• 54°
franklin county times

Kemper fraud trial delayed again

By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
Jan. 17, 2001
KEMPER COUNTY The trial of Millennium Homes employee John Bowen has been delayed a second time. The trial, originally set for November, had been rescheduled to begin today.
The new trial date is May 1.
Bowen was indicted by a Kemper County grand jury last July for false representation to defraud the government. His arrest came after a routine audit of county records by State Auditor Phil Bryant's office.
At the time of the indictment, county officials believed they had been wrongly charged by Millennium Homes employees for concrete work. The business is located on Highway 45 just south of Scooba.
Evidence presented to the grand jury included an invoice for a $20,000 advance payment to Millennium Homes for a $34,157 job.
Bowen's defense attorney, William Ready Jr., said he believes the situation resulted from confusion in county records.
Ready said he met with officials at Bryant's office once to go through information and find out what questions they had. He is now trying to get a second meeting scheduled so he can answer those questions. Since that first meeting, he said the state auditor's office has sent him "another batch of documents."
He said the case may not go to trial if he can resolve the matter through Bryant's office.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x