Hardy's Case Postponed Again
Jeff Hardy prepares to enter the ring. (Wikimedia Commons photo)
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Champion pro wrestler Jeff Hardy’s court case has been postponed again.
According to his lawyer, Hardy was expected to take a plea bargain today in Superior Court to charges stemming from his 2009 arrest on drug charges.
But at calendar call, Assistant District Attorney Warren McSweeney told Senior Resident Judge James M. Webb they would need more time.
"Subject to Your Honor’s approval,” McSweeney said, “we have agreed to set that over to February the 16th in the morning."
Moore County deputy sheriffs arrested the world champion wrestler in Sept. 2009 after a search of his home in Cameron discovered quantities of illegal drugs including prescription Vicodin and Soma, a quantity of anabolic steroids, along with a small amount of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
At the time, Hardy was charged with felony trafficking in opium, two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule III controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substance, felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. A Moore County Grand Jury later indicted Hardy.
The cases against Hardy have been continued a number of times, including twice this year. Hardy has remained free on bail pending his day in court.
Pinehurst attorney James Van Camp had advised the court in November that his client would agree to a non-jury resolution of the charges “in January.”
Apparently, Van Camp thought the two sides were closer to agreement when he previously advised the court he expected a resolution this month.
Courtroom observers don’t expect Hardy will plead guilty straight up to all charges, but rather will agree to some lesser plea arrangement.
Hardy, 32, and his brother, Matt, wrestling as the Hardy Boyz, were six-time World Wrestling Entertainment World Tag Team Champions. Individually, Jeff Hardy held the WWE World Champion belt at one time and the World Heavyweight Championship twice.
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Comments
RmeMP 2 years, 4 months ago
anyone feel a fine and probation coming? maybe rehab? ehhhh what the heck, it was only HUNDREDS of narcotic pills, cocaine res, ILLEGAL steroids {sarcasm}...
but lets to see if the courts in this county countinue to think that prescription pills arent really a big deal {which they are}...
RmeMP 2 years, 4 months ago
Is Van Camp judge shopping maybe? I'm curious to know who the judge will be on the new date, "Feb 16th in the morning" - which he specifically requested? hmmmm....
i'm not saying - i'm just saying
CNMT 2 years, 4 months ago
Van Camp didn't request the delay, the Assistant DA did.
None 2 years, 4 months ago
I didn't know that Jim Van Camp was in any physical condition to even drive to court...much less defend anyone.
None 2 years, 4 months ago
You obviously don't know what you are talking about. Mr. Van Camp defends hundreds of clients a year in addition to his civil practice...and is still going strong. Comments like this are what get ridiculous rumors started in this town.
None 2 years, 4 months ago
Exactly, momof2. For the record. I ran into Jim this week at the courthouse, and he's in fine health.
None 2 years, 4 months ago
Obviously ~ a foto that appeared in a local magizine showing Jim and Ashely together, Jim looked frail and aged. The article alluded to his deminishing physical condition. Like H.F. Chub" Sewell used to say, all I know is what I read in the papers....
None 2 years, 4 months ago
But then again, one can't always get factual information from media regardless of who writes it.
Amazed 2 years, 4 months ago
@Toda, what's wrong with Jim?
teufelhunden 2 years, 4 months ago
I don't understand the appeal of this sort of wrestling-just my opinion.
clodfelter37 2 years, 4 months ago
If I was guilty I would want Jim Van Camp as my attorney. The Hardy boys will probably get an appology for having been brought into court.
RmeMP 2 years, 4 months ago
i love how if there is a story on sarah palin (who supposedly is crazy) there are 150 comments - but when yet ANOTHER case having to do with the EPIDEMIC of prescription pill drug buse is going before the court no one cares.
no one cares that once again money and fame will win in the court of law...
why has this case taken a year and a half only to be "someday" plead out?
why is there a plea deal even being offered when the case involves 5 felonies and 1 misd.?
why is the case plead out when there are such COPIOUS ammounts of narcotics involed with the defendant - who has a known prior drug habit?
MONEY MONEY MONEY
im laughing, while shaking my head, at this judicial system.....
so if i ever get caught with ENORMOUS amounts of drugs (which i wouldn't because i dont commit felonies), then i could cite this case and demand whatever fine and probation the "moore county marvel hero" ends up getting (eventually...) - right?
None 2 years, 4 months ago
Van Camp should go to Haiti and "defend" "Little Doc" Duvalier! Better yet,the loon in North Korea or Iran.Our "justice" system.The blindfold on the lady has been ripped off long time ago.
None 2 years, 4 months ago
Going to court is a matter of who receives the largest check. Remember the pedophile case from several years ago....Point made.
None 2 years, 4 months ago
??????
None 2 years, 4 months ago
i believe toda is referring to the McDonald Brother's case... (possibly)
Willmcswain 2 years, 4 months ago
Well since none of you seem to know what you are talking about yet continue to comment on things like you know everything let me help you out! The way our system works is they dont want to lock everyone up that gets into trouble especially someone that has no record. In this case he had no record and I am sure it is safe to say that Jeff wasnt selling drugs but had these things for personal use. Now I am not saying i condone it but he probably needs a little help rather than to be thrown in jail I mean really are our streets really gonna be that much safer with him in jail? No they are not! The man made a mistake as we all have give him a chance to right his wrongs and dont bash our legal system and Jeff himself because it isnt right and you all should know that.
tlcd76 2 years, 4 months ago
Just wondering if any of you have personally talked to Jeff about these charges and the circumstances involving how he was charged?? Seems to me there is a lot of talk going on about a "big name" getting off when the article says plainly he is going to take a plea. Pleas are offered daily in our judicial system and if many of you knew the entire story maybe you wouldn't be so quick to judge.
RmeMP 2 years, 4 months ago
@willmcswain and tlcd76-
look, i dont know jeff personally so no i havent talked to him about his case; that said, this is less about him and more about a problem with our judicial system:
prescription pill abuse is a HUGE problem in this county, plea deals are made in almost 90% of all convictions (aacording to the encyclopedia of law) - yet people wonder why recidividm rates are so high in this country and why the judicial system is not deterring anyone...
is jeff a good guy? i dont know, maybe
does jeff need help? i dont know, maybe - but what i DO know is i love how his "friends" who say he needs help, dont mention that he needs help, until hes arrested and charged with 5 felonies
again, i am not trying to personally condemn jeff - my outrage is directed at the fact that the judicial system needs to quit automatically pleaing out over 80% of all cases and deal with this counties pill problem
dustyrhoades 2 years, 4 months ago
If you say "no pleas" then what you're saying is "every case is for trial." Otherwise, what's your incentive to take a plea?
You want to try every case? Pay for a judicial system that can handle the load. Or reduce the case load by decriminalizing some things. Until then, you're going to have to plead some cases out so the system doesn't choke down.
tlcd76 2 years, 4 months ago
Well said dusty
RmeMP 2 years, 4 months ago
there you go again dusty, making stuff up... you quoted me as saying "no pleas" and "every case is for trial" - please tell me where i said that?
at no point in time did i ever say that i dont believe that there are cases which benifit from plea deals (ie: petty offenses, DA has weak case against defendant, etc...); i understand and agree SOME cases should be plead out.
what i am saying, is that this case has been dragged out for too long, and in my opinion shouldn't qualify for a plea:
1.he isnt a minor who didnt know any better 2.he has a history of drug abuse 3.there was a VERY large amoutn of narcotics involved 4.the DA does NOT have a weak case
again... this is less about jeff and more about the problem with recidivism and lack of deterrant with our courts - and people wonder why our courts are so busy? no one is scared to get caught - slap on the wrist, and go back to "doing your thang"
dustyrhoades 2 years, 4 months ago
Gotta love these armchair quarterbacks.
I look forward to RmeMp using his/her extensive knowledge of the law, the court system, and what makes a weak as opposed to a strong case when he/she runs for DA.
OldSpook 2 years, 4 months ago
At risk of stating the obvious, you did not address RmeMP's concerns but simply went into bashing his/her insights with belittling comments. Not a good argument and a missed opportunity to enlighten the rest of us in your field of expertise.
dustyrhoades 2 years, 4 months ago
RMEMP's complaint is based in his assumptions about the strength of the case and his/her ignorance of the court system. I don't pretend to any expertise or knowledge in regard to this case, but then, I'm not trying to tell everyone what the DA or Defense should be doing, either.
OldSpook 2 years, 4 months ago
Thank you. And really, you do have more knowledge in this field than we do as a whole. Anytime we can learn the "why" of what happens in our court systems it is appreciated.
RmeMP 2 years, 4 months ago
thank you old spook -
i am merely raising questions about what i personally percieve to be a problem with the court system, but of course dusty with his usaual tactics, has to try a belittle someone instead of addressing the questions if he would like.
i stated one - that he quotes me on stuff that i never said, and two - i listed 4 reasons why i think this case should not be plead out; if he doesnt agree with me fine, but instead of explaining why so we can have a mature debate, he wants to show his childish self
ps - for the record i have never been an attorney; however, i do have extensive personal workings with the court system (so i do know a little)
pss - i'm not tyring to tell the DA or defense what they shold be doing (again with your lies dusty) i am simply raising the issue of what i percieve to be unnesseary plea deals
tlcd76 2 years, 4 months ago
Well I for one do know Jeff. No I would not say that we are friends but acquaintainces yes, and I have spoken with him about the details of this case and it is quite simply not as cut and dried as the media would have one believe. AND I personally take exception to your tag of calling Jeff the "Moore County Marvel Hero". While pro wrestling may be staged. Jeff is a true acrobatic genius/stuntman that constantly puts his body on the line for the sake of his fans. Jeff is amazing with his fans. My 6-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son have the pictures and memories to prove that
RmeMP 2 years, 4 months ago
arghhh.... let me say it again, "this is less about him and more about a problem with our judicial system".
if you take "exception" to my tag that i said about jeff, then im sorry that you have such "thin skin"; i wasnt being offensive or demeaning - and actually marvel was made famous because of their superheroes, so if anything it is a compliment which you are trying to pervert.
i have seen jeff "perform" in the ring, and i will admit that he is very acrobatic and puts on a good show; that said, if he gets hurt it does not give him a pass or exception to use drugs to dull the pain.
ps - if he really cares about his fans (which i am sure he does), i hope he comes out with an amazing antidrug PR push after this dust settles and explain to the kids out there who look up to him how bad drugs are, and how they can ruin your life
DrugsKill 2 years, 4 months ago
I agree with RmeMP, this is less about Jeff Hardy and more about our crooked local politics that would even consider allowing a person in our community to go scott free after being charged with having such a large amount of drugs in their possession.
I can guarantee if he were not a "celebrity" being represented by a well-paid local lawyer that will manipulate the system, he'd be under the jail by now. If he were black or low income, he'd have been locked up by now.
Parents in our community should be outraged that this type of behavior is tolerated, just because this particular person has the means to hire a high-powered attorney that's going to finnagle his way through the DA's office.
This really says more about the lack of backbone in our community when it comes to drugs. Where are our leaders? Standing in line to get an autograph?
RmeMP 2 years, 4 months ago
thank you... im glad someone can see that i am not trying to bash jeff on a personal level - just trying to waken those people up to a HUGE pill problem this county has / as well as what i think is a problem with our judicial system - the inablility to deter crime and punish those who are caught (due to money and/or status in the community) by way of plea deals
Yukonjohn 2 years, 4 months ago
This really says more about the lack of backbone in our community when it comes to drugs
Drugskill, the community needs to have LESS backbone when it comes to drugs. If legalization were to happen, things would be much better in our great Nation. People that want to use drugs are going to use them anyway, that is a given. If they were legal and distributed by the state, there could at least be some control over them. The huge thing it would do is stop the violence on our southern border with Mexico, and stop the Afghani war, due to the Taliban not having any money from their drug trade!! The money in drugs is the huge problem. Legalization takes care of that. Wake up America!!
DrugsKill 2 years, 4 months ago
I am with you to a certain extent, Yukonjohn.
My point exactly is that it's our DA's office, our local lawyers and judges that needs a backbone. So much of their work nowadays is mediating plea deals. District Attorney to person with charges against them: "What will you admit to so I can do the least amount of work on my end. You pay a fine and our court costs (that keeps my DAs office employees paid,) and we'll let you plea to almost nothing." This is what takes place in our courtrooms every single day folks. It's a pathetic joke.
As far as legalization, I have no problem with marijuana, but prescription pill abuse is a completely different world. Oxycontin? Somas? They're addictive painkillers and have been found to be deadly not only in wrestling but in society itself. Very dangerous and will be the very death of our society, I believe. Normal people can handle a Vicodin every now and then. Addicts abuse them, and after awhile, it's just like smoking cigarettes. You HAVE to have them. And you have to have them in massive amounts.
For those of you investigative types, you may remember recent deaths in the past couple years in our community due to such things as overdoses on these same drugs. When you determine those, you'll see that some were friends and aquaintances of the guy that's charged here.
Wake up people!