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Parkman Requests Chief Remain Free

GULFPORT, Miss., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Parkman, an attorney with The Cochran Firm http://www.cochranfirm.com, recently hired to represent former Lumberton, Mississippi chief of police Maurice Hammond in his fight to overturn his Federal convictions for FEMA fraud, has asked United States District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to allow Hammond to remain free while Hammond's appeal is pending.

"We anticipate filing an appeal within the next couple of months. We have identified at least seven issues for which we will request relief from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. With the appeal process potentially taking up to a year and a half, we feel it would be appropriate for Mr. Hammond to be allowed to remain free to allow the appeals process run its' course," offered Parkman.

Hammond was convicted in The United States District Court in Gulfport, Mississippi earlier this year after being charged with improperly obtaining federal funds related to Hurricane Katrina. The prosecution accused Hammond of claiming residence in a home damaged by the hurricane. While the prosecution conceded Hammond owned the home, they claimed he had not yet established it as his residence when the damage occurred. Evidence was presented that Hammond was paid just under $20,000 in federal funds and allowed the use of a FEMA trailer.

Hammond's trial attorneys produced evidence that Hammond had purchased the home in question on July 29, 2005; established residence five days prior to the hurricane; and was conducting repairs on the home at the time of the damage.

In the request filed on September 21, 2009, Parkman addressed concerns not only with Hammond's actual conviction, but also with the severity of the sentence. "Our appeal will argue there were no witnesses offered by the prosecution to rebut Mr. Hammond's claims as to residency on the date in question. We have additional issues we will raise with the appellate court about the trial itself, as well as the harshness of the above guideline sentence," stated Parkman.

Hammond recently learned he will have to report to Federal prison during the first week of October if his request is denied. "It is within Judge Guirola's discretion to grant or deny our request. We would not ask if we did not think there are sufficient grounds, but we do have hope for relief on appeal and that is why we are requesting a stay on any punishment."

SOURCE The Cochran Firm - Birmingham Criminal Defense