JUDGE ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES

Lawrence County Jurist's Bond $1M

Lawrence County Justice Court Judge Bobby Fortenberry, a 16-year
veteran of the bench, was arrested on felony drug charges Friday after
a four-year investigation, law enforcement officials said.

Fortenberry, 46, of Newhebron had 2.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine
in his possession when he was arrested on Mississippi 550 in
Brookhaven, said Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Capt. Mike Aldridge.

Fortenberry is charged with possession of methamphetamine with the
intent to distribute and conspiracy to sell methamphetamine, Lawrence
County Sheriff Joel Thames said.

Circuit Court Judge Mike Smith set a $1 million cash bond for
Fortenberry, who was being held Friday night at the Lincoln County
jail in Brookhaven.

"It's a sad day when a public official takes the wrong road, but this
goes to show that not even a judge is above the law," Thames said.

Years of public complaints about Fortenberry's possible involvement
with drugs led to the multiagency investigation, Thames said.

"We've had some situations in the past that just didn't work out to
where we could make an arrest, but the MBN really took it and ran with
it," Thames said.

Agents have no evidence that Fortenberry used his judgeship to obtain
or sell drugs, Aldridge said.

There could be more arrests, but no other public officials are
expected to be arrested, Aldridge said.

Fortenberry's arrest does not disqualify him from office, said Brant
Brantley, executive director of the state Commission on Judicial
Performance.

The commission would recommend an interim suspension if Fortenberry is
indicted, Brantley said. The state Supreme Court would have to approve
a suspension, he said.

Fortenberry's son, Robert, said he had heard rumors of his father's
involvement with drugs but never believed they were true.

"In politics, especially small-town politics, politicians are always
trying to drag their opponents through the mud," he said Friday
evening. "Every year, somebody has something different. I just swept
it under the rug, because I didn't believe it. I don't' see it, but
he's my dad."

Bobby Fortenberry, who works as a technician at Packard Electric in
Lincoln County, faced opposition from five people in the last election
to win a fifth term. His father, Calvin Fortenberry, is a former
Lawrence County supervisor.