Although he has appealed his federal conviction on charges of misprision of a felony to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, disgraced former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner has decided to go on and serve the 6-month prison sentence that was meted out by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer.
Baumgartner was convicted in November 2012 of multiple counts of misprision of a felony for lying to officials to cover up his mistress's drug dealing. His mistress Deena Castleman was a graduate of Baumgartner's Drug Court. In addition to supplying Baumgartner himself with pills, she was involved in a prescription painkiller network.
Baumgartner eventually resigned from the bench during a probe of his activities. In the state case, Baumgartner admitted to charges of official misconduct, received diversion, and was able to keep his $4900/month state pension.
The subsequent federal conviction resulted in loss of his state pension. Baumgartner is appealing the decision by the state retirement system (TCRS) to take his pension away. Click here.
The News-Sentinel has a report and links to other information here.
Previous blog posts are here.
Showing posts with label District Judge Ronnie Greer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label District Judge Ronnie Greer. Show all posts
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Friday, November 02, 2012
November 2, 2012 Baumgartner Jury Asks Questions, Continues Deliberations
The jury that will determine the fate of ex-Knox County Criminal Judge Richard Baumgartner emerged yesterday to ask questions of District Judge Ronnie Greer.
One felony count against Baumgartner was tossed by Judge Greer.
The jury is considering the remaining six felony counts in which Baumgartner is charged with lying to judges, a prosecutor, nurses, and others in order to cover up a drug-trafficking conspiracy involving his pill-supplying mistress Deena Castleman.
First, the jurors asked what they should do if some of the panel believe that the prosecution has proven all of the elements of the crimes and others do not. Greer informed the jury that their decision must be unanimous.
Later, the jury told Judge Greer that they had reached unanimous verdicts on some counts but not others. At that point, Greer gave the jury two instructions. Reconsider and try to reach unanimity, or issue a partial verdict on some counts and resume deliberations on others.
The panel resumed deliberations and then went home for the day. Jamie Satterfield has the News-Sentinel report here.
This morning the jury will continue deliberations. Click here.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
October 30, 2012 Closing Arguments and Now the Fate of Ex-Judge Baumgartner Is in the Jury's Hands (Updated 10/31/12)
One of seven misprision counts against ex-Judge Richard Baumgartner was tossed by District Judge Ronnie Greer as reported by the News-Sentinel here and here.
Closing arguments ended today, and Baumgartner's fate is now in the hands of the federal jury. The News-Sentinel report is here.
The prosecutor is trying to convince the jury that Baumgartner lied to a judge, a magistrate, a prosecutor, nurses, and others to cover up the actions/drug trafficking of his pill supplying mistress Deena Castleman.
The defense claims that the prosecution has not presented adequate proof and that Baumgartner has suffered enough with the very public exposure of his "personal" wrongs, his plea of guilty to official misconduct, and his resignation from the bench.
UPDATE: A brief summary of the testimony of each person to whom Baumgartner is alleged to have lied in order to cover up the drug trafficking actions of his pill-supplying mistress is reported by News-Sentinel court reporter Jamie Satterfield here.
Closing arguments ended today, and Baumgartner's fate is now in the hands of the federal jury. The News-Sentinel report is here.
The prosecutor is trying to convince the jury that Baumgartner lied to a judge, a magistrate, a prosecutor, nurses, and others to cover up the actions/drug trafficking of his pill supplying mistress Deena Castleman.
The defense claims that the prosecution has not presented adequate proof and that Baumgartner has suffered enough with the very public exposure of his "personal" wrongs, his plea of guilty to official misconduct, and his resignation from the bench.
UPDATE: A brief summary of the testimony of each person to whom Baumgartner is alleged to have lied in order to cover up the drug trafficking actions of his pill-supplying mistress is reported by News-Sentinel court reporter Jamie Satterfield here.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
October 20, 2012 Baumgartner Trial Moves Toward October 23 Start
As former Judge Richard Baumgartner's trial on seven felony counts looms on the horizon, the prosecution and the defense are arguing over what evidence comes in and what stays out.
The prosecution thinks that Baumgartner's fling with Drug Court graduate Deena Castleman is fair game since Baumgartner purchased pills from her and is accused of lying to various officials (misprision of a felony) in order to cover up the pair's drug trafficking conspiracy.
The defense is asking Federal Judge Ronnie Greer to exclude evidence of the romantic relationship between Baumgartner and Castleman.
The News-Sentinel article is here.
The prosecution thinks that Baumgartner's fling with Drug Court graduate Deena Castleman is fair game since Baumgartner purchased pills from her and is accused of lying to various officials (misprision of a felony) in order to cover up the pair's drug trafficking conspiracy.
The defense is asking Federal Judge Ronnie Greer to exclude evidence of the romantic relationship between Baumgartner and Castleman.
The News-Sentinel article is here.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
October 10, 2012 Baumgartner Case Moves Forward
Federal Judge Ronnie Greer has determined that a proposed jury questionnaire in the case against disgraced former Knox County Criminal Judge Richard Baumgartner is burdensome and intrusive.
Instead, Greer will question the jurors about their knowledge of the case and the effect, if any, of pretrial publicity.
Click here.
Another article with an excellent background and timeline of the federal case is here.
The trial is scheduled to begin on October 23 in the Knoxville division of U.S. District Court.
Instead, Greer will question the jurors about their knowledge of the case and the effect, if any, of pretrial publicity.
Click here.
Another article with an excellent background and timeline of the federal case is here.
The trial is scheduled to begin on October 23 in the Knoxville division of U.S. District Court.
Monday, October 08, 2012
October 8, 2012 Former Knox Criminal Judge Richard Baumgartner Wants To Be Tried Before Jurors from Knox Region
Facing federal charges and a trial scheduled on October 23, disgraced former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner wants his jury selected from the Knoxville region.
Federal District Judge Ronnie Greer of Greeneville has summoned 100 prospective jurors, a larger than normal jury pool, with the hope of being able to weed out those who have been prejudiced by media coverage of the Baumgartner saga and yet have enough remaining to seat a jury to hear the case.
Baumgartner's attorneys are also asking that potential jurors be required to answer a detailed questionnaire.
The News-Sentinel article is here.
Previous posts are here.
Federal District Judge Ronnie Greer of Greeneville has summoned 100 prospective jurors, a larger than normal jury pool, with the hope of being able to weed out those who have been prejudiced by media coverage of the Baumgartner saga and yet have enough remaining to seat a jury to hear the case.
Baumgartner's attorneys are also asking that potential jurors be required to answer a detailed questionnaire.
The News-Sentinel article is here.
Previous posts are here.
Friday, September 28, 2012
September 28, 2012 Federal Magistrate Refuses To Dismiss Case Against Former Knox Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner
The defense tried to get the charges against former Judge Richard Baumgartner dismissed. U.S. Federal Magistrate Clifford Shirley said "no." Click here, here, and here.
Following Shirley's ruling, Federal District Judge Ronnie Greer issued an Order shortening the time for any appeals of Shirley's ruling. Click here. Any remaining arguments will be heard on October 9, thus paving the way to start the trial on October 23 as scheduled.
[Greer of Greeneville was selected to hear the case after all the Knoxville federal district judges recused themselves]
Following Shirley's ruling, Federal District Judge Ronnie Greer issued an Order shortening the time for any appeals of Shirley's ruling. Click here. Any remaining arguments will be heard on October 9, thus paving the way to start the trial on October 23 as scheduled.
[Greer of Greeneville was selected to hear the case after all the Knoxville federal district judges recused themselves]
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