Independent Publisher Book Awards 2009 Bronze Medal Winner
2009 Irwin Award Winner-Book Publishers of Southern California.
THE TRUE STORY OF HOW THE PROSECUTION FAILED A GRIEVING FAMILY, THE LAWYERS FAILED THE DEFENDANT, LAW ENFORCEMENT FAILED A COMMUNITY, AND THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR WHO DECIDED THE COVER-UP HAD TO END.
The investigation into the death of Dr. Harry Sunshine exposes the corrupt underbelly of the South Carolina criminal prosecution system, and the corrupt acts of the three largest police agencies in the state.
The local media reported the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), SC Highway Patrol, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department were looking for a white Lexus in the hit and run that killed Dr. Sunshine. This red herring was pursued for almost a month until the wife of the slain doctor was approached by a witness, who after having been ignored by the sheriff’s department, told Mrs Sunshine that she saw a black Lexus in the vicinity of the crime at the time of the accident. The black Lexus was occupied by a black female driver and a black male passenger. The authorities did not plan for this revelation which set into motion a cover up and persecution of a man who was never involved in this accident.
After the witness gave her statement, authorities found a wrecked 1993 Lexus on the lot of Hi-Line Imports in Columbia, S.C. however, The authorities did not take a statement from the owner of Hi-Line until a month later, and by then 1993 Lexus disappeared from the lot and the investigation.
When a statement was taken, the owner pointed out that he sold a black 1994 Lexus to Charles Outlaw a few days before Sunshine was killed.
Unknown to Charles, or the public, the initial suspect was John E. (Johnny) Brown, the boyfriend of Charles’ mother-in-law. Now the authorities had to quickly arrest Charles and his wife Tshona, accuse them of involvement, pressure Charles to take a quick plea and have him give a false statement implicating his wife, and let them take the fall.
Also unknown to Charles, Tshona was going to take a plea and implicate herself to protect John Brown. After the plea Tshona would tell fellow inmates that she was expecting a big payoff when she got out of prison.
Things were allowed to happened in order to protect the identity of the persons who were actually in the 1993 Lexus which struck Dr. Sunshine. These were very powerful men, and the original suspect was affiliated with members of the system in ways which were to be kept secret at any cost.
The True Relationship Among Prosecutors, Defendants, Law Enforcement, Defense Attorneys, and Bail Bondsman.
This book is a guide for persons to understand how persons working within the criminal justice system in the United States become corrupt. It is the failure of the persons, not the system, which dictates the results of all interaction when a person is arrested. Greed is the moral downfall of the participants in the criminal justice system. The system has been called incestuous, which determined the title of this book.
After over 25 years as a private investigator, and also becoming a bail bond agent, J.B. Simms has an insight into the criminal justice system which others see, but are afraid to admit and publish. Simms outlines the purpose of each member of the criminal justice family: prosecutor, defendant, law enforcement, defense attorney, and the bail bondsman. Court cases are revealed for the reader, exposing not only the fact that members of the “family” commit some illegal and immoral acts, but that these acts are almost totally ignored by the courts, and none of the family members fear being held accountable.
The illegal and immoral acts, by themselves, and the collusion with other family members resulting in organized blackmail, cause great harm to the perception of our legal system, and there is always a victim. The victim can be a defendant, but sometimes the defendant is part of the game-playing which the family is involved. Another person subjected to the immoral acts of family members is the victim of the acts of the defendant.
This book is outlined with attention to each family member, and their relation to one another. The reader will see 105 endnotes, derived from almost 40 references. As one attorney said, “This book is well researched.” Another said, “I wish I had this book during my first year of law school.”
This is not simply a book of opinions of J.B. Simms. A wide range of experts are cited.
The reader will have an eye-opening experience by reading this book.
Stories which you have heard about mistreatment of Veterans at VA hospitals continue to shock the public, but the cover-up, as they say, is always worse than the crime. Was mistreatment and malpractice of Veterans at the Radiation Department at Long Beach (CA) Veterans Hospital a crime? Was giving radiation treatment to the wrong areas of the body a crime? Was the denial and cover-up by doctors, a hospital director, administrators, and investigative agencies, a crime? There was only one person who raised the issue that therapists were giving inaccurate radiation therapy treatment to our US Veterans: that person was the supervisor of the therapists. When the therapists lied to hide what they had done, the Chief Therapist reported their cavalier attitude. In order to obtain accreditation by the ACR, the hospital attacked the Chief Radiation Therapist, stripped her of her authority, and allowed rampant malpractice and mistreatment to continue. The wounding of the Veterans in the Radiation Therapy Department was no accident; the therapists just did not care, and no one was going to hold them accountable. Patients injured while receiving radiation therapy were sent to the emergency room for treatment, or to a hyperbaric chamber. All injuries, and wounding, were categorized as “side effects” and no one listened to the Chief Therapist. The doctors controlled what was being told to the wounded Veteran patient. The therapists controlled the doctors, and each department had professional and personal leverage on one another to the point that no person would ever be accountable for their actions. Whistleblower agencies were purposely ineffective and betrayed this Chief Radiation Therapist. This is the story of the brave Chief Radiation Therapist who was the only person to defend the Veterans, and ultimately saved lives, at the cost of her physical and emotional health.
When my dad told me he was going to write a book full of stories about our dog Erik I thought, “Well, that makes sense.” I grew up hearing these stories and anyone who spent time with Dad in the last 40 years would have also heard a story or two about Erik.
This book will take you through almost 14 years of a dog’s life. From being the last of the litter to be picked, becoming a companion and friend to a small college town, and finally a big brother to me, Erik certainly lived a great dog’s life.
Most people are familiar with the tales about a boy and his dog, but this one is a little different. My dad found Erik in a pivotal time in his life when he was about to graduate college and start a family. My dad and Erik grew up and entered adulthood together. Erik and my dad drank beer at parties, protected each other from real or perceived threats, and showed each other unconditional love.
While I was too young to fully appreciate most of these stories since Erik was already 5 years old when I came along, I understood immediately that he was part of the family.
Some of my first memories are of my dad and me going to the football or baseball fields near our house and Erik was always there with us. Erik was my guest for show and tell when I was in kindergarten, he served as a pillow for me when I was 7 and got the chicken pox, and he was there when I learned to ride a bike.
Throughout this book my dad compares Erik to a 13-year-old son. The dog had a sense of humor, created his own fun and was headstrong just like a teenager.
Sometimes kids disappoint, test the boundaries, and aggravate us and so do our
dogs. Everyone that has cleaned up after a dog then has them come and lick your face knows what I’m talking about.
When I was growing up with Erik, I thought everyone else with a dog had the same experiences. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized Erik was one of a kind, but at the same time, these are stories to which all dog owners and dog lovers can relate.
This book is not only a way for dog owners and dog lovers to reminisce about some of their own experiences, but it’s a way to honor a family member.
That’s what this book is about; family. While Erik is the focus of the stories, every one of these memories has something to do with Erik’s interaction with family or friends, except for the one where he got into the trashcan.
But at the heart of it, the book is a way to celebrate a member of the family.
Capt. Joseph T. Simms, USAF
In early the early 1990's, I had decided to become a Private Investigator. While attending college and studying Criminal Justice to obtain my degree, and due to the many years of watching the "Rockford Files" on TV, I felt it was time to explore this career field. Being a law enforcement officer myself, I felt my hands were literally tied behind my back and felt very unfruitful in my career. I literally opened the phone book and called Jim Simms to inquire on how to become a PI. I wanted to learn. He invited me to his office, which by the way was a carbon copy of Jim Rockford's office, and I remember asking about the picture of Diane Sawyer on his wall. Needless to say, Jim Simms was no first-timer in the PI field. He was the real deal and even had people like Diane Sawyer and 60 minutes to prove that. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. He graciously took me under his wing and all the while correcting my mistakes along the way. Looking back over 30 years later, I am glad I got to learn from the best. To this day, I still employ the skills I learned from this seasoned investigator and the result is Griffin & Associates. The books above are a must read for anyone in the PI field or just for the casual reader who likes a good crime story. You will love the books because they are real and true just as they happened. In fact, I still remember doing some unimportant work on the case in the book "Don't Get Arrested In South Carolina," although in the background. I wasn't ready to tackle that kind of investigation then, like I do today. I have Jim to thank for that. These featured books are available on this site, but will link the one who desires to read these books directly to Jim and his publishing company. Check them out.....you'll be glad you did!
July, 2009 – New York, N.Y. http://www.pravenue.com/– Independent Publisher Book Awards announces “Don’t Get Arrested in South Carolina” by J.B. Simms the 2009 Bronze Medal Award winner in the True Crime category. Private investigator J.B. Simms details a three-year saga of deceit and corruption within the South Carolina legal system. Simms’ first-hand account shows what lengths authorities will go to protect the guilty, while refusing an innocent man his day in court to clear his name. This year’s awards attracted 4,090 entries from throughout the U.S. and Canada, plus most English-speaking countries worldwide. Medal-winning books came from 44 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia, eight Canadian provinces, and six countries overseas. IndependentPublisher.com, the online “voice of independent publishing”, has recognized excellence in self-publishing since 1996. “Today’s readers are seeking diverse perspectives on hot-button issues,” said awards director Jim Barnes. “This year’s list represents a mix of established independents and bold new voices, and their messages echo the call for change and a straightforward approach to dealing with the world’s social, political and economic problems.” For more information on Don’t Get Arrested in South Carolina or J.B. Simms visit www.erikpublishing.com . http://independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1298
2009 Irwin Award Winner-Book Publishers of Southern California
Best Non-Fiction Campaign
The original purpose for creating Erik Publishing was to publish DON’T GET ARRESTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA, which was the story of my defense of a client who was improperly charged with involvement in a man’s death, and the resulting cover-up by law enforcement and prosecution. The book was published in the spring of 2008, and since the publication, this book was adapted into a screenplay, and registered with the Writers Guild West.
Two more books have been completed, and were published in August, 2017; INCEST WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FAMILY is a look at the five entities involved in the criminal justice system, and YEAH, MY DOG DID THAT, TOO is a fun loving retrospective of a dog who not only accompanied the author on five undercover operations, but was a part of the lives of other people and other dogs.
The latest book was published in February 2018, and it title Friendly Fire at the Veterans Hospital. This book is the story of a brave woman sacrifice her career and health to save Veterans from malpractice in the radiation department in the Long Beach VA Hospital. After she contacted me to write the story, I sent correspondence to agencies who were mandated to listen to her, and I facilitated her direct communication with the Chief of Staff of the Department of Veteran Affairs. The conspiracy was confirmed.
After having written four books, and having performed the formatting and book cover creation myself for the last three, I have a bit of experience in publishing which I will share with others. I have relied upon the advice and opinion of a publisher (Dianne Helm) and my son (Capt. Joe T. Simms, USAF), I have been able to write these books. I welcome contact from anyone who wants to have a story written. Many hours of anxiety will be saved if you contact me. There is a reason editors, book designers, formatters, and cover creators charge big bucks. I look forward to hearing from the next aspiring writer .
To order and receive one or more of Jim Simms books above, please visit www.erikpublishing.com and tell him Anthony Griffin sent you!
J.B. Simms’s book, Don’t Get Arrested in South Carolina is a must read for every American. If you still believe that truth and justice reign supreme in America’s criminal justice system, in this account, Simms makes an airtight cse for reconsidering that opinion. He lays out the myriad of lies associated with a real criminal case, as seen through the eyes of an experienced private investigator, the author himself. He has documented how the needs, agendas and sheer power of law enforcement officers, lawyers and judges allow them to work in collusion to pin a rap on the ‘wrong man’. They change statements of witnesses, the alibies of the accuesed, the personal character and integrity of the victim and literally step over every moral and legal boundry as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
Read more from Sharyn Blumenthal
Sharyn C. Blumenthal
Former Chair and Currently Professor of Film & Electronic Arts
California State University, Long Beach
J.B. Simms’s detailed account of the outright malevolence of certain highly placed, well respected public officials falls right in line with what modern neuroscientific results are telling us. Some powerful people are, unfortunately, wired to act in deceitful, manipulative, and self serving ways. Charles Outlaw’s story could have happened to any one of us- Jim Simms deserves a national award for bringing this horrific abuse to light”.
– Barbara A. Oakley, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow of the American Institution of Medical and Biological Engineers and author of the critically acclaimed Evil Genes.
J.B. Simms presents a dark side of criminal justice. He tells a dismal tale of the politics of justice in Richland County, South Carolina and the questionable outcome of one controversial case. Dr. Harry Sunshine was a popular and respected juvenile dentist in Columbia, SC . What is known, and accepted is that Dr. Sunshine was riding his bicycle early on September 30, 2000 and was struck and killed by a motorist who fled the scene. What is not known, according to Mr. Simms, is why the justice system failed the Sunshine family and the citizens of Columbia, South Carolina.
Dr. Alpert is a nationally recognized expert on police violence, pursuit driving and training. He teaches courses in research methods at the University of South Carolina.
This book is a real-life Perry Mason thriller, with investigator Paul Drake as the hero – but sadly, no attorney had the moral honest to fight for what the investigator found out: that the Columbia SC establishment was out to frame an innocent man.
It’s a must read for any citizen interested in understanding how people within the law enforcement establishment get corrupted by pressure from those in authority above them, trying to protect friends or business associates who commit crimes. there is partial evidence it happens in all large American cities but in this case there is proof. Private investigator/author J.B. Simms documents everything meticulously, and the reader yearns for justice with every attempt of the police, Highway Patrol, judges, and even prison wardens to keep him from uncovering the connections between officials obstructing justice and the real perpetrators. Worse, he documents how the local Powers That Be can get to any defense attorney and most witnesses and threaten them into silence and non-action, in effect, denying justice to the accused-especially when provided a controlled “public defender”. Even the local media is complicit in this conspiracy to cover-up. They spike the story whenever they get that proverbial “phone all in the night” warning them not to give this story any press. Americans tend to trust the justice system, but this book will make them see things in a different light. This story needs to be told. Highly recommended.”
Joel Skousen is the editor of World Affairs Brief and has been guest host of George Noory’s Coast to Coast radio show.
The Good Fight- New Book Lays Out Prosecutorial Corruption
Will Moredock, Columnist
Anyone who has lived in South Carolina long enough has seen the power of corrupt police and prosecutors. Now there is a new book that lays out what author J.B. “Jim” Simms considers a classic case of police and prosecutors colluding to convict an innocent man — or in this case, an innocent woman.Simms writes his chilling story in the first-person, because he was there. As a private investigator of many years, he was hired by Charles Outlaw to exonerate his wife. After years of investigating and presenting evidence to proper authorities and to local media, Simms realized that all doors were closed to him. His only alternative was to write and publish a book, laying out his evidence and allowing the public to decide what happened that night in 2000.
Read the full article here.
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/TheGoodFight/archives/2009/02/15/new-book-lays-out-prosecutorial-corruption/
Don’t get arrested in South Carolina: Or anywhere else in America
S.Renee Greene
Atlanta 11th Circuit Court Examiner
When I heard of the title book written by JB Simms, I was attracted by the title alone; but it wasn’t a story I wanted to report on.
My first thought was “prosecutorial corruption”? Who doesn’t do that? It would take far less time to talk about who doesn’t do it than who does. It’s all too common in today’s America for wrongdoing to be overlooked, laughed about in a “who cares?” manner, and in some cases, sanctioned by the higher powers that be. In a nation where justice is typically sold to the highest bidder for cash under the table, this ‘news’ was really not news at all. Just some backwood country black folks with no common sense acting up and getting caught. Again.
Read the full article here.
http://www.examiner.com/article/don-t-get-arrested-south-carolina-or-anywhere-else-america
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