The Mississippi Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by former Lowndes County Supervisor Jim Terry, who was convicted of fraud in 2007.
The state Court of Appeals on Thursday upheld Terry”s conviction last year.
“It was a blow to all of us, always been hopeful appeals process would grant me some kind of relief,” Terry said this morning. He has been out of prison on a $10,000 bond, during the appeals process. “(I) never thought for one moment this would happen, never dreamed during trial this would happen … “If there”s any legal venue for me to pursue, I will; I”m a fighter. I”ll use every means of the law I can to prevail in this.”
Terry, the former District 4 supervisor, was sentenced to 13 months in prison after his conviction for misusing a county-issued gasoline card. Although Terry was banned from Lowndes County public office, he lost his seat to current Supervisor Jeff Smith shortly before his 2007 trial began.
Terry said he never knew he was breaking the law or “doing anything illegal.”
He also noted, despite media reports, he “was never caught on camera buying anyone gasoline. … it just wasn”t true.”
Despite the decision, Terry says he”s not giving up.
“I”m just going to bludgeon my way through this; I”m not going to give up,” he said.
Prosecutors say Terry was accused of fraudulently obtaining gasoline and using a county-owned vehicle for his personal activities, including trips to casinos, between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2005.
During the 2007 Circuit Court trial, a jury found Terry guilty of using his county vehicle and fuel card while spending at least 168 days in 2004 and 2005 in casinos in Philadelphia and Tunica.
Circuit Court prosecutors also charged Terry with using the county fuel card to illegally purchase gas for others after a gas station security camera captured Terry filling up a friend”s truck.
State law allows supervisors to use private vehicles in “emergencies” and to pay for the fuel, but the use must be authorized by the board of supervisors, even if after the fact. He did not obtain such approval.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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