Alleged internet pervert Gary Blankenship wants someone new in charge of his trial.
According to Newton County Circuit Court records, Blankenship's attorney, Dee Wampler of Springfield, filed a motion today for a change of judge. Kevin Selby is currently the judge in charge of the case.
More information about the case is featured in the item below.
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A pretrial hearing for former O'Sullivan Industries executive Gary Reed Blankenship on charges of possession of child pornography, promoting obscenity, and enticement of a child is scheduled for May 26. Blankenship was arrested after another of Diamond police officer Jim Murray's Internet stings. Blankenship allegedly thought he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl and not a middle-aged man. He arranged to meet her for sex and was arrested when he showed up in Diamond for the meeting, according to the police.Blankenship apparently is confident that most of the charges against him will be dismissed.
At least that is what he is telling former co-workers at O'Sullivan. I have received two reports this week that Blankenship is back behind a computer again, sending e-mails to O'Sullivan workers telling him that all but one charge against him is going to be dropped. Presumably, he is indicating that he will not serve one day behind bars.
If anyone could forward copies of the Blankenship correspondence to me, it would be much appreciated. As always, my sources will be protected.
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A former Freeman Neosho employee filed a $10 million plus lawsuit against the hospital Tuesday in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Charis Seaton, Joplin, claims she was wrongfully fired by Freeman and deserves $10 million in actual and punitive damages, plus an apology.
Ms. Seaton also says Freeman Neosho Chief Operating Officer Janice Walker violated criminal law by obtaining and disclosing patients' health information. The patients to whom Ms. Seaton is referring allegedly "were having sex with the Freeman Hospital physician who was under investigation for allegedly abusing drugs," according to the lawsuit.
The petition also says Ms. Walker used Ms. Seaton's private medical records for her own gain.
Ms. Seaton said she was fired after she brought Ms. Walker's activities to the attention of Alisha Asquith, human resources employee relations manager, and Deborah Chiodo, human resources director. She also told the hospital officials at that time that she had filed a complaint alleging a violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Initially, the lawsuit indicates, Ms. Seaton was told she would be transferred to Freeman West in Joplin, but then she was called into a meeting with CEO Phillip Willcoxon, Ms. Walker and Ms. Asquith, and was fired. "She was not given a reason," the lawsuit said. "(She) was escorted off the hospital grounds by hospital security. Alisha Asquith pushed against her as (Ms. Seaton) tried to open her desk drawer to remove her money from her desk, telling her to stop taking her possessions because all property was Freeman's except (Ms. Seaton's) purse. (She) was not even allowed to take her State of Missouri Notary seal, stamp, and log."
At that point, she was handed a termination letter, saying the firing was because of "irreparable loss of trust and confidence."
Ms. Seaton went before a Fair Treatment Hearing in September 2004 and was told by Joseph Yust, who is described in the lawsuit as third in command at Freeman Neosho and was told she might be rehired if she dismissed her HIPAA claim against the hospital and any other claims she had.
When Ms. Seaton refused, she was told her firing would stand, according to the lawsuit.