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Former Rome Police Department Officer Indicted Under Federal Color of Law Counts

January 9, 2009

Steven G. House, currently serving as a Federal Protective Services Agent with the Department of Homeland Security, has been indicted on seven counts of violating Constitutional rights of citizens while performing acts as a law enforcement officer which violated his authority.

According to the indictment, House, a former Rome Police Department employee, pulled over various individuals and detained them, while he was driving a government SUV.

The indictment lists the initials, but no names of the victims, including T.W.P (Count 1&2), S.E.C. (Count 3), J.P.K. (Count 4), D.N.W. (Count 5), D.M. (Count 6) and R.T. (Count 7).

In each instance, House allegedly used emergency equipment which caused the victims to pull over, and in each instance, illegal seizure is alleged, in violation of Title 18, Section 242 of the United States Code.  According to the FBI website for Criminal Investigative Division, at http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/civilrights/statutes.htm#section242 :

Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242

Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law

This statute makes it a crime for any person acting under color of law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to willfully deprive or cause to be deprived from any person those rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution and laws of the U.S.

This law further prohibits a person acting under color of law, statute, ordinance, regulation or custom to willfully subject or cause to be subjected any person to different punishments, pains, or penalties, than those prescribed for punishment of citizens on account of such person being an alien or by reason of his/her color or race.

Acts under “color of any law” include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the bounds or limits of their lawful authority, but also acts done without and beyond the bounds of their lawful authority; provided that, in order for unlawful acts of any official to be done under “color of any law,” the unlawful acts must be done while such official is purporting or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. This definition includes, in addition to law enforcement officials, individuals such as Mayors, Council persons, Judges, Nursing Home Proprietors, Security Guards, etc., persons who are bound by laws, statutes ordinances, or customs.

Punishment varies from a fine or imprisonment of up to one year, or both, and if bodily injury results or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire shall be fined or imprisoned up to ten years or both, and if death results, or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

Teresa Watson


Comments (8)

This town (Rome) needs and enema….

Rick
January 10th, 2010 at 10:26 am

This story has stirred the pot. I was wondering if you have ever run across Mr. House’s name in any of your investigations?

I have also read of some possible good news for Mrs. Lemming. Will you be covering her story again?

Dear Room4,

There is a slim chance for Ms. Lemming. I was at the hearing on Friday, and will plan to do a story in a couple of days. It was my fist chance to see our one year old Floyd County Superior Court Judge in action, Jack Niedrach, ELECTED not Appointed to the bench his first go-around, and I was so impressed with his thoroughness, considering every angle, balanced by his compassion and respect shown to Ms. Lemming and her whole family.

He has ordered the attorney for Ms. Lemming, Floyd Farless, for some case law on an item I had not ever even considered, which Mr. Farless, who just came into the case in the last week, raised. That is the slim chance Ms. Lemming has.

Mr. Farless has to get the Motion to Judge Niedrach by this Wednesday, then KayAnne Weatherington, the ADA, has until the next Wednesday to respond, (They are fighting tooth and toenail against any consideration), and then Judge Niedrach will consider all points and make a decision.

She even told Jack Niedrach that he did not have jurisdiction in the matter, and Judge Niedrach politely, but firmly told her he had read the transcript, but was open to options - this issue raised by Floyd Farless being one.

One of Ms. Lemming’s daughters had filed a Motion for Reconsideration in November, after Ms. Lemming had written her sentencing judge a letter asking for her to reconsider her sentence. A sentencing judge has the authority to do that, AFTER the fact, but Judge Coslton wrote Lemming a letter saying that because she had recused herself, she had no more jurisdiction.

Of course, Colston should have, by law, recused herself PRIOR to sentencing Ms. Lemming.

But in the letter from Judge Colston, Colston suggested to Ms. Lemming that she file a Motion for Reconsideration, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THE TIME LIMIT FOR DOING SO had long since passed. It was almost as if Colston was a cat playing with a mouse before she kills it. That was simply cruel.

But, in the interim, Floyd Farless, whom a detective friend of mine say knows more law than most, found something else to hang a hat on, and so, perhaps…

But Judge the was very open and honest with Ms. Lemming, and made it clear that except for this one point of law Mr. Farless has raised, his hands appear to be tied. He told the court that as Mr. Farless had pointed out, this sentence was indeed HARSH, but legal.

Jack Niedrach is a jurist Floyd County can be proud of.

I am in the middle of family arrangements for a major situation, right now, and this as well as my Chattooga County Land Grab story will have to wait until mid-week. In fact, I may wait until after the Judge makes a decision to post the whole Lemming story.

As for Mr. House, I had not heard of him before, and I am not sure I have ever encountered him before.

I do not know a whole lot about him or the situation.

tw

ROOM4ONEMORE
January 11th, 2010 at 10:00 am

It was good to see the Lemming family showing a strong support of Lorraine. Larry and 3 of the grandchildren visited her tonight at the jail. I know that it does the spirit well to visit with family. I’ve heard some good things about Judge Niedrach so she seems to be in fair and capable hands with him.

Dear NR:

I believe that if anyone can help, Floyd Farless and Jack Niedrach are the ones to do it.

I understand that Lorraine has had a rather famous/infamous cellmate, Michelle Reynolds. I wonder how she feels to know that Michelle Reynolds, who helped plan the murder of her husband, may, in the end, stay in jail less time than Lorraine, who never shot, shot at, stabbed or injured anyone, and never plotted in a conspiracy to do so.

I do not understand this. How could the DA’s office be so willing to cut her slack, when they and the sentencing Judge in Lorraine Lemming’s case, threw the book at her and still fight to keep her locked up.

Unbelievable.

Even the fellows who conspired to kidnap and attempted to murder a victim a couple of years ago, and then shot at a police office during a gun battle, got less from Judge Walter Matthews, than Lorraine Lemming got from Colston. Of course, one of the convicted felon’s father hangs out with the right people, even now, with big community leader names at the strip club on Maple Avenue.

It’s not what you know, or what you did, but who you know , or in Lorraine’s case, who her ex-husband slept with and then walked away from…Colston. Hell hath no fury like a woman (judge) scornded.

Colston should be run out of town for what she has done.

tw

NoseyRosey
January 13th, 2010 at 11:51 pm

It’s no secret around town that Larry is a skirt chaser. He’s been that way for years. It’s sad that Lorraine is paying the price for Larry and Colston’s infidelity. Colston has misused her position as a form of personal revenge and charges should be brought up against her for it.

Dear NR,

I cannot say Mr. Lemming is a skirt chaser, or even confirm that he has that reputation. I know this town is big on gossip and innuendo.

In fact, he has never confirmed or denied the relationship with Colston. Lemming’s daughters knew about it, though, and made no secret about it, even in a public meeting last year, at the Georgia Commission on Women.

What I do know about Mr. Lemming is that he has ALWAYS been more than a gentleman in my presence, and my husband and I have been out with him and to his home to meet his family and dine. My husband and Mr. Lemming both love history, and both love Antiques Road Show.

We even took him out for his birthday, recently, along with the P.I. who does not exist, (according to RGS), and his wife.

tw

NoseyRosey
January 14th, 2010 at 12:38 pm

All places are big on gossip and innuendo, without which there wouldn’t be much fodder for reporters or journalists.

Although you may not be aware of his infidelities, they are common knowledge around here. Larry is a very likable and charming fellow, which explains why women are attracted to him. I have known him most of my life.

If you prefer, I’ll refrain from gossiping on your website.

Dear NR,

I would appreciate that.

tw

NoseyRosey
January 14th, 2010 at 3:55 pm

Your quote - “It’s not what you know, or what you did, but who you know , or in Lorraine’s case, who her ex-husband slept with and then walked away from…Colston. Hell hath no fury like a woman (judge) scornded.”

I’ll leave you to your own gossiping but I expect you to hold my identity private.

Dear Nosey,

This website belongs to me, not to anyone else.

For two years I fought law suits for what other people posted. I FOUGHT. I paid the bills. I trust and vet what I post, and while sometimes I make mistakes, I am willing and will be able to answer for my mistakes. I cannot answer and am not willing to answer for yours or anyone else’s mistakes or gossip.

You are a business person. Can you imagine someone coming to you and trying to run one of the aspects of your business, or try to trash it? Can you imagine when they are given a hint, that they come back and criticize and give ultimatums, or try to set rules for you? That is NOT how a business works.

People do not get to come into your business or mine, and set the rules. They may be accommodated or catered to, but they do not run the place.

Now, I have never revealed the identity of anyone, yet, in two years. The only people who have been discovered are those who have gone out into the community and bragged about who they are on this website. IN fact, that is exactly how Kenneth Busbin got sued. Even when I was sued for something, yet another poster had written, in the Dennis case, no one found out who that user was. Because they were careful and never ran their mouth, BLC was never able to learn from anyone INCLUDING me, through two years of brutal legal abuse, THAT I PAID FOR AND WORKED MY BUTT OFF ON, who that poster was.

So DO NOT DARE lecture me or give me an ultimatum. The federal code says that I MAY reveal if I want to, but that I do not have to. I choose not to, and have more than paid the sacrifice for doing so. I have had to “Unapprove” a number of things you have posted through the last year or so, because you said horrible things about other posters, or gossiped about innocent people.

From now on, please respect the fact that this is not a Socialist Society, nor a communal website. My name is on it, I borrowed the money to build the website, and I continue to pay the bills, so I make the rules, since I take the risks.

You are more than welcome NOT to post here again.

tw

NoseyRosey
January 14th, 2010 at 10:27 pm

TW, I just wrote a very lengthy comment, and got the error “invalid security code”. I did put the correct code. I am hoping that it is sitting in your bucket for you to approve, before it posts. Please let me know.

Dear SAK,

I am not sure why that happened. But this came through just fine.

tw

SAK
January 15th, 2010 at 12:27 am

TW, I guess my blog just wasn’t meant to be posted. In the mean time your last response to RoseyNosey took care of part it. The last thing you need is to end up with another fruitless lawsuit against you.

The other thing was about Lorraine Lemming. I do not know this lady, but I continue to pray for her. I cannot seem to comprehend how a judge who should have recused themselves, was able to pass down such a harsh sentence and our judicial system allowed it. My question; is there a chance that Governor Perdue could pardon or commute her sentence, since this is his last year?

Still a loyal reader to your site, who still supports you in your fight against corruption.

Dear SAK,

The State Legislature took away the Governor’s right to pardon/commute sentences a few years back. There was a Sentence Review Panel, which Ms. Lemming had applied to in the statutory time period, but then that Board was declared unconstitutional. However, all sentences for which a request to review had already been applied to, where all still supposed to be considered. Lorraine’s was not, and that is one of the key issues Floyd Farless will be addressing when he submits his Pleading for Judge Niedrach.

I am sure that Mr. Lemming and his family are much encouraged by thoughtful concerns and prayers of people like you.

tw

SAK
January 16th, 2010 at 10:39 pm

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  • Title: Former Rome Police Department Officer Indicted Under Federal Color of Law Counts
  • Written on: January 9th, 2010
  • 8 comments
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