KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |Early prison release stirs controversy
Many residents in Nashville, Ark may be asking whether justice was fully served in the 2008 murder case of a dollar store employee.
The victim's sister in law, Joann Hicks, who was accused of having some role in the brutal murder, was released late last month and KSLA News 12 wanted to search further for answers as to why.
Bryan Chesshir, who was the prosecuting attorney in that murder trial said "in this particular case, I don't remember seeing a notice telling me she was up for parole."
Talk about a surprise, the release of 77-year-old Joann Hicks from an Arkansas prison has caught Howard County officials puzzled. Hicks pleaded guilty in June of 2009 to conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the death of her sister-on-law Robin Camp. Camp was killed inside the Family Dollar store in Nashville, Arkansas on Memorial Day in 2008.
Joann Hicks was sentenced 10 years for her part in the murder, meaning she should still be in jail.
"I was surprised she was released this early, I was expecting her to spend more time before the parole board released her," said Chesshire.
Hicks' brother, David Camp is serving a life in prison for the crime while the trigger man Harry Surber is serving a 40 year sentence.
And while Prosecutor Chesshir doesn't know why Hicks was released early, he says she did provide key testimony to get other critical convictions.
"It was believed at that time and I still believe it today that we would not have convicted David Camp and he sure wouldn't have received a life sentence for having his wife murdered without the testimony of Miss Hicks against him."
KSLA News 12 was told Joann Hicks was released early because of a combination of things.
She was sentenced to 10 years for 1st degree murder and the law says she only has to serve half of that time.
According to the Department of Corrections, she served more than 2 years and that time was matched for good behavior. Then, she was also released on the Early Release Powers Act, which means a prisoner can be let go early because of prison overcrowding.
KSLA News 12 has been trying to get in touch with the family of the victim, Robin Camp, for reaction.
If you are one of Camp's family members or you know one of them, please call us at 318-222-1212 or send us a message on our KSLA News 12 Facebook page.
Copyright 2011 KSLA-TV. All rights reserved.
Nashville Attorney Bryan Howard - News
Bryan Chesshir, who was the prosecuting attorney in that murder trial said "in this particular case, I don't remember seeing a notice telling me she was up for parole." Talk about a surprise, the release of 77-year-old Joann Hicks from an Arkansas
Attorney Rob Dodson has joined Adams and Reese as special counsel at the Nashville office. Dodson was formerly a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings. Brian Neal has been hired as an associate at Stites & Harbison PLLC's Nashville office.
In 1845, Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, died in Nashville, Tenn. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for another term as president during the National Union (Republican) Party's convention in Baltimore.
President Terminates Enforcement of Defense of Marriage Act ...
I previously wrote about Edith Windsor , who was required to pay $350,000 of estate taxes because her deceased spouse was a woman rather than a man. This tax was caused by the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), which classifies same sex married couples as unmarried for purposes of federal taxation and various benefits.
President Obama has decided that certain portions of DOMA are unconstitutional and h as directed the Justice Department to stop defending the law in court , including the pending appeal in the Windsor case.
There are many people who agree with the President’s assessment of the constitutionality of DOMA. Nevertheless, it is not the President’s job to determine the constitutionality of laws that have been enacted. Laws may be changed by Congress or ruled to be unconstitutional by the judicial branch of the government. It would create chaos if the President is allowed to prohibit enforcement of laws that he does not like.
If DOMA is overturned by Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court, this will be a watershed event for same sex married couples. There are numerous tax and non-tax benefits provided to couples who are treated as married by the federal government.
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