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Daily Journal (Northeast Mississippi)

Supervisor among latest Benton voter fraud arrests

8/25/2007 5:24:43 AM

Patsy Brumfield

Daily Journal reports

ASHLAND - Four more people, including a Benton County supervisor, were arrested Friday, accused in a continuing voter fraud investigation.

The arrests were announced by Attorney General Jim Hood.

Taken to the Tippah County jail were:

- Cooper Epps, 52, 1425 Little Egypt Road, Ashland, charged with two counts bribery and three counts voter fraud. His bond is $100,000 or $20,000 each count.

- Arnold Rooker Sr., 62, 930 Arnold Road, Hickory Flat, charged with one count bribery and one count voter fraud. Bond is $40,000.

- Benton County District 1 Supervisor Tate King, 67, 56 Canaan Road, Ashland, charged with two counts voter fraud and one count bribery. Bond is $60,000.

- Jasper Buggs Sr., 58, 1591 Hardaway Church Road, Michigan City, charged with one count voter fraud and two counts of bribery. Bond is $80,000.

"The voters of Benton County deserve fair elections," said Hood in a news release. "And that is what we intend to give them."

The Friday arrests come about three weeks since nine others in two separate roundups were charged in connection with an alleged scheme to sell votes. Aug. 7 was the state's first party primary in the statewide election from constable to governor. Tuesday is the second primary or runoff.

Among those arrested earlier was Clint Moffitt, a candidate for Benton County sheriff.

District 1 supervisor King, arrested Friday, is in a Democratic runoff Tuesday against challenger Chris Shoup.

A spokesman for the Attorney General's office said everyone except Epps had bonded out later Friday.

Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 8/25/2007, section A , page 1