PRESS RELEASE > #2
Jere Beery to face jail in an effort to protect VA disability Compensation
By Staff Reporter: Rick Townsend
3/25/04
An incredible heated legal and public battle between combat wounded Vietnam Veteran, Jere Beery, and Georgia State Superior Court, Judge Alan Keeble, has raised eyebrows nationwide. Veterans and military personnel from across the country are watching this story like a hawk. Jere Beery, of Newnan, Georgia, recently appeared before Judge KEEBLE in a Finial Divorce hearing. In an extremely usual move, Judge KEEBLE ordered Mr. Beery to pay his ex-wife $24,000 in alimony directly from his monthly VA Disability Compensation check. According to Beery, who has been living in a homeless shelter for the past 10 months, Judge KEEBLE is in violation of Federal Law. U.S. Code, Title 38, section 5301(a), states in part: Nonassignability and exempt status of benefits Payments of benefits due or to become due under any law administered by the Secretary shall not be assignable except to the extent specifically authorized by law, and such payments made to, or on account of, a beneficiary shall be exempt from taxation, shall be exempt from the claim of creditors, and shall not be liable to attachment, levy, or seizure by or under any legal or equitable process whatever, either before or after receipt by the beneficiary.
Beery, who was severely wounded while serving with river patrol boats in Vietnam, has declared he will go to jail before complying with Judge Keeble’s ruling. Beery, who is also a very active Veteran’s Right Advocate, has pledged to turn himself into authorities on July 4, 2004 to face Contempt of Court charges.
“It’s not all about me”, Beery said. “It’s the idea that a State Judge can ignore Federal Law and hurt another disabled veteran in the future that makes me mad. I’m not going to stop until VA disability compensation is totally protected for our troops and every Judge across the country understands that.”
So far, Beery has picked up support from AmVets and at least one Atlanta radio station, WGST/Talk Radio, 640 AM. “The story is still very young yet and I expect many to join this effort in the near future,” Beery said.
There is talk among several grassroots organizations of a possible “Protect Our Troop’s Benefits Rally” taking place in Newnan on the day Beery turns himself into law enforcement. Organizers feel this is a great opportunity to bring attention to veteran’s issues before the November Election. Beery agrees with this observation. “I think Judge Keeble’s removal from the Bench is the only action that would send a strong enough message to all politicians and judges nationwide”, Beery said.
On March 17, Beery released his “Declaration of Contempt” nationally. “Since that time, I have received hundreds of emails of support and offers to help put a Rally together”, Beery explained. “Most feel as I do, we simply cannot let this opportunity to publicly support our troops and protect their earned benefits go by”, Beery concluded.
Jere Beery > jerebeery@aol.com
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