PRESS RELEASE: JOSEPH GULLETT CALLS FOR REPRESENTATIVE RAKESTRAW TO EXPLAIN WHY SHE USED AN ACCUSED STALKER AS “EXPERT WITNESS”
DALLAS – Former Paulding County Republican Party Chairman Joseph Gullett called on Representative Paulette Rakestraw to explain why she invited Chris Sevier to testify in favor of HB509 in 2017.
“Paulding County, the General Assembly, and the people of Georgia do not share the values of Chris Sevier in any fashion,” Gullett said. “This is a man who has sued to marry his computer in multiple states, but even more concerning has demonstrated a pattern of abusive and predatory behavior. Paulding County deserves a legislator who can recognize the difference between a public threat and a public servant.”
Chris Sevier, Representative Rakestraw’s expert witness on HB 509, has a demonstrably dangerous history that actually threatens to derail efforts to combat human trafficking in Georgia, including:
- • Charges of aggravated stalking and criminal impersonation: Sevier harassed and stalked country singer Jon Rich and a 17-year-old female. Both Rich and the 17-year-old female ask for a restraining order, an order Sevier is arrested for violating in June 2013;
Source: Tennessean.com, 1/9/2014 - Digital harassment: Sevier sent numerous emails to Rich over a period of years, including “a half-naked picture of himself draped in an American flag and covered in a substance ‘“believed to be representing blood,’” according to court records;”
Source: Tennessean.com, 1/9/2014 - Absurd Marriage Claims: Sevier allegedly “married” his laptop computer in New Mexico then filed a federal lawsuit against the same Colorado baker at the center of the case regarding cakes for same-sex weddings;
Source: Washington Times, July 30, 2017 - History of Frivolous Lawsuits: Sevier has admittedly abused the judicial system in order to file frivolous lawsuits. He sued Apple for his own habits of accessing pornographic material online, saying “Hey, I’m litigious and enjoy drafting frivolous filings about sex stuff” after his case was dismissed in Florida in 2013.
Source: thenextweb.com, 3/27/2018 - History of Family Violence: Chris Sevier was charged and convicted of misdemeanor assault for an altercation with his father-in-law over visitation of his son. His then 7-month-old son was also injured in the altercation;
Source: RawStory, 4/11/2017 - Failure to Pay Child Support: A Tennessee arrest warrant was issued in 2015 for failure to appear at a court hearing related to his continued failure to pay child support.
Source: RawStory, 4/11/2017
The long, dangerous history of Chris Sevier was a matter of publicly accessible records and news prior to his testifying with Representative Paulette Rakestraw in 2017, a history that Gullett says should have been well researched and known prior to ever inviting him to testify on behalf of legislation in front of the Georgia General Assembly.
“The fact that Rakestraw’s legislation did absolutely nothing for victims of human trafficking notwithstanding, she’s obligated to explain why she insulted those victims by inviting an accused stalker of a 17-year-old female as an expert witness. Our state deserves better, our district deserves better, and the victims of human trafficking and sexual assault in our State absolutely deserve better,” Gullett said.
House Bill 509 was introduced on February 27, 2017 and assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. Sponsored by Representative Rakestraw, the only other two sponsors were gun-grabbing Democrat Mary Margaret Oliver of Decatur and Sheila Jones of Atlanta. The bill would have mandated a filter be placed on internet connected devices that prevented access to obscene materials unless the consumer paid the State of Georgia a $20 per device tax to remove the filter. The funds raised would be dedicated to a newly created Georgia Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Trust Fund. Gullett is challenging Rakestraw in the July 24 Republican Primary Runoff for House District 19.
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