Posted on 07/27/2004 5:18:02 PM PDT by Pikamax
Tape recording details threats made against editor by Bogart and Brown
07/27/04 By Rebekah Harris -- Staff Writer Respond to this story Email this story to a friend
Editor’s Note: This story contains language that is not suitable for young readers.
By Rebekah Harris Staff Writer
Unicoi County’s director of schools and a school board member last week threatened to physically assault the executive editor of The Erwin Record.
In an expletive-laced telephone conversation recorded Thursday, Director of Schools Denise Brown told Unicoi County Board of Education member Nancy Bogart she planned to “beat the s---” out of newspaper editor Mark A. Stevens if the paper continues to report on controversies that have enveloped the school system in recent weeks.
“I tell you what I’m gonna do,” Brown said to Bogart in the telephone conversation, which was recorded by an unknown individual. “And I’m serious. It’s gonna stop, or I’m gonna beat the s--- out of him myself. And I’m serious.”
Bogart replied, saying, “And I’ll go with you.” The recording was made by an unknown individual who left an audiotape of the conversation in The Erwin Record’s drop box Thursday night. While it is a felony to record the private phone conversations of others without their knowledge, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that media organizations can print or broadcast such information when it is in the public’s interest. The Erwin Record confirmed this with several legal authorities.
The Erwin Record has no knowledge of the identity of the individual who taped the conversation.
Confronted with a transcript of the recorded conversation Monday, Brown apologized for her “crude language” but said, “I stand by my ill-chosen words.”
Brown’s remarks were part of a prepared statement she read to reporters in the presence of Attorney David Shults, Board of Education Chairman Pascal Bailey and Personnel Director Tommy Clouse.
At one point in the taped conversation, Bogart responded to Brown’s repeated threats to attack Stevens by saying, “Well, you let me know when you’re going to so I can either come and watch or help you.”
Brown acknowledged the tape recording “does to a great extent reflect” her telephone conversation with Bogart.
During the seven-minute conversation, the director of schools repeatedly threatened Stevens. The content of her comments indicate she was at work in her county office during the conversation.
Brown and Bogart also discussed the legal ramifications of assaulting Stevens.
“You know, what can he do – arrest you?” Brown said. “Somebody’ll come and bail me out.”
“Why, certainly, certainly,” Bogart replied.
“It’s a misdemeanor. It’s not a felony,” Brown continued. “So I can’t lose my job over it.”
“No,” Bogart said, “you can’t.”
Stevens said he is dismayed by the threats made by Brown and Bogart.
“The actions of these two public servants are chilling,” Stevens said. “Using the threat of violence to try to quash the voice of a free press is not just an assault on me and my family. It is an assault on our community, on the parents and children who place their trust in our school system and on our very democracy.
“This is a sad day for all of us who call Unicoi County home.”
A more in-depth version of this story, as well as a sidebar story of the reactions from two First Amendment experts, appears in the July 27 issue of The Erwin Record. The Johnson City Press also covered this story in its July 27 print edition and online edition at www.johnsoncitypress.com.
Stupid women who talk tough=Stupid women who get their own keister's kicked.
And these vile women are overseeing schoolchildren...
(((shudder)))
One hell of a story; and entirely believable. The school union thugs in CA talk like this. And press "pretends" to never hear it.
I was just going to post "UNION THUGS", but I see you've taken care of it...
Let her RIP! I just barely "mentioned" the union thugs.. the stage is yours, dear Libertina! :)
Fine then ;)
I will just touch on how Union Thugs in Washington State brought a "targeted" elementary school to a halt for 40+ days! Even though the teachers were some of the better paid in the state. The district has a strike "schedule" and sticks to it. The kids are still in school this summer.
During the strike - the longest in our state and perhaps the nation - they got the kids out begging stuff on the streets for the teachers (por things). It was pathetic. The WEA demanded higher wages and got the community to throw out the brave school board chair who tried to stand up to them. Now that the teachers screwed up the school year for the kids, the school district announces that they are laying teachers off because of dropping enrollment. (Like they didn't have those figures in the first place)
They use union money to illegally participate in elections. Here in WA they have been getting fined every year, but they keep going because the fines are less than the $ raised and political influence received.
Union thugs and teachers are bussed into our capitol with expensive matching Tees and signs. And this is just on the state level.
And I haven't even mentioned the socialist, treasonous garbage which they pump into our childrens' heads. Kids are exposed to profanity, immoral behavior, horrible discipline, drugs, and bigotry. But hey, who's worried? /s
HOME SCHOOL HOME SCHOOL HOME SCHOOL (if possible)
Can we all agree that the word Bitch applies here?
In re Home School. YEP! The story you tell, is so infuriating, and sadly, so typical. When CA Union thugs began instituting more "days off" for teachers (on top of pay increases) -- plus all the other perks, and while lamenting how badly off our teachers are -- who have no accountability whatsoever.. Well, let's just say, I fought back.
The Dem Platform (a la teresa, last night) in pounding the podium for more "child care" -- makes me think of how ill the NEA has treated children. Like, we would vote to increase the improper treatment of children through expanding liberal practices? only those who aren't clued in yet, don't get it. Very sad.
This is too good.
I take it this occured in Tennessee?
"What intrigues me, what makes Nancy so sure she can bet up Mark?"
Maybe he looks like John Edwards or maybe he throws a softball like John Kerry. That would be reason enough.
I'll check out the article...Thanks Alia!
Published heading only please.
Would conspiracy to commit a crime constitute a felony?
The one gal makes a big deal that she can't lose her job because assault is 'only' a misdemeanor. Could both of these folks be prosecuted for conspiracy to commit assault even though the assault itself hadn't occurred yet?
you should be living here in erwin
both of these women need that to happen
I'm not sure I follow you.
Is there a local exemption from state conspiracy laws there?
Are the two co-conspirators politically well-connected?
Must be democrats. Gotta be. Has to be. No one else but.
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