Brian Kelsey, the former state senator of Shelby County in Tennessee, is now residing in a federal prison as his lawyers labour to overturn his conviction. At the same time, the Tennessee Senate is advancing a bill that aims to enhance penalties for those obstructing roads, despite raising questions about potential infringement on First Amendment rights. Moreover, the University of Memphis campus police has expanded its team by introducing a K-9 unit named after Egyptian royalty.
Mr. Kelsey, who is from the Republican party and was formerly the representative for Germantown, is currently held at FCI Ashland, a low-security prison located in Ashland, Kentucky as revealed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In the latter part of January, Kelsey made a series of desperate attempts to elude incarceration, which included the submission of several motions.
Among his petitions was a plea to remain out of jail while his motion to overturn the plea deal is deliberated in court. However, the appeals he launched prior to this have all run their course to no avail. Kelsey’s plea for release, which required the presentation of extraordinary circumstances for it to be granted, was ultimately judged as lacking by the presiding federal judge.
According to U.S. District Court Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee, Waverly Crenshaw Jr., the circumstances that could warrant release includes grave illness of the prisoner, minor crime committed with a short sentencing term, or extraordinary delays in processing a habeas petition. Given the given situations, none were applicable to Kelsey’s case.
Kelsey’s motion insinuated that there was an exceptional misconduct from the government in withholding recordings that could potentially exculpate him and argued that the court verdict, which stated he didn’t violate the law as stipulated in his plea agreement, justifies his release while his motion to vacate is still under review. However, Judge Crenshaw remained unconvinced that Kelsey’s situation represented an exceptional circumstance.
Crenshaw made it clear that Kelsey didn’t adequately justify his release from prison, stating that even if some of Kelsey’s arguments might typically be grounds for release, they were not compelling in this instance. Kelsey was handed a 21-month sentence in prison, even though the recommended sentencing guidelines suggested a term of 33 to 41 months. In the federal system, there is no provision for parole.
Judge Crenshaw pointed out that the alleged misconduct on the part of the prosecution could not be accepted as an exceptional circumstance considering Kelsey’s admission of guilt. ‘Despite whatever allegations Kelsey may have against the government’s handling of these recordings, it doesn’t change the fact of his guilty plea or the truth of his plea agreement,’ Crenshaw stressed.
In related political proceedings, the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced another bill, introduced by Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor of Shelby County, that would impose harsher penalties on individuals who are found guilty of obstructing roadways. Tied to protests concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict, the proposed bill saw its implications after a major bridge on Interstate 40 was shut down.
The bill, if passed, would elevate road obstruction to a Class E felony. Included in the bill’s amendments was the narrowing down of its focus to only target intersections and bridges, excluding passageways, doorways and hallways. “Does the proposed bill infringe on an individual’s right to protest?” was a question posed to Taylor by a fellow Senate member.
In Tennessee, felons unfortunately lose their voting rights unless these are reinstated. Taylor clarified though that his bill does not aim to criminalize protests but the obstruction of roads. On social media, he added that individuals who block traffic to perform stunts with their vehicles would also be punishable under the proposed law.
Switching focus to developments at the University of Memphis, the police services team is now bolstered by the addition of a K-9 unit. At sixteen months old, Belgian Shepherd Pharaoh, named by a poll, signifies a notable first for the university’s police force.
Pharaoh is a dual-purpose service dog, armed with training in advanced search and detection skills. The police chief at the University of Memphis affirmed that Pharaoh and the team had gone through over six weeks of rigorous training to prepare.
The K-9 unit is not just a new but a robust resource expected to fulfill a variety of roles within the university community. ‘The integral role of the K-9 unit is to enhance safety measures, stimulate community engagement, educate, and bolster a secure atmosphere for all students, faculty, and staff,’ the Chief commented.
The University of Memphis is hopeful that the introduction of Pharaoh will lead to a tangible dip in the prevalence of theft, assaults, and other forms of crime on the campus. This underscores the enduring belief in the impact and value of K-9 units within law enforcement circles.