Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Internet Pot Gets All Stirred Up Over Story About 1984 Champion Family Shoplifting Ring, The Name "Willie Wesley" Comes Floating Up To New Prominence...

Image by John Hoff of material on internet, used under 
First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism

In reference to my recent story about the "Champion Family" shoplifting ring from 1984, I want to emphasize I have NOT YET CONFIRMED the "Bobby Joe Champion" in the story is one and the same with State Legislator Bobby Joe Champion. 

People tell me things behind the scenes but without some ability to cite a a source--instead of leaning upon "keep me out of it, but here's the deal" remarks in an email--I can't nail down the information. 

For all I know, there's another "Bobby Joe Champion" and the guy from 1984 is a namesake, a coincidence, a DOPPELGANGER, even!!!!!!! (Yes, that last part of the sentence was delivered in a Snagglepuss cartoon voice, for those of you old enough to remember Snagglepuss) 

Anyway, DESPITE an inability to nail down information to something more than "here's one hell of a coincidence" level, the internet pot seems all stirred up over this blogger's story about a court case from the 1980s involving a "Champion Family" shoplifting ring. 

I am told the story was...

...emailed to a number of state legislators. And a prominent person called me to share an interesting little snippet of information...

Willie Wesley. 

Willie Wesley was a name mentioned in the 1984 shoplifting ring story, but I didn't even bother to "meta tag" that name because it meant nothing to me. Wille Wesley was just one more person involved in the Champion Family shoplifting ring.

However...

"I think Mayor Sharon Sayles-Belton had a mayoral aide named Willie Wesley," said a prominent person on the other end of my cell phone, and this snippet sent me running to a computer to perform some checking.

Google search terms: "Wille Wesley" and "Sharon Sayles-Belton."

This turned up one search result. ONE. 

For the link, click here.

 In 1994, Mayor Sharon Sayles-Belton accepted some kind of human rights award, and standing right near her was MAYORAL AIDE Willie Wesley. The story of the awards ceremony was written up in a newsletter, which eventually made its way online in clunky "printed matter reproduced on the internet" form. 

Like comedian Arte Johnson used to say on the television show Laugh-In, "very interesting."

I just can't help myself with the dated references, maybe because this is a very dated story. And yet, based upon feedback I'm getting behind the scenes, the story has caught the attention of a number of people. 

So, yes, it's interesting...but there's no absolute proof Willie Wesley from the former Mayor's office was the same as Willie Wesley from the Champion Family shoplifting ring in 1984. 

If State Legislator Bobby Joe Champion would like to email me and tell me his thoughts, I will be glad to publish what he has to say, including any denial he's the same "Bobby Joe Champion" in the court case. That's only fair. 

Oh, and the same goes for Willie Wesley, Nona Lee Champion, and anybody who is named (even in a "doppelganger" way) in the story based on court documents from the 1980s which are now, AMAZINGLY, online.  

9 comments:

Johnny Northside! said...

Here's another interesting connection, or it might just be another interesting name coincidence.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-370340021.html

"Nona Champion" was the godmother of slain teenager Nehemiah Steverson.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you go find out just who exactly the people ACTUALLY are BEFORE you start running your mouth? My word. Don't you have anything better to do than make guesses and speculations about people you don't even know? You call this journalism?

Anonymous said...

The only people telling you things "behind the scenes" are the voices inside your head!

Anonymous said...

Eddie Champion (deceaseasd)stole my bike at a Harrison ice cream social back in in 19 fucking 70 so take that for some history of the crimin' Champion's. Keep on what you are doin. because this is a family that is a fucking plague, plain and simple...and ben comittin, crimes since the revelation.

Anonymous said...

I wonder how many criminals Hodges has for aides and ASSistants? Bet you ten to one the punk she was flashing gang signs with barely scratches the surface...just a guess

Johnny Northside! said...

I call it blogging, social media and grassroots journalism. Do you have some actual information to contribute? My email is wide open and Bobby Joe Champion, et al, can contact me to tell me it's all a great big name coincidence, if that's the case.

Johnny Northside! said...

Most of the time I am rejecting crude comments directed at Honorable Mayor Hodges. I published this one in a spirit of free speech commentary but I disagree in spirit and tone. It is purely speculative and without firm basis.

Johnny Northside! said...

And, as it turns out, inside my cell phone!

Johnny Northside! said...

Comment rejected which insinuates stuff about, I think, Nona Champion. The allegations being unproven I do not care to publish the comment.