An Ozark man convicted by a federal jury on three felony cocaine dealing charges, filed a libel suit against the Springfield News-Leader today, indicating the newspaper had maligned his sterling character.
Judging by the content of Joseph L. Rainey's petition, filed in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the News-Leader was out to get him. "The Springfield News-Leader used its resources and public influence for the purpose of the defamatory libel and slander the same being published concerning plaintiff."
You might be able to tell that Rainey is representing himself in the action, using the same lawyer who helped him land convictions earlier this year on counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and intent to distribute cocaine.
Rainey claims the News-Leader article caused "unjustifiable prejudice, damages to his reputation amongst his family, friends and loved ones and most importantly damaging his relationship with and influence over his children."
Rainey says the News-Leader account features him committing crimes other than the ones for which he was convicted. The case had nothing to do with the large amounts of cocaine the News-Leader says he trafficked, Rainey pointed out. "In fact, the entire case consisted of 123 grams of cocaine base most of which was arbitrary and had no connection to the investigation itself."
Judging from the content of Rainey's petition, it would appear News-Leader reporter Thomas Bookstaver was using information from the public record in writing his article, which was published in June. Rainey is asking for "damages, fees, and costs."
Rainey, the same man whose reputation was allegedly besmirched in the News-Leader article, also pleaded guilty to five drug felonies in 2001 in Jackson County, according to court records, and was placed on probation.
3 comments:
I think this guy must have been smoking from the company stash.
Here's the original story (a staff brief from the 'Around the Ozarks' section):
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Three men convicted in crack conspiracy
A federal jury Wednesday convicted three Springfield men of conspiring to distribute crack cocaine.
Joseph L. Rainey, 38, Marvin D. Anthony, Sr., 42, and Adrian Davis, 27, took part in a conspiracy that lasted more than two years, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri said in a news release.
The men bought large amounts of powder and crack cocaine in Kansas City, then transported the drugs to Springfield for distribution, the release said.
Davis also was convicted of four counts of distributing crack. Rainey was convicted of two counts and Anthony for one count of the same charge.
Davis faces a sentence of 20 years to life in federal prison without parole. Rainey and Anthony face mandatory sentences of life in prison, the press release said.
Three other area residents pleaded guilty in May to taking part in the conspiracy:
• Kelley M. Sicard, 37
• Cleofius W. Hicks, 29
• Grenda Pierce, 50,
Each faces up to life in federal prison without parole.
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Also, Randy -- Bookstaver's no reporter. He's the N-L publisher.
Thanks for the information. I didn't recognize the name as being a reporter's, but to be honest with you, I certainly don't recognize it as belonging to a publisher either. Does he keep a pretty low profile or have I just been asleep at the switch?
when did this take place what year?
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