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Phillips takes stand in own defense

Published Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Court proceedings resumed Wednesday morning in the trial of former Covington County Probate Judge Sherrie Phillips, who could face six felony ethics and theft charges in the estate of Castleberry resident Cary Douglas Piper if convicted.

Phillips took the stand at approximately 11 a.m. Wednesday to defend herself against claims that she used money from the estate to make various purchases in businesses around town, pay off personal loans and complete various home improvements.

Check Thursday's edition of the Star-News for a full update of Wednesday's courtroom proceedings.




Comments

Posted by patwilliam (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Can't see how she can defend against these allegations when she has in her actions, admitted to them all. Got me....I really didn't figure she would take the stand, but I guess maybe those fancy smancy lawyers thought it would look good for her defense! I wonder if they ever heard of "co-mingling" funds. Makes one wonder seriously...

Posted by andervic (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

co-mingling funds i beleive that. phillips appoints guardian ad litems and gets a cut for the outrageous fee of 200 dollars an hour to look at receipts like they were hanging chads. the whole probate system is corrupt. i quit my job at 50 years old to care for my brother when my dad passed. i provide 24/7 care the only break i get is when he visits my sister in ms , which i hate because i was ordered by phillips to send 200 dollars for a weekend and any time over a weekend an additional 200 dollars he has to pay for his own food when he visits i can pay some one to watch him if i have an engagement that he cannot attend but i can not pay myself, not even a dollar an hour. strange huh it is a broken system, but how do you get lawmakeers to look at it?

Posted by patwilliam (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sounds ridiculous to me Andervic.....you got the raw end of the stick....that's not even fair. Why dont' you bring this to the attention of Lee...Maybe he can review this case and set the correct dollar amount....why is your sister getting paid to help take care of her brother???? But you are a 24/7 brother and you get nothing but harrassement from the system.....something's not right about this picture. Get copies of everything you have and present it to Lee. Maybe he can help. I'm assuming your brother lives with you on a permanent basis and sis only helps out when she needs money?

Posted by harts0002 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I too have a uncle that Ms. Phillips has screwed over every opportunity that she has gotten. She is the one that is actually over his money, he has a mental handicap and was having to live in a trailer that was leaking every where and was a fire hazard and was begging her for some of his money so that he could get a better place to live and she refused to give it to him. His house did finally burn down and his family had to go in togeather to provide him with a place to live. She does not hardly give him any of HIS own money. His mother was having to buy his groceries because Sherrie would not give him the money to buy them for hisself. She kept telling him it was in an "account" drawing interest for him in the future. So all I have to have for Sherrie Phillips is I hope you enjoyed how you have abused the elder, their family members, and the mentally handicapped and I hope that they weight on your mind every day for the rest of your life. As far as her reputation goes, she ruined that for herself many years ago. What goes around comes around.

Posted by andervic (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

patwilliams and harts0002 i have experienced this first hand and there ar many more trust that have been depleted. again when a lawyer makes her living, being guardian ad litems instead of practicing law there is a problem with the system especially when you charge 5 grasnd for a one year audit.
ohe yes a visit to make money. the feeling i have had during phillips is i felt like i was a man divorcing a fat wife that only wanted money. that is the same attitude with the employees at the probate office whether it is getting tags or license or probating a will.

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