relevant. Republicans and Dems have both let folks out who have gone on to commit more crimes. Both parties screw this pooch. I'll continue to dislike Huck because he's a Gomer and prays to his imaginary friends, not because he let this douche go free. Thanks to those who have made supportive comments. It means a lot to those who have to put the uniform on and hit the streets at times like these.
32
Well no wonder Huck let him go. He's Jesus. Huck and Jesus go way back. I don't think it's appropriate that he pardoned someone just because they were friends.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
SL Letter of the Day: Pill The Homos! by Dan Savage
-
Dear Huffington Post... by Dan Savage
-
The Rick Santorum Rally in Tacoma Probably Could Have Gone Better by Paul Constant
-
Because Guns Make Us More Safer by Goldy
-
Slog Bible Study: Deuteronomy 21:10-14 by Goldy
-
Because Guns Make Us Safer by Goldy
-
Gay Kids Are Still Killing Themselves by Dan Savage
-
Gregoire: "This is signed!" by Eli Sanders
-
Prospecting Science by Charles Mudede
-
Google Briefly Acknowledges the Existence of Gay Couples—and Princess/Frog Couples—on Valentine's Day by Dan Savage
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (33) RSS