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Former Judge Casey Moreland's attorneys push for leniency before sentencing

Former Judge Casey Moreland's attorneys push for leniency before sentencing
Posted at 7:56 PM, Nov 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-30 14:27:16-05

Former Davidson County Judge Casey Moreland learns his fate tomorrow.

A federal judge will sentence Moreland, who pleaded guilty to theft and obstruction of justice.

Federal guidelines call for a maximum sentence of 46 months in in prison, but prosecutors will push to increase Moreland's sentence to five years.

Recently unsealed court documents show that Moreland's defense attorneys will ask the judge for leniency.

Moreland's attorneys argue his "history of exceptional community activities, his poor physical condition and his mental and emotional health history" should lead to a lower sentence.

The defense discusses Moreland's rise to General Sessions Judge from "humble" beginnings and even mention that he officiated college football games for more than two decades. 

Read the Sentencing Memorandum Filed by Moreland's Attorneys

Undercover videos and recorded phone conversations led to Moreland's guilty plea earlier this year.

In March of last year he discussed planting drugs on his former mistress to discredit her, and he later pleaded guilty to embezzling cash from the Drug Court Foundation that he founded.

Moreland's defense attorneys reveal that his time in jail has taken a toll.

Initially Moreland was held with "five other inmates" who slept on the floor and shared one commode.

He was later transferred to solitary confinement for his "safety."

A recent request by his lawyer to leave solitary was denied.

The defense filed several character letters for Federal Judge Waverly Crenshaw to read before he hands down his sentence.

The longest letter was from Moreland's wife.

She wrote about his depression and drinking and that after text messages of Moreland's affair became public his "mental condition deteriorated."

The defense also included an article about "Traumatic Stress in Judges."

The defense wrote that Moreland has cooperated with prosecutors by answering questions about other individuals and public officials.

The final sentence will be up to Judge Waverly Crenshaw.