Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s the latest on the Florida trial of former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle who used to live in Asheville. I’m unclear as to whether he still has a home here in the mountains. From StAugustine.com:
After the judge declined to take Artimus Pyle’s trial out of the hands of the jury and declare him not guilty of failing to register as a sex offender, the rock ‘n’ roll drummer said he had something to say that had been a long time coming.
“Ma’am, I have never harmed a child in my life,” Pyle told St. Johns Circuit Judge Wendy W. Berger outside the presence of the jury. “I would give my life for a child.
“I have five children. And we’ve all been affected, horribly, by this …. I’ve been in a mental prison. People looking at me. Everyone thinking I’m a sex offender. It hurts every day.
“Last night on the news they branded (this) as the ‘drummer sex trial.’ I’ve never been able to say a single word in my defense. … I appreciate your letting me say that.”
After presenting 10 witnesses on Tuesday and three on Wednesday, Assistant State Attorney Kelly Wark announced that the state rested its case.
The spectator section of the courtroom continued to fill up Wednesday with Pyle’s supporters, including his wife, Kerri Hampton-Pyle; his son, Chris; and his daughter, Kelly, who was involved in a Daytona Beach traffic accident Tuesday night as she drove from North Carolina to be with her father.
The former drummer for Hall of Fame band Lynyrd Skynyrd was arrested twice in 2007 and has been charged with two counts of failing to register and one count of failing to change an incorrect address on his driver’s license.
Artie lives in the hills of Virginia (willis to be precise) and has never harmed a child in his life, period. He’s a kind soul and a credit to humanity.
He may still have a home here in WNC, but his permanent address is listed as Willis, Va., and he updated his sex offender registration there as recently as May. Even his address on the N.C. Sex Offender Registry lists his Virginia address.
Our local black sheep, Paul Ruebens, got tagged for one wacky deed years ago in a local theater and has had to try to live-it-down ever since. It’ll be the same for poor old Artimus too I expect.
Why are you unclear as to whether he still has a home here in the mountains? It’s clear from property records that he does. And the same newspaper you quote also writes, "The former Marine and drummer for Hall of Fame band Lynyrd Skynyrd had been living in Crescent Beach before he moved to Asheville, N.C., in October 2002."