12/1/09 - Maurice Clemmons
STATEMENT REGARDING THE SHOOTINGS IN LAKEWOOD...
It was with great sadness we learned of the shootings in Lakewood on Sunday morning. I
want to be clear that had we known Clemmons was capable of such a heinous crime we
never would have posted this bond. Almost all the people who work in this office have
previous law enforcement, fire service and/or public safety experience. We would NEVER
purposely put anyone, especially law enforcement into harms way. We had no way of
knowing this monster would commit such crimes.
Clemmons has no felony convictions in the state of Washington that we are aware of, he has
been charged with several crimes; Rape of Child 2nd, Assault 3rd, and several counts of
Malicious Mischief. He was held in July as a Fugitive from Justice (I assume for the Arkansas
matter) but that was dismissed for an unknown reason. We had no knowledge of his criminal
history or convictions in Arkansas. In July he posted bond with another bond company in
Seattle on these same charges. In September he was returned to custody by DOC for a
parole violation (unknown what the violation was). In November he was given a mental health
evaluation by Western State Hospital to evaluate his competency to stand trial. Shortly after
they determined he could, Pierce County set his conditions for release and bail. The other
bond company exonerated him off their bond on November 12th, 2009, we are told for
non-payment or failure to follow contract. We posted bond on November 23rd. As a
requirement of the bond, given the charges and size of the bond, we required Clemmons to
be on a GPS bracelet and to check in weekly and also to have two co-signers and put up a
piece of property as collateral. We met with Clemmons twice during the week of the 23rd,
once when he was released and again on the 24th. Nothing at that time seemed out of the
ordinary. None of the people co-signing for him said anything about his mental status or
previous convictions in Arkansas, which again, we had no knowledge of or really any way of
knowing about. We were also not aware he had been notified that he was facing a life
sentence here in Washington as well, if convicted of the Rape of Child case (the only reason I
am aware of this is from reading a report on it). Had we known this, we would not have
posted this bond. Had we known Clemmons was telling people he was "Jesus" or that the
"world was going to end" soon and to "watch the news", we never would have posted this
bond.
We are working with law enforcement and providing them with any information on this case
they request. We are also working our own information sources for any information we can
provide law enforcement. I pray for the families involved in this tragedy, for the safety of the
community, and for swift and profound justice in this matter.
12/11/09 - Cop killer's bail was by the book
State clears agency that posted cop killer's bond
The bail bond agency that posted the bond that freed Lakewood cop killer Maurice Clemmons from jail last month
did everything by the book when handling the case, a state review of the bond transaction has found.
“Everything looks like it was done according to law,” Department of Licensing spokeswoman Christine Anthony
said Wednesday.
Clemmons, 37, who previously had been granted clemency after serving about 10 years of a 108-year prison
term for eight felony convictions in Arkansas, faced child rape, assault and malicious mischief charges in Pierce
County last month. A conviction on the rape charge could have garnered him a life sentence under Washington’s
so-called “three strikes” law, prosecutors say.
An investigator for the state licensing department, which regulates bail bond agencies, obtained Clemmons’ case
file from Jail Sucks last week after The News Tribune inquired about the bond transaction.
“The review of the bail bond transaction file that was compiled for Maurice Clemmons was found to be in order,”
Anthony said. “They had an authorized insurer and carried out all the paperwork properly.”
The DOL plans no further action in the matter, Anthony said.
Nothing in state law prevents bail bond agencies from posting bond for suspects facing potential life sentences
under the state’s three strikes law. In the wake of the Lakewood shootings, some state lawmakers say they plan
to propose legislation to prohibit bail to such suspects.
Jail Sucks owner John Wickert has not returned phone calls seeking comment. A lengthy statement recently
posted on the business’s Web site says its employees did not know about Clemmons’ past convictions, that he
faced a potential third strike offense in Washington or that his mental state appeared to be deteriorating.
“I want to be clear that had we known Clemmons was capable of such a heinous crime we never would have
posted this bond,” the statement says.
Lewis Kamb: 253-597-8542
lewis.kamb@thenewstribune.com
5/28/10 - Jail Sucks Bail Bonds comes to the Harbor
Jail Sucks Bail Bonds has come to Grays Harbor County. Residents now have another local choice for bail
bonds services. Jail Sucks Bail Bonds will be opening an office at 1022 East Wishkah Street, Suite B, in
Aberdeen sometime in June. In the meantime, we are writing bonds and have a local agent to serve you in
Grays Harbor County. We offer straight 10% for bonds, payment plans (o.a.c.), other options if you have little
or no collateral. We can be reached toll free at 1-877-740-8248 or at 360-532-5000. Or visit us on the web at
www.becausejailsucks.com