News-Record.com

I hope Arnold can fix his problems and work his way out of trouble. He's not someone I could imagine going to jail for any reason.* Doug

It appears that Mr Arnold has been living on OPM [ Other People's Money]for sometime. In order for Mr Arnold to clear up the mess.

1. He should declare Chapter 11 Bankrupty Corporate and Personally as fast as possible.

2. Resign his commissioner postion on the spot and get out of politics as fast as he can.

3. Pray that the Judge that issue the contempt of court order will be part of the Bankrupty process.

If Doctor Mary Johnson had this Judge in her past legal battles, the local county jail would be filled with local political establishment types for a very long time.

Now Connie, you KNOW that NOTHING that happened to me (courtesy of the big dawgs running a "non-profit" in Randolph County . . . an area Doug's newspaper supposedly covers) is RELEVANT to anything going on anywhere.

Doug, you demonstrate here the biggest problem we have in local journalism today: "Mr. Arnold is a big important, likeable stand-up guy. Let's not rush to judgment." Translation: Do NO digging. Look the other way. Don't ask any questions until the judge slaps him in the face with a contempt order.

P.S. My regrards to Randolph County Sheriff Reid. (Police Chief) Mason and former Sheriff Hurley were of absolutely NO help to me.

So far "due diligence" with regards to white-collar crime in Randolph County means ignoring my existence. After all, going after the well-respecteds in suits is not nearly as flashy as grandstanding with drug-dealing and gang-banging as a back-drop. Can't chase Bob Morrison with one of those big shiny motorcycles.

Dr. J,

It's not accurate to say that the N&R "looked the other way" regarding Arnold's business troubles. The first link in the first sentence of Doug's post is a link to a N&R article from March that reports on lawsuits against Arnold.

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Thanks, Roch. We're back in business.

Doug,

I guess you think that the judge should not rush to judgement either. Your one way beliefs (those you like are innocent until proven guilty, those you dislike are guilty until proven innocent) continues to amaze. Mr. Arnold has had financial problems for years, and in his eyes (and yours too, obviously) he's being vilified by bad people, but the judge amazingly enough seems to believe that he's at fault. Perhaps it's time for you to do something out of character and show some objectivity.

Huh? Please go back and actually read what I wrote, specifically about Judge Craig. Thanks.

Business problems? Boy how rare, huh?

I think it's shameless for the N&R to plaster this story on the front page when it is basically a discovery issue in a 5,000 dollar civil suit, as if Mr. Arnold is Pretty Boy Floyd on a homicidcal bank robbery spree. Grossly inappropriate. Maybe a small blurb in the Local section, but come on.

You are shameless sensation mongers.

My only request is that I never see any future features or editorials in your paper lamenting the fact that nobody wants to run for public office anymore

Hey Doug, where did everything on the HPU God and Country strand go? Can't read any of the comments.

His civil suit certainly was not front-page news until the judge ordered Arnold's arrest. When a commissioner is facing arrest and possible jail time, that's a big news story. Same goes when he says he's thinking about resigning.

As for discouraging others from running, yes, if they have business troubles of this magnitude, they should not run for a public office.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that people with ordinary jobs can't take time from work to hold public office. Just about all the commissioners run their own businesses or are retired. But even running your own business doesn't guarantee you can take the time away from it that's needed to be a commissioner. Arnold might have devoted time to public service that he should have spent at work.

Thanks, Savage. I re-posted them and hope they're all restored now. We've had some blog bugs.

His civil suit certainly was not front-page news until the judge ordered Arnold's arrest. When a commissioner is facing arrest and possible jail time, that's a big news story. Same goes when he says he's thinking about resigning.* Doug

True! But what if Mr Arnold was using the political office for personal gain. It appears that some of the so-called victims in this legal mess assume that the man was well political connected.

County commissioners have always been at the center of corruption for certain corporate special interests. The former and ex-present county commissioners in Las Vegas, NV just this year got caught with this thinking. All 7 of them are now in federal prison for shady land deals and other special favors to various corporate interests.

Doug, actually, as you probably already know and did not acknowledge, all is not "restored". My response to Roch did not post. So I put it on my own blog.

http://drjshousecalls.blogspot.com/2007/09/response-to-roch-that-will-not-publish.html

And this comment (by mikeg), with regards to the N&R's coverage of poor-put-upon Arnold is spot-on: "Your one way beliefs (those you like are innocent until proven guilty, those you dislike are guilty until proven innocent) continues to amaze."

A doctor down in Asheboro says, AMEN!

Yes, the blogs did not accept any comments for about 24 hours. I was able to restore some posted prior to the crash.

Just curious: The judge has stayed the arrest order for Arnold and given him until Oct. 1 (I think) to respond, yet Arnold has said that he is "thinking about" filing for bankruptcy. If he files before this new deadline does that waive his obligation to repay this debt, as it would under normal bankruptcy? Or does the judge's order trump any other legal maneuver until after the Oct. hearing?

Thanks for the question. I just spoke with an attorney who practices bankruptcy law. She isn't involved in the Arnold case but has been following the news like everyone else.

If Arnold files for bankruptcy before Oct. 1, that would in effect vacate Judge Craig's order in regard to Arnold's requirement to pay money owed but would not necessarily relieve Arnold of his obligation, per the judge's order, to furnish documents. All matters having to do with debts would be removed to bankruptcy court. In addition, Arnold's lawyer could seek to transfer the entire lawsuit to bankruptcy court, which would basically take everything out of Judge Craig's court if the motion were approved. "That's what I'd do," this attorney said.

What Arnold does, we'll have to wait and see.

Thanks for the question. I just spoke with an attorney who practices bankruptcy law. She isn't involved in the Arnold case but has been following the news like everyone else.* Doug

Excellent legal answer! It appears that Mr Arnold read the suggestion here on what to do, besides leaving the country as last result to his unusual business practices. I would suggest to Mr Arnold not to lie to the Bankrupty Trustee, which will be assign to his case and not to expect to one dime from his estate in the next hundred years. If the Trustee finds any fraud by Mr Arnold in his past and present business dealing. Mr Arnold will have much bigger problems with the Feds and should hope that he will not be a roomate of Jim Black, Mike Decker, and host of other corrupt North Carolina political fiqures from the past year.