Pardoned Mississippi murderer drops out of sight

[alp227]

The "Reward" sign being nailed above the convenience store counter takes on a little more meaning here in Desoto County, Mississippi. At the Old Road Store, it's personal.

In 1992, this is where Joseph Ozment, the man whose photo is on the reward poster, gunned down a store clerk. He was sent to prison for life, and no one imagined they'd hear from him again. In this small town, south of Memphis, Tennessee, his picture is back up and people are wondering how someone who committed such a brutal crime could be pardoned by their former Gov. Haley Barbour -- and law enforcement authorities can't seem to find Ozment.

"It's just an every minute, constant, in the back of your mind, where is he, what is he doing?" said Mary McAbee, the sister of Rick Montgomery, the store clerk shot to death by Ozment.

(...)

Mississippi authorities are looking for Ozment. He received one of more than 200 pardons issued by Barbour during his final days in office. Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is challenging the validity of the pardons. He said Ozment and three other murderers did not meet the constitutional requirements to be granted a pardon, and he wants to see the men put back in jail to finish their life sentences.

full: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/27/justice/mississippi-pardons-reward/index.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Would one expect the guy to do anything other than drop out of sight?

Quite the dilemma, as I really don't see how they are legally going to be able to re-incarcerate him, short of committing another crime. Meanwhile, I think someone ought to be auditing ole Haley's personal finances for any sudden "boosts" to his bottom line. The question, though, is why this guy, who would not seemingly be one to have any level of support, financial or otherwise. Still, I can't imagine there not being a profit somehow someway for ole Haley.

[ashling]

2. Weren't a lot of these pardons

to people, including murderers who had done work release at the mansion? What did they see or hear while there? what were they involved in there?

I was appointed to defend a guy in Scott county once on a charge of escape. He had been sentenced to 5 years for cattle theft, but there were no rooms at the inn (which in this case was hotel Parchman) so he was kept in the county jail. He was not any trouble while there and eventually became a trusty, washing county vehicles, small trips to the drugstore, etc. On one of his trips to the drugstore he decided he's just go home. Several days later someone noticed he was gone. They looked all over the county for him until somebody decided to go to his house. Lo and behold, there he was. They brought him back and charged him with escape and I got appointed as his attorney.
It was all fun and games for him. He actually made more money in prison than he did while at home.

[gopiscrap]

3. Haley Barbour is one of the slimiest and crooked

sob's around...they ought to put his ass in jail...as far as reincarcarating this guy...I would say that there would be one hell of a legal fight if they really tried....