Republicans and Democrats are calling on Del. Joseph D. Morrissey (D-Henrico) to resign from the Virginia House of Delegates after his conviction Friday on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Morrissey was given a 12-month jail sentence with six months suspended in a case stemming from his connection with a 17-year-old female receptionist.
The terms of his sentence allow Morrissey to continue to serve in the General Assembly while incarcerated. But Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and the leader of the House Democratic Caucus are urging him not to come back in light of his conviction on what a spokesman for the governor called “disturbing charges.”
Morrissey entered an Alford plea to one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Alford pleas allow the accused to maintain innocence but acknowledge that there is enough evidence for a conviction.
This is a no-brainer. Morrissey needs to go. He is unwise at best, a criminal at worst. Regardless of the conditions of his sentencing, he needs to resign.
Morrissey is 57 years old and is too old to be messing around with teenagers. The charges are disturbing. Morressy sounds like a perv.
I agree with the Governor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_D._Morrissey
And here’s the list: http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local/joe-morrissey-timeline/article_dfa339a8-00cd-11e4-843b-001a4bcf6878.html
He proves that ANYONE can get elected. He gives politicians a bad name……
And they’re talking about ten years for Bob McDonnell?
I don’t have any defense for the McDonnell’s Material Girl act, but I don’t think Jonny Williams got anything from the Governor that he couldn’t have gotten by simply, as a Virginia businessman, asking for. Something’s really out of kilter here.
Totally agree, Scout. I am not even a Bob McDonnell fan and I think something is really off kilter. 10 freaking years?!!!!! that’s horrible.
@Scout
Very true (except for the house maintenance). So, what did Johnnie Williams get out of it? Cooch and McDonnel both bought stock in the company, as well as VRS – who/what else bought Star stock?
I want the Star stock investigated as it relates to VRS.
While we’re on the subject, PH,do you or anyone else understand where all Williams’s money came from. He certainly was throwing it around as though he had some kind of Scrooge McDuck Money Warehouse somewhere. I assume you don’t get that kind of money from selling tobacco pills.
Read an article about the judge in the McDonnel case.
Seems he has an old bone to pick, that has to do with his wife’s appointment
way back. Today’s or yesterday’s Post I believe.
10 years sounds awfully harsh.
This story about the judge makes no sense, Punchak. A ten-year sentence does seem harsh, but that’s what the feds are urging. The judge hasn’t done anything about sentencing yet. If the judge had a grudge, he would have recused himself. If the defense team thought he had a grudge, they would have moved to recuse him. It may be that the defense leaked the old grudge story now in hopes that it would make the judge very cautious about accepting the prosecution’s recommendations.
10 years does seem very excessive but I thought it was from the guidelines. I think this is definitely overkill.
Joe won’t go…at least of his own accord, and that is fine with me. Yes…I honestly admit that I am being purely partisan on this issue. He’s a “dirty old man” of the highest order, and has been convicted as such. He’s also known for his standing on the House floor, AK-47 raised above his head, (presumably) empty magazine inserted, thumb on the trigger, while delivering an anti-Second Amendment rant…and this is why I hope he fights the calls to resign.
The governor has introduces a series of gun-control measures, that I oppose. I oppose them because 1) even the gun-control lobby admits the measures will have no impact on crime, and 2) they are solutions in search of problems, meant to look like they are actually addressing an issue.
So, the longer “pervy Joe” hangs around, making a spectacle of himself, the more the Pro-2A groups can hold him up as an example of who is trying to limit their RTKABA. He’s still going to do a minimum of 6 months in the clink….
No sure how you remove pervy Joe.
I don’t oppose what McAuliffe is trying to do with the one hand gun a month. I care about people outside of Virginia. It isn’t worth arguing over though. We will never convince each other.
@Moon-howler
Here’s how you can remove “Pervy Joe”: Note para 4:
§ 24.2-233. Removal of elected and certain appointed officers by courts.
Upon petition, a circuit court may remove from office any elected officer or officer who has been appointed to fill an elective office, residing within the jurisdiction of the court:
1. For neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties when that neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of the office;
2. Upon conviction of a misdemeanor pursuant to Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) or Article 1.1 (§ 18.2-265.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 and after all rights of appeal have terminated involving the:
a. Manufacture, sale, gift, distribution, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or marijuana;
b. Sale, possession with intent to sell, or placing an advertisement for the purpose of selling drug paraphernalia; or
c. Possession of any controlled substance or marijuana and such conviction under subdivision a, b, or c has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of such office;
3. Upon conviction, and after all rights of appeal have terminated, of a misdemeanor involving a “hate crime” as that term is defined in § 52-8.5 when the conviction has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of such office; or
4. Upon conviction, and after all rights of appeal have terminated, of sexual battery in violation of § 18.2-67.4, attempted sexual battery in violation of subsection C of § 18.2-67.5, peeping or spying into dwelling or enclosure in violation of § 18.2-130, consensual sexual intercourse with a child 15 years of age or older in violation of § 18.2-371, or indecent exposure of himself or procuring another to expose himself in violation of § 18.2-387, and such conviction has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of such office.
The petition must be signed by a number of registered voters who reside within the jurisdiction of the officer equal to ten percent of the total number of votes cast at the last election for the office that the officer holds.
Any person removed from office under the provisions of subdivision 2, 3, or 4 may not be subsequently subject to the provisions of this section for the same criminal offense.
(1975, cc. 515, 595, § 24.1-79.5; 1989, c. 470; 1993, c. 641; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2011, cc. 384, 410; 2014, cc. 566, 674, 719.)
http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/general-assembly/article_e7dc3a9d-85d6-5621-8f82-a2efa09e8e79.html
Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, D-Henrico, said Thursday that he will resign his seat in the House of Delegates but will run in the special election to fill the vacancy Jan. 13, the day before the start of the 2015 legislative session.
But Morrissey’s plans hit a major roadblock Thursday night when Henrico County Sheriff Michael Wade said he was revoking Morrissey’s work-release privileges. Under the conditions of Morrissey’s work-release program, he was supposed to get permission from jail officials to go places when he was outside jail.
Apparently, Morrissey thinks rules are for OTHER people.
As much of an arrogant scumbag as I think Morrissey is, I don’t think that the county sheriff can legally do that. Let the people of Henrico county decide for themselves what to do about him.
@Moon-howler
Morrissey broke the rules.
“…he was supposed to get permission from jail officials to go places when he was outside jail.”
“But Wade said he did not get approval Thursday to go to his office in Highland Springs, where he gave an interview to a TV news station after he announced his resignation.”
So…yep. the Sheriff is perfectly within his authority to cancel his work release.
That sounds to me like the jailer has a little too much power. The judge should be the one who sets the rules for work release and activities outside of the jail.
Too much room for abuse and too much chance for politics to rear their ugly head.
Let the people of Henrico decide if they want this toad representing them.
@Moon-howler
The judge did set the rules. The Sheriff is enforcing them.