By BOB GIBBINS
Press Staff Writer
June 12, 2009 12:53 pm
—
STILWELL – A man with pending felony and misdemeanor cases in Adair County said Thursday he intends to circulate a grand jury petition there.
Josiah Stone, 48, provided a written statement to the Daily Press Thursday, stating he informed District Attorney Jerry Moore Wednesday of his intent to see a grand jury convened in Adair County.
Stone said representatives of the Adair County Election Board have told him he needs 700 signatures on the petition. He said he believes he can have the required signatures “within days.”
“Once the grand jury is convened, all Adair County residents who feel they have been treated unfairly can present their case before the grand jury,” Stone said. “This decision was encouraged by Judge [Mike] Norman on June 3, 2009.”
Stone said he went before the judge to question why the District Attorney’s Office had dropped a set of assault and battery charges. The statement concerns Muskogee DA Larry Moore’s decision not to prosecute an assault and battery case filed against Bruce Millar, wherein Stone was the alleged victim.
The charge was dismissed because prosecutors in Larry Moore’s office didn’t believe they had probable cause to proceed. His office was appointed to the case after Jerry Moore’s office disqualified itself.
Norman denied a motion by Stone to set aside the dismissal of the charge, and on June 3, Stone announced he would pursue a grand jury.
Stone said he intends to ask why judges and lawyers are paid so much and police officers are paid so little.
Stone is on a June 23 jury trial sounding docket on charges of transmitting a threatening letter, threatening violent acts, and threats or harassment by telephone. He is on the same docket for a misdemeanor count of false claims for victim compensation.
Stone has also declared his intention to run for the district judge post currently held by Jeff Payton.
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