Reply #10: Update: The plea deal was apparently with the prosecutor who

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recused himself, hence the need for a defense fund.

McGee case moved to Baton Rouge


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"If it hadn't have been for him, we wouldn't have had ice and water," McLaurin said. "Why are they going to do this to somebody who was just trying to help everybody? I'm really upset about all this."

The threat of prosecution comes as Congress is continuing hearings into the federal response to the Aug. 29 storm that left much of South Mississippi in shambles. Reviews reveal many things that could have been done better at every level of government, McGee said Monday.

"I realized when I took the actions that I did there would be some hurt feelings," McGee said. "I realized I was acting outside the protocol of the national government, and I realized there would be some repercussions from it. I only hoped that at the end of the day that common sense would prevail ... it's been slow coming."

The plea deal McGee had made called for him to be fined up to $5,000. He doesn't know how much defending himself, and possibly his deputies, will cost.

"We anticipate that we may have trips to Washington, negotiations with them," McGee said. "Certainly if we're indicted, we'll have legal fees."

Lampton said the deputies and McGee would be indicted on felony charges if McGee didn't agree to plead to the lesser charge, McGee told the Hattiesburg American last month.

McGee said he asked McMullan to coordinate fund-raising after supporters called to offer financial help.

a tiny bit more here

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/NEWS01/603070312/1002