Cruise, Arrest, kids, mother, jail, Lakesha Woods Williams
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2024

Mother Jailed For Leaving Kids Home Alone To Go On Cruise, Blames Her Cousin

Houston mother who left her two young children at home alone to embark on a cruise blames her cousin.

A mother in Houston who was arrested for leaving her two young children at home alone to embark on a vacation cruise is attempting to blame her cousin.

Lakesha Woods Williams, 29, had her $25,000 bond upheld on Monday, April 15, after she was charged for leaving her 6-year-old and 8-year-old children at home while she went on a cruise, KHOU reports. Williams says she paid her cousin to watch her children while she was away for nearly a week, but he allegedly took the money and never came to babysit.

“You left your child unattended for four days,” Assistant District Attorney Keegan Childers asked.

“Let’s say you leave the country out on a trip, and the cousin doesn’t go to take care of the children. If this is really a plane flight like she says it is, wouldn’t you, as a parent, be on the first plane back immediately?”

Neighbors say they saw Williams leaving with luggage on April 4 and never returning. On April 9, police conducted a welfare check at the luxury high-rise apartment complex on Katy Freeway after a witness revealed neighbors’ concerns that the children were home alone.

Authorities found the brother and sister alone inside the apartment that was in complete “disarray,” with trash and leftover food all over and a smell of urine, court records state. The children told police that their mother left on April 4, and they didn’t know when she would be back.

A camera was found that Williams used to watch and communicate with the children, and the boy also had a cellphone to text his mother while she was away. When deputies with the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office tried tracking down Williams, she reportedly failed to respond and continued to change her whereabouts.

Williams was arrested on Thursday, April 11, and charged with child abandonment with intent to return. On Friday, April 12, she was given the $25,000 bond, with a judge ruling to uphold the bond on Monday, calling the case “egregious.”

The children are currently with Williams’ sister, and a protective order was placed to prevent the mother from communicating with or being near her son or daughter, ABC Houston reports.

“We take these child abuse cases very seriously,” Childers said. “Even if you’re acting negligently, it’s not an excuse.”

RELATED CONTENT:  Mother Gets 30-Day Jail Sentence for Baby Waterboarding, Freezer Incident

Beyoncé, Cowboy Boots, cowboy carter
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 17, 2024

Beyoncé’s Country Era Boosts Sales Of Cowboy Boots

Since the release of Cowboy Carter, sales for cowboy boots have increased by 20 percent.

Beyoncé’s country era is not only impacting music but also fashion. The singer’s latest album, Cowboy Carter, is boosting the sales of Western-style boots.

NBC News reported that Circana, a consumer behavior firm, noted the increase in sales by 20% for cowboy boots, occurring a week after Beyoncé’s album dropped on March 29. This shift to cowboy clothing also lends to concert and festival attire, with luxury brands also contributing to the shift. French fashion house Louis Vuitton even introduced bolo ties and cowboy hats in its latest collection.

Williams Trading Analyst Sam Poser confirmed the rising trend, which marks Beyoncé’s impact and reach. Specifically, her influence led to rising stock prices for Boot Barn, a retail chain for Western apparel.

“We have little doubt that there is a correlation,” he shared with NBC News.

Shares for Boot Barn rose 4% in April, a sudden increase that Beyoncé’s album release significantly aided.

However, her promotion of the Western aesthetic to the mainstream extends beyond boots. Her name-dropping of Levi’s jeans on Cowboy Carter has also elevated the American brand. One of its tracks, “Levii’s Jeans,” was titled after the brand and features popular rapper Post Malone.

Since the album’s release, Levi’s has relied on name recognition to market its brand further to Beyoncé’s vast audience. The denim company changed its Instagram name to Beyonce’s spelling, while its CEO confirmed her impact as beneficial.

“I don’t think there’s any better evidence or proof point than having someone like Beyoncé, who is a culture shaper, to actually name a song after us,” explained Levi Strauss CEO Michelle Gass as its stock prices rose.

Beyoncé has stopped the fashion world before during her Renaissance World Tour. Her request for fans to wear her glittery fashion prompted an increase in silver clothing purchases from small retailers. While she has not announced a tour for Cowboy Carter or instructed fans to get their boots ready for a performance, she has proven to be a trendsetter in multiple industries.

Kansas City Chiefs, Rashee Rice, Teddy Knox
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2024

Kansas City Chiefs’ Rashee Rice And SMU’s Teddy Knox Sued For More Than $10M

The two football players are being sued after allegedly causing a multicar crash in Dallas

Super Bowl champion Rashee Rice and former college teammate Teddy Knox, who were allegedly involved in a high-speed car crash on March 30 in Dallas, are being sued by two of the victims injured by their alleged participation in the incident.

According to USA Today, Rice, who is a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Knox, who plays the cornerback position for Southern Methodist University, are being sued by Irina Gromova and Edvard Petrovskiy for more than $10 million. The lawsuit was filed on April 11 in Dallas County, Texas, on April 11

They are alleging that the two football players purposely drove their vehicles at high speeds and were negligent on the day of the accident when they walked away without checking on the victims.

“Despite innocent victims calling for emergency help and desperately trying to exit their destroyed vehicles in a state of shock, (Rice and Knox) intentionally, knowingly evaded assisting injured commuters and absconded from the scene,” the lawsuit states. “The victims and bystanders of the carnage tried to engage the (Rice and Knox), but they were ignored in (their) attempt to flee without responsibility.”

The victims are suing for $10 million in punitive damages, $1 million in actual damages for medical care, physical impairment, loss of earnings, mental anguish, and property damage.

“They were severely injured by the tremendous force of the high-speed impact,” the lawsuit said. “Injuries include trauma to the brain, lacerations to the face requiring stitches, multiple contusions about the body, disfigurement, internal bleeding and other internal and external injuries that may only be fully revealed over the course of medical treatment.”

After Dallas police issued warrants for Rice and Knox’s arrest, the Chiefs receiver turned himself in on April 11 and was released on bond. No punishment has been set forth for Rice yet. The National Football League (NFL) is monitoring the case. Knox was suspended by the Southern Methodist athletic department.

Both men have been charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury.

The car crash involved a Lamborghini and a Corvette that was allegedly speeding and lost control as the “Lamborghini traveled onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing a chain reaction collision involving four other vehicles.”

Four people suffered minor injuries, with two of them being taken to a local hospital. Police said that Rice and Knox, along with several others, ran from the scene of the accident “without stopping to determine if anyone needed medical help or providing their information.”

Missouri, NAACP, Black voters, lawsuit
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2024

NAACP Joins Legal Battle Against Arkansas LEARNS Act’s Anti-DEI Efforts 

The fighting never stops!

The NAACP has joined a growing lawsuit against the state of Arkansas over the legislation that intentionally blocks public schools from teaching diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory. 

In collaboration with the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights, the Arkansas chapter of the civil rights organization is pressing a federal court to implement an injunction in hopes that the LEARNS Act — standing for Literacy, Empowerment, Accountability, Readiness, Networking and School Safety Act — will be stopped while the suit goes through litigation. 

Filed in March 2024 by civil rights attorney Mike Laux, the now-amended lawsuit argues that Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies classes taught in public schools haven’t received proper treatment in comparison to other AP courses. It continues to accuse the courses of being marginalized and underfunded, as well as depriving students of the opportunity to learn about the history and contributions of Black Americans.  

This is an added measure to the organization’s fight against what President Derrick Johnson describes as a wave of anti-DEI legislation in the United States. “From Arkansas to Alabama, the desecration of diversity, equity and inclusion poses an imminent threat to the future of our nation,” Johnson said. 

“We refuse to go back. The NAACP will continue to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that our constitutional rights are protected and our culture respected. This is what standing for community looks like.” 

Plaintiffs, including two high school teachers and two students from Little Rock Central High School — the same school attended by the Little Rock Nine following the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling ending public school segregation — argue the legislation caused a large amount of “anxiety, stress, and consternation for teachers, parents, and students alike across Arkansas.” 

This ultimately resulted in the courses being eliminated from the state catalog. Barry Johnson, president of the NAACP Arkansas State Conference, said the move makes it clear that people have forgotten about the Black history created in the state, also known as “The Land of Opportunity.” “The Black community in Arkansas has a decades-long history of fighting for equitable education,” he said. 

“Let’s not forget — it was Arkansas children who shouldered the responsibility of integrating our nation’s schools. Nearly seven decades later, we carry the torch by fighting for the right for that history to be taught.”

Little Rock Central High is also the alma mater of Arkansas’s Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who first signed the legislation in January 2023 as an executive order to ban what supporters call the “indoctrination” and teaching of critical race theory (CRT). She once claimed CRT had no place in Arkansas classrooms as it is “antithetical to the traditional American values of neutrality, equality, and fairness.” 

After the governor signed the act into law in March 2023, it allowed the Arkansas Department of Education to create “enhanced processes and policies that prevent prohibited indoctrination, including Critical Race Theory, as it relates to employees, contractors, and guest speakers or lecturers of the department.”

However, opposers like Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Director of the Educational Opportunities Project, David Hinojosa, thinks the act gives students only part of the nation’s story, forcing teachers to give a “whitewashed” version of American history. “Frankly, it’s downright offensive and unjust for Arkansas to be forcing educators to censor their discussion on racism and stripping the AP African American Studies course of all its benefits, including extra weight for their GPAs and potentially earning college credit,” he said, according to The Hill. 

Looking past legislation resistance, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the law, saying the act passed with a valid emergency clause in October 2023. 

RELATED CONTENT:NAACP Cites Crown Act After ShopRite Allegedly Sent Employee Home For Having Red Braids

Michael Steele, RNC Chair, Trump
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2024

Former RNC Chair Sarcastically Trashes Donald Trump Over Criminal Trial, Calls It ‘Such A Proud Moment’

Does he have a point?

Former chair of the Republican National Committee Michael Steele jumped on Twitter to express his feelings about Donald Trump’s criminal trial proceedings. 

Steele, a longtime outspoken critic of the former president, called the trial, which started April 15 in New York, “such a proud moment for the @GOP.”

“Our nominee for president is sitting in a courtroom on trial for 34 counts of first-degree falsifying business records,” Steele tweeted. “This case is NOT about the payment but rather about the “catch and kill” scheme—the effort to falsify official records—to conceal his agreement with others in order to cover up the payment from the public and “to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. So proud.”

The former lieutenant governor of Maryland provided a detailed summary of the accusations against Trump, including a pay-off to porn actor Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal before the 2016 presidential election in an attempt to keep them quiet regarding alleged sexual encounters. He sarcastically touched on Trump’s “Christian values,” stating his wife was at home nursing their newborn son while the alleged acts occurred. 

Steele has never held back on his opposition to the four-time indicted politician. In February 2024, as a guest on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, he trashed fellow Republicans for their support of the candidate, claiming they were putting on a show for nothing.

“Yeah, it’s how you grind yourself down as a national party into the dust of nothing because the reality as it is…there is no real runway here to sustain a long-term growth prospect for the Republican Party with Donald Trump as its head,” Steele said. “The Republican Party has spent the last eight years systematically taking out the leadership that could win. The candidates that could win are losing in primaries.” 

He also criticized Trump for his lack of shame and embarrassment in his efforts to return to the White House amid his legal woes. Describing Trump’s antics as a “crazy-behind circus,” he pressured the media not to become distracted.

“We should be embarrassed as a country right now that we find ourselves with this man as a potential next president,” Steele said.

Fellow Black Republicans are not in agreement. Rep. Byron Donalds (FL) said on Fox News that he thinks the trial will have the same impact on voters as the indictments, and placed blame on President Joe Biden.

“People are going to look at this; they’re going to say why are the Democrats and Joe Biden and these crazy DAs wasting our time with these stupid trials,” he said. “Why are the media networks fawning over this coverage left and right while the country is a mess, inflation is skyrocketed, and the world is on fire? Joe Biden is the one who is the master of disaster.”

Trump’s legal woes are far from over as he faces 88 charges, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to, but prompting four separate trials. While the other three have yet to be scheduled, prosecutors are sparring with his legal team over motions to delay the trials until after Election Day. It is up to the Supreme Court, which has a Republican majority, to decide whether he will be immune from charges as a former president.

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Shomari Figures, Dobson
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2024

New Candidates Selected For Alabama’s New Congressional District 

Shomari Figures and Caroleene Dobson will face off for Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District.

A primary run-off election determined the two candidates who will face off for Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District.

Shomari Figures secured the Democratic nomination with 61% of the vote, totaling 21,926 votes over state House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, who received 13,990 votes. The Republican nominee will face political newcomer Caroleene Dobson who beat out former state legislator Dick Brewbaker with 58% of the vote. 

At 38, Figures is an attorney and former Obama White House executive with deep roots in Alabama’s political culture. The son of state Sen. Vivian Davis Figures and the late Senate President Pro Tem Michael Figures, who is credited with helping to bankrupt the Ku Klux Klan in the 1980s. Figures also worked under U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland as deputy chief of staff and counselor. His national political connections have helped him secure close to $2 million in outside spending from groups like the Washington-based political action committee Protect Progress. 

Dobson is also an attorney and works with numerous organizations, including the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Federalist Society, and serves on the board of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition.

The run-off election, held on April 16, has been a hot item political ticket and is closely watched given its implications for control of Congress in November 2024. There is also the topic of how the election will affect the Supreme Court’s orders requiring states, including Alabama, to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act and eliminate racial gerrymandering. 

In 2023, Alabama GOP lawmakers resisted creating a district for Black voters — twice — to at least come close to comprising a majority. The GOP-controlled Alabama Legislature drew new lines over the summer of 2023 after the U.S. Supreme Court stood in favor of the panel in June after the panel found the map, with only one majority-Black district out of seven in a state with a 27% Black resident population, likely violated the U.S. Voting Rights Act.

The new Alabama map was one of three designed by a court-appointed special master for consideration. The panel included two judges appointed by former President Donald Trump. The third was appointed by former President Ronald Reagan and then elevated to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by former President Bill Clinton.

Republicans have control of Congress by a tight margin of 218 to 213, with four vacant seats. Figures winning in November would represent one seat flipping control from Republican to Democrat.

Democrats would need to flip five seats in the 435-seat House of Representatives to take back the majority in the November 2024 election.

Wendy Williams, Kevin Hunter, spousal, Divorce, Settlement
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2024

Wendy Williams’ Financial Guardian Demands Kevin Hunter Return ‘Overpaid’ Divorce Settlement Money

Wendy Williams' ex-husband Kevin Hunter might have to pay back the $112,500 he was "overpaid" from their divorce agreement.

Wendy Williams’ financial guardian is after her ex-husband Kevin Hunter for the $112,500 he was “overpaid” from their divorce agreement.

Williams’ guardian Sabrina Morrissey filed court documents demanding Hunter repay the funds and undergo a gag order to prevent him from talking about the case, The U.S. Sun reports. The filing cites the marital settlement agreement Williams and Hunter reached when finalizing their divorce in 2020 that allocated Hunter severance payments from Williams.

However, “the payments to Mr. Hunter were to terminate if [Wendy’s] yearly earned income is less than 2 times her then yearly income (as of February 1, 2020),” Morrissey’s filing states. “‘Yearly income’ is defined in the Agreement as [Wendy’s] W-2 income and any income paid as a result of her working on a show.”

But with Williams missing the entire final season of her talk show, she wasn’t paid her full salary in October 2021. Hunter continued receiving the payments.

“She continued to pay Mr. Hunter. He says in his motion papers… that he was paid through January of 2022,” the filing states. “As a result, [Kevin] has been unjustly enriched by the receipt of $112,500 ($37,500 x 3 months) belonging to [Wendy].”

Morrissey, according to the filing, is demanding the $112,500 back with interest and a gag order placed on Hunter.

This comes after Hunter filed for the courts to reopen the case and resume his payments from the marital settlement agreement. Hunter said the payments stopped before Williams was placed under guardianship in 2022.

“I rely on the severance pay for my living expenses and having been without this income for twenty-three months has affected me greatly,” Hunter’s March filing states. He demands Williams via her guardianship “immediately pay all severance payments which may be due and owing at the time of this Court’s Order.”

Morrissey is asking the courts to dismiss Hunter’s request and consider taking the case to arbitration.

RELATED CONTENT: Tameka Foster Accuses Wendy Williams Of Sparking ‘Negative Press Run’ About Her

Udonis Haslem, UDcares.org, Miami Heat, Miami, Make A Wish Foundation Southern Florida, Push-up Challenge
by Daron Pressley

April 17, 2024

NBA Great Udonis Haslem Empowers Miami Community Through Push-Up Challenge

Haslem teamed up with Anatomy, a premier wellness facility dedicated to holistic health, and Make-A-Wish Southern Florida for the #HourPushUpChallenge

Udonis Haslem, a Miami native who spent his entire 20-year career with the Heat — part of three championship teams and serving as captain in 16 of his seasons — embodies the essence of leadership on and off the hardwood. Recognizing the power of collective action in fostering positive change, Haslem has long been a champion for community engagement and continues his philanthropy work through his push-up challenge. 

On April 13, Haslem teamed up with Anatomy, a premier wellness facility dedicated to holistic health, and Make-A-Wish Southern Florida for the #HourPushUpChallenge. This empowering event invited members and guests to work out for wishes and the future of the Miami community. Participants were called upon to do as many push-ups as they could physically do in a one-hour timeframe, securing monetary pledges donated on a per-push-up basis. 

BLACK ENTERPRISE got a chance to catch up with Haslem, the current vice president of player development for the Miami Heat, to discuss his commitment to uplifting the Miami community, the partnership with Anatomy and Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, and what impact he hopes to make to the city of Miami. 

One Push-Up at a Time: The Impact

Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, a beacon of hope for children battling critical illnesses, stands at the forefront of fulfilling dreams and igniting joy in young hearts. The partnership forged with Udonis Haslem and Anatomy underscores the organization’s unwavering commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of wish children and their families.

“With every push-up completed during the #HourPushUpChallenge, we’re not just building our muscles; we’re building dreams,” shared Haslem. 

Having collectively raised nearly $400,000 in previous years, two events that benefited Make-A-Wish and the Udonis Haslem Foundation, Haslem continues to push the momentum forward year after year.

“It’s incredible to see the Miami community support my foundation and the Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and ensure that every child facing adversity knows their dreams are within reach.”

Uniting for a Brighter Future

With every push-up completed and pledges tallied, the #HourPushUpChallenge’s resounding success reverberates throughout the Miami community. Through the collaborative efforts of Haslem, Anatomy, and Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, the event raises vital funds and cultivates a spirit of unity and compassion.

“Together, we are stronger. The #HourPushUpChallenge is not just about the physical challenge; it’s about the power of community and the impact we can make when we join forces for a common cause,” remarked Haslem

With 100% of the funds donated to help the people in local unserved communities in South Florida and grant wishes with Make-A-Wish, Haslem is inspired by the generosity and determination of everyone who participates in the push-up challenge.

“I do not doubt we’re creating a brighter future for Miami and beyond.”

About the Udonis Haslem Foundation – The Mission of the Udonis Haslem Foundation is to give hope to children and families in underserved communities by facilitating exposure to opportunities and access to care and resources. To learn more about the foundation and to get involved, visit https://www.udcares.org/

Keith Lee, Pizza Hut, 'FamiLEE Community Pizza', partnership, content, creator
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2024

Keith Lee Partners With Pizza Hut To Debut The New ‘FamiLEE Community Pizza’

For a limited time, you can try Keith Lee's new FamiLEE Community Pizza at Pizza hut.

Keith Lee has taken his TikTok food critic persona to new heights by debuting his first official food partnership with a major restaurant chain.

On Tuesday, April 16, Lee and Pizza Hut announced their partnership, which includes a new pizza pie crafted by the TikTok star and his family. The pepperoni, bacon, and cheese pizza on a hand-tossed crust is available for a limited time until May 13, Lee shared in an Instagram announcement.

The community-driven social media influencer will also be giving out free boxes of his pizza in the form of two pizza parties at two schools in two different states, including his hometown.

“My family and Pizza Hut are going to the high school that I went to and that my wife went to and we’re having a pizza party for absolutely free with the kids,” Lee shared.

The community initiative is completely on brand for Lee who hosts food tours around the country where he goes and throws events that give free food to local communities. His recent FamiLee event during his return to Atlanta received a huge turnout, and he was forced to move locations.

“I am blessed to team up with Pizza Hut for the FamiLEE Community Pizza, and I’m excited to support causes that hit close to home,” Lee told Food & Wine.

“This partnership is all about sharing love through food, bringing communities together, and doing what we truly feel is supposed to be done within our space.”

The partnership was born out of Lee’s visit to Pizza Hut headquarters in Texas, where he met with the staff and made “authentic” connections.

“I talked to and really enjoyed my time with them, so working together on this initiative felt really authentic,” he shared.

The bacon and pepperoni toppings were a must-have for Lee as they’re his personal favorites. With it being part of Pizza Hut’s $12 ANY promotion, customers can personalize the pie with toppings of their choice.

“Bacon and pepperoni are the only toppings I ever get on my pizza — they are my favorite,” Lee said. “So when I was working with Pizza Hut to make this, it only felt right to make a pizza that I would (and do) eat all the time.”

“You can add a ton of toppings to make it your own. If your family likes a mix of toppings, you don’t have to compromise,” he added.

As part of the partnership, Pizza Hut will also donate $50,000 to Southfield ANT and Oak Hills High School where Lee and his wife went.

“Keith Lee is a creator who has really been shaping the food industry and one I have been an avid follower of for a long time,” Lindsay Morgan, the CMO at Pizza Hut, said.

“His TikTok reviews are authentic, and he celebrates community and family. We felt his personal brand was a perfect fit for Pizza Hut, so together, we created the FamiLEE Community Pizza so guests can try Keith’s recipe and be a part of giving back to his community.”

RELATED CONTENT: Are You Ready, Atlanta? TikTok Food Reviewer Keith Lee Announces ‘Redemption’ Return To A-Town

Georgia Pastor, Pastor R. A. Hill, fraud, Identify Theft
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 17, 2024

Georgia Pastor And Car Dealer Arrested For Alleged Fraud, Identify Theft

Reveckeyo “R.A.” Hill faces similar charges in another Georgia county prior to his recent theft allegation.

A Georgia pastor has been arrested for alleged identity theft and fraudulent activity toward customers at his car dealership. Reveckeyo “R.A.” Hill was detained by Athens-Clarke County Police on April 11.

According to WSB-TV, Hill’s scheme unveiled his past criminal record, one that shocked his customers and congregation. He was previously convicted of identify theft in Elbert County, mere miles away from where his newest alleged transgressions took place. Furthermore, the local news outlet investigated his crime spree in May 2023. In the scheme, the crooked pastor stole the identities of those who purchased vehicles, continuing the theft in his new venture.

“He will use people’s real identity, who bought a car with him in the past. He’ll use their identity to register vehicles in their name without their knowledge,” explained Detective Nathaniel Franco during the outlet’s initial investigation.

In Clarke County, Hill allegedly defrauded customers at his car dealership, H and P Auto Broker. One of his accusers, Evette Strickland, claims her deceased husband owed $70,000 toward a truck he never had. The widow expressed her shock that a religious leader would deceive people like this.

“(If) Someone’s a pastor, you would think they were … they would lead you in the right direction and not take money from you,” explained the widow.

Another victim, Stephanie Dowdy, shared that she was paying Hill directly for her car payments. However, the money never made it to the loan company, as she later discovered her car’s repossession.

Hill spoke to investigative reporter Justin Gray to defend himself against the allegations. During the conversation, the defamed pastor claimed that all his business dealings were legitimate and requested a “fair” investigation.

“We just want a fair investigation, be fair,” urged Hill. “I think you guys are used to dealing with people that run from you guys. I’m not intimidated by you guys.”

However, his attorney declined to discuss the accusations in Athens, and also refused to provide the proof to confirm his stance. Although Hill filed an appeal for his charges in Elbert County, he remains detained in Clark County Jail.

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