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 John Sullivan |
However, questions are being asked over how John Sullivan remained in a public service job following five previous arrests.
Sullivan was charged Wednesday with aggravated domestic assault and vandalism and was released under $30,000 bond following his arrest by Bedford County deputy Kevin Holton.
Sullivan attended a pre-termination meeting Thursday morning and was fired by city manager Ed Craig.
When asked how Sullivan could stay employed as a fireman after multiple convictions, city recorder Betty Lamb explained that "normally, it depends on what trouble it is."
"Normally, we suspend them without pay pending the outcome," she said.
Extensive record
Records obtained from the county's General Sessions Clerk's office show that Sullivan was arrested on March 5, 2005, and charged with first offense DUI and violation of implied consent.
He pleaded guilty and served 48 hours in jail, lost his driver's license for one year and paid a $350 fine.
Lamb said in reference to the first DUI, "He was suspended before ... he was actually a driver of the fire truck and when he lost his license, he was demoted, taken off as a driver and put on the back of the truck."
She added that she was not over personnel at that time.
"It just depends on the incident ... on how we would deal with it," Lamb said of employee arrests.
Sullivan was arrested on charges of driving on a revoked license and financial responsibility (no insurance) on Nov. 17, 2005, but those charges were eventually dismissed.
On Feb. 3, 2006, Sullivan was arrested for driving on a revoked license and pleaded guilty, serving 48 hours in jail plus a $50 fine.
Another arrest occurred a week later on Feb. 9, 2006, when Sullivan was charged with probation revocation. After a hearing, he was found guilty and spent 10 days in jail.
And on July 5, 2007, Sullivan was arrested and later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, which was reduced from an unspecified charge. Sullivan was ordered to attend and complete an anger management course as well as paying the cost.
Lamb said that Sullivan had kept his job until his latest arrest for aggravated domestic assault, which she termed as "too much."
Quick handling
Other questions have been asked concerning how quickly Sullivan's 2007 disorderly conduct charges was handled in General Sessions court.
Sullivan was arrested on July 5 of that year, but his first appearance in court occurred the very next day, according to court records.
His second appearance was one week later on July 13, a third setting took place July 26 and Sullivan entered a guilty plea on Aug. 2, less than one month after charges were filed.
Typically, people appearing on charges before General Sessions Judge Charles Rich have to wait several weeks before their first court appearance and it can take several months before a case is either plead out, dismissed or moved to Circuit Court.
However, assistant district attorney Richard Cawley said that the speed of Sullivan's case isn't entirely unusual.
"Sometimes it depends on what the officer's next court date is, sometimes they get arrested the night before and if he's on duty, they can set it for the next day," Cawley said.
He added that usually it takes a couple of weeks before someone makes their first court appearance on a charge.
Cawley also said that he remembered all of the other cases he handled concerning Sullivan, but had no recollection of the disorderly conduct charges from two years ago.
But Cawley added that in some cases, a victim may not want to pursue charges or refuses to cooperate with the D.A.'s office, "and that sometimes leads us to settle it out for something else."
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please
OK...I am not excusing anyone's bad behavior, but most of the arrests were subsequent to the DUI and were related to Mr. Sullivan's failure to accept the fact that his license had been revoked.
"Sullivan was ordered to attend and complete an anger management course as well as paying the cost."
Just wanted to reiterate this statement for those of you who said that he just had anger issues and deserved a second chance.
I was shocked he was always nice to me
Par, it's true that the bulk of those convictions are directly related to the DUI. However, those convictions/charges that are not related are violent in nature. Of course, we don't really know what the original charge was that was later pled down to Disorderly Conduct. I'm willing to wager that the Disorderly started out as some sort of assault...they usually do, but not always. Frankly, until this matter goes to court, no one will really know the facts.
Records obtained from the county's General Sessions Clerk's office show that Sullivan was arrested on March 5, 2005, and charged with first offense DUI and violation of implied consent.
He pleaded guilty and served 48 hours in jail, lost his driver's license for one year and paid a $350 fine.
On Feb. 3, 2006, Sullivan was arrested for driving on a revoked license and pleaded guilty, serving 48 hours in jail plus a $50 fine.
Another arrest occurred a week later on Feb. 9, 2006, when Sullivan was charged with probation revocation. After a hearing, he was found guilty and spent 10 days in jail.
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So, 14 days in jail in 1 years time and he what...took vacation pay or unpaid leave? How many people would still have a job if they were in jail for 10 days?
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Sullivan was arrested on charges of driving on a revoked license and financial responsibility (no insurance) on Nov. 17, 2005, but those charges were eventually dismissed.
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How do you dismiss "no insurance", much less a revoked license...oh right...this is Bedford county. Rules only apply to some people. Wow...
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i gotta give a shout out to neighborhood mom with a big "YOU GO GIRL". all the laws and rules in this county apply or dont apply based on who you are or who you know. whether its an issue like this, the school system or whatever
Two Driving on Revoked related to a DUI is classified as a Habitual Offender. Why has he not been charged as such?
The police were called some time ago when a female was being harrased by a person identified by her a John Sullivan. He was said to be running into the back of her car as they were traveling in excess of 60 mph. I don't know if any charges were filed but this person was being terrorized and in fear of her life. John has a lot of friends that have kept him out of trouble but they are going to be real embarrassed when he kills somebody and their name comes up in the "under the rug" sweep. He has had several second chances.
While John can be very nice and "a good ol' boy." I remember how much he drank in HIGH SCHOOL. I also remember that he and his brother BOTH had issues with anger management. Doesn't anyone remember one of them shooting the other?!?! John's repeat offenses and violent behavior just demonstrate that he is a danger to himself and others. He needs help, and has needed it for a long time. If people keep sweeping what he does under the rug, he will never get the help he needs. What kind of friends are those?
Oh 4 goodness sake! Have u ever heard of an accident, barbara manatee? I guess instead of a childhood accident, which happens EVERY day in this world, you think that was on purpose and they both r just evil? Sounds like U have a problem 2 me. Give him a break, it's none of our business, and the courts will decide what his punishment is. WHO IN THE WORLD MADE ALL OF U PEOPLE JUDGE, JURY OR GOD? And the driving on revoked? From what I've always heard about him, he is a hard working man, and do we know if he was going to work @ the shop, firehall, or to his farm? I didn't see any 2nd offense DUI in here, just driving on revoked, so more than likely it was work involved. U all need 2 just leave him and his family alone. I guess all of u judging him are just absolutely freakin perfect.
And about the drinking in high school, did we all not all experiment with things that we probably are ashamed of now? I know I did, but seems like I'm the only person that's being honest on here. Have a great weekend. =)
Lhj3, you don't know what you're talking about. It was no accident, from what I've heard. And, by the way, this is not a cell phone and you aren't 12 years old. The word YOU is not too much for you to handle is it?
Sounds to me like LIPS wants to be next in line for the domestic violence, so she needs to go ahead and apply. Then remember do not call 911 when he does it to you.
The dude had known issues and was protected by the Shelbyville powers-that-be. It's really that simple.
No, g-money, I'm in a relationship, thank YOU (that's for You JACK=)(and by the way, YOU can't even spell LIPS) for your concern. And this good ole girl is loggin of for now, so ya'll have a great weekend and enjoy your family and maybe give other people some peace, so they can enjoy theirs.
Thank you Jack Bauer...was about tired of the text-typing also. Good grief...I wouldn't go painting any kettles Lips...recheck your spelling! :)
So boomer455, what you're saying is she "deserved" it? She's not the issue and was not arrested for poor judgement...THE ISSUE is that HE BEAT HER UP!
"I'd wager to say that half the critics on here were one night stands that never got a call back and the other half is their husbands or boyfriends who found out.
-- Posted by Boss Hog on Fri, Oct 9, 2009, at 3:25 PM "
Best comment of the day.
Boomer455 Please tell me who you are so he can also be sent your way. This woman is a very Respected woman in this town so FYI GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHT!FYI she is divorced and has been for a while,as far as you know get the facts on the story,we all make mistkes every day. Are you perfect? Also are you saying its okay to do all the things that this bastard has done, over and Over Again..Oh you must be one of these boys or kin to them.
I wonder if Lips & Boss Hog are related? They both seem to be repeating themselves. Lips you claim to be a survivor of an abusive relationship, so how can you defend this man, just because he helped you thru your bad time. Have you ever thought that whatever you were telling him, he was telling your abusive other half? If you haven't maybe you should.
And as for all this crap about the laws and who you are or who you know. It's all over America, not just Shelbyville, Tennessee. You, Lips, are the one who needs to give it a rest. John is 35 years old. It's time he grew up and learns to take his punishment like the man you claim he is.
As for the woman who was beaten and ended up in the hospital, I don't know you hon, but while I am sitting in my so called judgement seat as LIPS & Moral Monkey are accusing us all of on here, I will be saying a prayer for you and your healing.
As for all the people like boss hog and evil monkey, there's a bridge on Cannon Blvd. Go jump off it, in the deep end.
Mama52,
Excuse me? His comment was funny. I guess you don't understand it as it was directed to a few comments above, not the entire situation.
It's funny, you talk of punishment and then victim's pain of going through a trying ordeal then you proceed to tell a few people to jump to their deaths.
You confuse me.
Most have described John Sullivan as a man. I will not even come close to making the same error. I'm going to call him what he is...a child with a temper. Even more disturbing is the fact that his actions have been covered up and swept under the rug by the powers that be for far too long and in doing so, they have enabled this overgrown brat in his behavior. With the proper name, money and connections in this town, there's practically no limit as to the amount of misery you can cause others.
"Equal justice under the law" is not just some worn out catch phrase. Those words are chiseled in stone above the entrance to our United States Supreme Court, yet it's a principle that is abused by people of priviledge every day. Just ask anyone in local law enforcement who arrests or cites one of these privileged few, only to result in being threatened with their job for doing so.
One can only hope that registered voters will one day be aroused from their lethargy and put some people with character and principles into positions of authority, instead of paying off a "good buddy" with their vote.
Whatever punishment John recieves, will not be enough to cover all of the emtional stress, pain, embarassment and discrace he has caused other people. Nothing short of a good beating would cure his problem, and he does have a "PROBLEM". And yes either he or his brother shot the other over a T-shirt in High School, that wasn't an accident. I also believe that the people responsible for reducing his prior charges or having them dismissed ought to be very ashamed of themselves for harboring this nucence to society. I don't believe John can be helped, he has had far more "Second chances" than the average person would have and look at where he is today. Looks to me that his second chances have made him very arrogant and something further has to be done to protect the public from this guy before he ends up taking someones life. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!
okay, people, get real! this town is he said she said bs! If you got a name then dont worry bout trouble, but if you dont then watch out cause all these dumb cops will get you. and for anyones information (which i dont think it's anyones) but the whole shootin ACCIDENT was when they were in ELEMENTARY school, dang. so it was a ACCIDENT! People just try to find stuff to talk about over a cup of coffee at the coffee shops in town. If everyone would mind their own buisiness and stop bein so dang nosey everything would be fine!
so dang nosey everything would be fine!
-- Posted by bob21 on Fri, Oct 9, 2009, at 11:38 PM
so you call it being nosey? You dont like to know whats going on in your town? I on the other hand like to know what kinda town my child grows up in
"A Shelbyville fireman is no longer on the job after being fired by city manager Ed Craig Thursday morning."
Let me get this straight... Ed Craig gave John the boot on Thursday morning... and Ed Craig got the boot Thursday night? If this isn't rich
dumb cops...lol!
dumb cops...lol!
-- Posted by driedleaves on Sat, Oct 10, 2009, at 6:43 AM
Your comment just oozes intelligence.
Nosey? Let me tell you something BOB! When you have multiple friend that have been assaulted or harassed by this guy and he still held a public job and walked the streets,... It just makes you very mad at the people that are suppose to look out for the law abiding public. All you need to do is ask around and you will get the full story on ole Sulivan and then you wouldn't be tring to take up for his childish rear!!! Wait til the story as to why he beat this women comes out, then you will really get the whole picture.....
Any man that hits a woman for any reason is still not a man in the southern sense of the word and the people that defend that are enablers plain and simple. There is no justification for this in our community.
Evil Monkey ... Jumping of that bridge won't kill you, I've done it
"I'd wager to say that half the critics on here were one night stands that never got a call back and the other half is their husbands or boyfriends who found out."
Spoken like a true Sullivan, point the finger at everyone else while you kick dust over your own problems. I'm thankful to say that I don't fall into either of those groups. Too smart to fall into the first one, wrong gender for the other.
If you think they didn't have anger problems as kids, why don't you try asking someone in their FAMILY? The shooting was the "big" incident, but there were plenty of others that didn't end up with one of them almost dead. They had anger issues. Those kids ran buck wild 24/7. Why? Who was brave enough to stand up to them and say no?
2nd offense driving on revoked... 48 hrs. and $50 fine??? Mine was 45 days $350 fine. and they kept my vehicle; and I had a license to and from work and insurance. But I ain't one of the good old boys.
Boss, you are too funny!
And the fact that you need to defend him by attacking his attackers instead of having some actual defense of his actions says it all.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE for what he has done this time or any other. He doesn't have any excuse, and you aren't even capable of making up one for him. He has mental issues and needs help. If he doesn't get it he will kill someone. Period.
You calling people fat or ugly or stupid or "rejects" is just your ignorant way to try to steer people away from the truth at hand. Sorry, that just doesn't work in the real world. Facts are facts.
I thought you crackers only did that to us darkies...
-- Posted by BGPJ on Sun, Oct 11, 2009, at 1:46 AM
Making such a childish and blatantly racist comment is solid evidence of your inability to make an intelligent point.
maybe if somebody huge would just kick the crap out this guy, maybe he'd realize how horrible it is... what he's doing to his women.
Whose women?
I thought they were all sharing with the cops?
-- Posted by Boss Hog on Sun, Oct 11, 2009, at 11:37 AM
I'm sure Boss Hog the cops were seeing and communicating with the same women...
After the Sullivans beat em up, the women call or come see the cops.
Boss Hog,
You sound like someone who may have somewhat of a schoolgirl crush on the Sullivan boys.
That may explain why I have never actually seen them with a woman unless they were cleaning her car.
So Mr. BGPJ....yes you are correct about one thing...This is the south and I think there tree out there calling your name!! How absolutely common is it for YOU....to call this woman or any woman a whore? Well then again I guess that birds of a feather do flock to effingather.
MR. BGPJ I am a little confused... on one blog you claim you do not know the victim, but now you are claiming that she is a whore. Sounds to me like you should get your story straight.
As for boomer455...I do know the suspect and the victim. She is a very respectable person in this town and has always been friends with these folks. The only thing that she has done wrong is befriend them and trust them and now see what has happened to her. Now she is going to have to live in fear for the rest of her life and will never be able to get over what trama he has put her thru along with her family.
Or only grinds with the hogs?
Boss Hog is a Sullivan? Well I guess that would explain all his demeaning and vulgar comments about any woman. As I remember Boss Hog was a character on Dukes Of Hazard. So I will guess that you are the same kind of fat mouthed good for nothing as he was. And by the way, if you cam swim you won't drown, I suggested you jump off the bridge to cool off. You sir, (and I use that term loosely) are a very biggotted person.
BGPJ....crackers? Really? Do you think maybe we could get the NAACP to file a civil suit against you for calling all southerners crackers? Because I am sure if we called you the N word you would file a law suit.
Barbara Manatee...you go girl. I agree with your opinion. Tattoos & Scars good choice of words. You and Barbara seem to have your heads screwed on staight.
For all of you who take up for John, all you are doing is giving him more power. No one on here is standing in judgement of John. We are simply stating our opinions. All people are trying to say is that it's time he grew up and pay for wht all he has done. There's an old saying, "if you do the crime, you gotta do the time." And I don't care what town you live in, big or small, there is always going to be back scratching going on. When a man or a woman, get mad enough at someone to hit them, they have two choices. (1) go aroung and hit them or (2)turn around and walk out.
If you just have to hit something, go outside and punch a tree. Maybe after your hands have been broke by doing that, you'll realize how much pain you are inflicking on the person you are hitting.
The time for this bickering to stop is now. Encouraging John and lifting him up is only going to hurt him worse. Isn't it sad that God loved us so much, that he sent his only son to die for our sins? I'm sure Jesus feels like he died for nothing. Thank you Johnny Cash, maybe you can help all of us self righteous people judge John and put him on that train. But let's send him to Huntsville, Texas. I hear it's a really bad place. I think all of us good guys need to like all the foul mouths on here hang themselves. They seem to be good at it, don't they?
I was under the impression that Tennessee was a right to work state and that cause was not needed to fire you. One could simply be fired for no reason what so ever.
At least that's what the TN Dept of Labor said anyway.
You people kill me. Yes John Sullivan done something very very wrong and yes he does need to be punished for it. He even says he does and he knows along with his family that he done wrong and needs help. And for the shooting no it was not over a shirt and no Jeff did not mean to shoot his brother. John does have a temper and he knows he has got to get help. I have known the Sullivan family for a VERY long time and Aaron has NEVER beat or hit Wanda. They raised their boys the best they could and taught them right from wrong. Aaron and Wanda have nothing to do with how their kids are once they get of age. Do you people not think that this is hard on them to see what their son has done to women around here? Before you go blasting everything way out of the water you need to also think about the parents that are involved and their feelings. I feel sorry for the girl and her family as well and hope that she will be able to get over what John done to her. Yes he has taken a part of her away, a part that will never heal and will always be there no matter what. I know this as I have been in the same boat as her w/ an ex and I feel for her as she does have a long road to hold now. I am not on here to take up for John at all I just want you people to understand that all you are seeing is what happened when John got to drinking. He does have major anger issues and needs help for that and drinking. I know he is not an alcohlic by no means b/c if so then he would have drank all weekend instead of being with his son. Keep both of the families in your prayers and let them know your thinking about them and you hope that they can heal and John can get help and change for the good. God is the only one that can JUDGE ANYONE! NO one is perfect by no means.
AMEN to that MominDooLittle! Let them all have some peace. I guess nobody else on here has ever done anything wrong. That was the point I was trying to make, none of us are perfect, and you are hurting more than John, so just let it be. Let EVERYONE have some peace. He helped me become the person I needed to be, and I, among others, hopefully will be there for him, while all you self-righteous idiots need to back off! There are 3 sides to every story, HIS, HERS, and the truth. I know it wasn't right what he did, but wonder what in the H--- happened to provoke him? He's not the monster everyone makes him out to be.