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By Jeff, on April 29th, 2010%
As if the material that originated on this site wasn’t bad enough for McBerry, see this article from Jim Galloway – a professional journalist, and one of the best (if not THE best) professional political journalists in the State.
I don’t normally do this, but that last sentence and this paragraph are all I’m going to write here. Read on:
Finally, in December 2002, a couple from church caught the pair together on a dirt road — McBerry and Rachel had arrived at the rendezvous in separate cars. Linda Pittman went to the Henry County school board. McBerry abandoned his teaching job.
On Jan. 17, 2003, the mother brought McBerry before Henry County Magistrate Wesley J. Shannon, on charges of interference with custody, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
McBerry had an attorney. The Pittmans didn’t. Examining his files this week, Shannon said the parents didn’t present enough evidence for an arrest warrant. But they raised enough suspicions, the judge said, that he signed an order requiring McBerry to stay away from their daughter for six months.
“If I was to take an educated guess as to what I was doing at the time,” the judge said, “I was putting the ball in his court — saying, ‘Do you want to go to jail? Leave the girl alone.’ ”
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By Jeff, on April 19th, 2010%
The Ray McBerry Campaign has finally publicly responded to Rachel Gandee, her mother Linda, and Ray’s ex-wife Sarah‘s allegations.
In a campaign email released moments ago, the campaign stated
Seeing that Ray is winning or scoring high in every straw poll taken in the governor’s race, our enemies are beside themselves! Personal attacks including lies about our candidate are being used to sidetrack how fast our Campaign is growing. But it isn’t working… Ray’s support is growing faster than any other candidate in the race for governor! Show your support for Ray by telling everyone that you know that Georgia has a true Christian statesman and constitutionalist running for Governor.
Still no word from Mr. McBerry himself on these allegations.
By Jeff, on April 19th, 2010%
From Jeff: This email was originally sent to the John Oxendine campaign on March 9, 2010 – the day before Ray sent out his campaign email which was the first time any allegation had been made public. Talking Points Memo released an excerpt of it on March 15, 2010.
Here it is in its entirety* for the first time: *Sarah has asked that her last name be removed from this posting, which I have done.
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By Jeff, on April 16th, 2010%
This is the original email that kicked everything off, from Ray McBerry’s ex wife, as quoted in TPM. (emphasis mine)
I have read what Ray has said about me, and how I left one day, out of the blue when our son was one year old, because I simply wished to no longer have the obligation of wife and mother. Let me first say, this is not true. I loved Ray McBerry with every bone in my body, and believed he felt the same way. I could have wished for no greater day than when I gave birth to his son. But not long after my son was born everything fell apart. A woman from our church came to me and expressed concern about Ray’s actions while in the presence of a young girl in our church. I had already seen this, and begged daily for him to reassure me that this was nothing. He told me I was being foolish and should not speak this way to him. Shortly after, the girls parents took Ray to court for disorderly conduct around a minor. At this time he was teaching at an alternative high school. Because his father was the Assistant DA, all charges were dropped. But, not before he was ordered to resign from his teaching position, and never to pursue the career again.
…
Ray promised that if I ever got my life back together that he would let me be a part of my sons life and this was a lie. Above anything else I am a Georgian, and I do not wish that a man such as this lead my state.
I’m in the process of getting that entire email, which I plan to post, but I want to point something out here: The ex-wife CLEARLY refers to a SINGLE victim – the one that we now know is Rachel Gandee.
HOWEVER, let’s look at the relevant portion of Ray’s email he sent out to his campaign in response to this “and other” charges (as published at Peach Pundit: (again, emphasis mine)
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By Jeff, on April 16th, 2010%
Standard disclaimer on this story: I am pursuing this story on my own initiative, outside of any organization I am affiliated with.
I just got a text from Ray McBerry’s victim authorizing me to do what I am about to do, and I’ve also spoken with her mother, who said she didn’t mind.
She was 16 in 2002, when some of her story happened, and turned 17 just before the restraining order was issued in 2003. She was a student at the time, though not at Patrick Henry High School, where Ray taught and had (per her story as published Weds) requested that she transfer.
She is …
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By Jeff, on April 16th, 2010%
Note from Jeff: This story is written by the mother of the victim in her own words and is published unedited except for spelling and grammar. Also included is a copy of the restraining order referenced, with only the letters “mily” from “family” left visible so as to protect the identity of the victim. Once again, I note that I am pursuing this story on my own, completely independent of any organization I am affiliated with. It is the policy of SWGAPolitics.com to not reveal the identities of victims of sexual assault, sexual harassement, or other such crimes without the express consent of the victim.
At the end of the story, prior to showing the restraining order, I will provide the relevant text of Matthew 18 referenced repeatedly in this, Ray McBerry’s Victim’s Mother’s Story:
Let me first say this about Ray McBerry, he is very charming and very polite and mannerly. Our family loved his family as brother and sisters in Christ. We even entertained them in our home. We trusted him with our daughter and her spiritual growth. He was involved in the previous church that we all had attended. He became the youth leader in the other church that we started attending in 2002.
Ray and his wife even took our daughter with them to a civil war ball out of state. Our daughter was a history buff as is Ray McBerry, that was what I think he used to start getting her ready to be taken advantage of. She was a beautiful young girl that looked up to him.
The first thing that made me wonder about RB was after his son was born and we were eating together at my home. His son was in a baby chair and we had potatoes or something that most moms would give their babies at his age. His wife asked RB if she could feed TR food from the table. I thought that was odd, most mothers are in charge of the care of the babies. In my mind, I thought He might be the controlling kind of man that I had seen in the past. You know you figure that is between them and their family, whatever works for them.
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By Jeff, on April 5th, 2010%
Per an email I just got, it appears that the Lee County Sign Ordinance that snagged two Governor candidates and the sitting Governor recently is actually in violation of State Law itself.
You see, per an email I got about 30 minutes ago, OCGA 16-7-58(a)(2) states (emphasis mine)
It shall be unlawful for any person to place posters, signs, or advertisements: On any private property unless the owner thereof or the occupier as authorized by such owner has given permission to place such posters, signs, or advertisements on such property; and, provided, further that no municipal, county, or consolidated government may restrict by regulation or other means the length of time a political campaign sign may be displayed or the number of signs which may be displayed on private property for which permission has been granted;
This means that three clauses in particular of the Lee County Sign Ordinance are in direct violation of this State law. The relevant portion of the Lee County Sign Ordinance in question is contained in Section 70-645, which states (bold emphasis mine):
(b) Signs not requiring a permit. Except as otherwise provided, the following on-site signs may be erected without securing a sign permit, subject however, to meeting all other applicable county codes and regulations.
…
(13) Political signs provided as follows:
a. The sign shall not be displayed earlier than 60 days prior to the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns.
b. The sign must be removed no later than seven days following the date of the primary election, general election or referendum it concerns. The owner of the property on which the sign is located will be responsible for removing the sign; provided, however, that a property owner shall have no responsibility where the sign has been placed on his property without his consent.
c. The sign shall not be lighted, either directly or indirectly.
d. The sign shall be located entirely on private property. It shall not be located, in whole or in part, on any public lands or public right-of-way and shall not be located on any trees, rocks or like objects.
e. The number of signs displayed shall be restricted to one sign per premise per candidate or issue.
f. Political signs shall not exceed four square feet in area in residential districts. In all other zoning districts, political signs shall not exceed nine square feet.
g. The planning director, code enforcement administrator, or other designated county employee shall, without notice, immediately remove or cause to be removed any and all political signs in violation of this section. The removal will be at the expense of the property owner.
I have requested that the entire Lee County Sign Ordinance be suspended in its entirety pending further review, in an email which I sent to Lee County Clerk Christi Dockery, Lee County Administrator Alan Ours, and each member of the Lee County Commission. Also in this email, I requested that this subject be added to the Agenda for next week’s meeting, and that I be allowed to present a modified Sign Ordinance to the Commissioners. That email is below the fold.
Now, how does this affect John Oxendine, Ray McBerry, and Sonny Perdue (as well as all other candidates)? As it stands right now, any signs they put up are STILL in violation of the Lee County Sign Ordinance until I can get it suspended. Meaning that they are STILL breaking the law, even though the law in question is violating State law. This is not a matter the individuals in question can simply choose to ignore, however, as there are right and just procedures in effect for correcting this issue – namely, going before the Commissioners to have them amend the Ordinance, and failing that, a legal case before court of competent jurisdiction.
No, Ray, you can’t throw the Commissioners in jail on felony charges.
I will continue to update on this developing story.
Here’s the email I sent:
Continue reading Lee County Sign Ordinance Violates State Law
By Jeff, on April 2nd, 2010%
by the Lee County Sign Ordinance.
Driving around town over the past few days, I’ve noticed three rather large signs for two Governor candidates that have already had personal run-ins with the law: John Oxendine and Ray McBerry. There is also a similar sized sign from current Governor Sonny Perdue’s 2006 campaign.
Ox’s is in downtown Leesburg, roughly 50′ off the railroad tracks and within 5′ or so of Walnut Ave at the redlight in front of the Lee County Courthouse. It was erected within the past 48 hours, as it was not there when I was in town Weds, but was there when I came through town last night. McBerry’s is on a dilapidated billboard maybe 30-50′ off Hwy 82 in southern Lee County, near the Oakland Plantation area, and has been there for at least a few weeks now. It is on top of a 2006 sign from Governor Perdue.
Here’s the problem: all four signs violate the law, the Lee County Sign Ordinance.
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By Jeff, on March 17th, 2010%
Jim Galloway has the report:
A complaint against McBerry was filed by the girl’s mother in December 2002. Connie Rutherford, a spokeswoman for the Henry County school system, said McBerry resigned his position at Patrick Henry High in Stockbridge less than a month later.
The student told investigators that she and the teacher had kissed, and that he fondled her breasts. McBerry told investigators she hugged him. In their separate interviews, McBerry and the female student agreed on one point: McBerry gave her a cell phone to keep in touch.
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By Jeff, on March 16th, 2010%
In other words, he flat out lied on at least one part of his denial.
In the “very weird” (to quote several political commentators) denial letter Ray sent out last Saturday, he states:
In recent weeks, I have been personally accused of, but not limited to, the following list of absurdities: … that I am no longer allowed to teach in the state of Georgia, despite the fact that I retain my teaching certificate to this very day…
None of the above are true, whatsoever.
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