Richard S. Thompson
The long legal career of Richard Thompson is officially over. The once-prominent lawyer was the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, but was forced to resign in the wake of allegations that he’d abused his authority. But that indiscretion is no more than a footnote in this story.
In 2017, Thompson was accused of stalking by a former girlfriend. She alleged he repeatedly engaged in harassing behavior including driving by her house, pounding on her door, parking outside of her home and work, and following her while she walked her dog. When she got a restraining order against Thompson, he repeatedly violated it. Thompson was arrested on aggravated stalking charges, and was released on bond. In 2018, while on bond, he was arrested on a second felony stalking charge for more of the same behavior. His bond was revoked and he remained in jail until trial.
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In January, Thompson was convicted of two counts of aggravated stalking. Brunswick, GA Circuit Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett sentenced Thompson to two consecutive 10-year sentences, with three years to be served in prison and the balance of the term on probation. But as reported by Law.com, Thompson will be eligible for parole this summer:
Although Thompson—who is currently in custody in Long State Prison in Ludowici—was sentenced in February, he becomes eligible for parole in two months, said a spokesman for the state Board of Pardons and Paroles. Thompson has been in custody since last July and, in sentencing him, Scarlett gave him credit for time served prior to Thompson’s trial.
Pardons and Paroles spokesman Steve Hayes said that Thompson becomes eligible for parole on July 28 because he will have served a third of his prison sentence, which officially ends July 27, 2021. But Hayes said that board parole decisions are governed, in part, by clemency guidelines. Under those guidelines, aggravated stalking is a Level 8—the highest crime severity level and carries a recommendation that a defendant serve 65-90% of his sentence before being paroled.Hayes said the board has discretion to follow the guideline recommendation, require more time up until Thompson’s court-ordered incarceration is complete, reduce time or deny parole. A majority decision of the five members is required, he said.
Even if Thompson does get out of jail, he won’t be able to go back to being a lawyer. On Monday, the Supreme Court of Georgia on Monday formally terminated his law license. Though Thompson voluntarily surrendered his law license, the court called the action “tantamount to disbarment.”
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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).