Popcorn Sutton, the cantankerous self-acclaimed legend of Appalachian bootlegging lore and renowned manufacturer of skullknocker tonic, has been sentenced to 18 months in the pen and 3 years of supervised federal probation.
Sutton was busted last Spring after selling 200 gallons of untaxed whiskey to an undercover “G-Man.” Under federal sentencing guidelines, the various charges (illegal production of “distilled spirits” and possession of firearms by a convicted felon) could have landed Sutton in prison for up to 15 years. He argued, however, his health had left him too feeble to continue his career as a moonshiner and requested probation. (According to testimony, Sutton, 62, suffers from ulcers and from COPD.)
However, given Sutton’s tendency to flaunt his criminal activities, Judge Ronnie Greer didn’t think probation was going to cut it.
“Your moonshining is a violation of the law,” Greer told Sutton. “I don’t care how it is glamorized on the History Channel or the Discovery Channel.”
The testimony, he added, showed that “not only are you not remorseful for your criminal conduct, you seem to be proud of it.”
He then handed down a minimum sentence, allowing credit for the time served under house arrest since March, and Sutton will be allowed to remain at his home until notified to report to prison.
Greer said he had considered imposing a sentence of 24 months in Sutton’s case, but decided against it because of Sutton’s age and medical condition.
“If 18 months (in prison) doesn’t deter you, I don’t think 24 months will either,” the judge said…
Although credit for time served would knock the actual prison time down to under a year, many are still unhappy with the sentence – particularly those from Maggie Valley who rely upon the tourism industry for a living. Turns out – Popcorn, who was known to cruise the street in a Model T Ford equipped with a still while peddling copies of his book, “Me and My Likker,” was good for business.
I, on the other hand, think Sutton got lucky – at least I suspect had it been a belligerent Yankee bootlegger bilking the government out of taxes on 100+ gallons of liquor and possessing weapons illegally, they’d have tossed `em under the jail. So, was it the petitions which circulated on Sutton’s behalf (the one for leniency gathered almost 1500 signatures)? The “Free Popcorn” t-shirts? The “Popcorn for President” bumper stickers? Could it be that “White Lightning” is such a significant part of Appalachian history and culture – the legacy giving birth to NASCAR and inspiring the likes of Sonny Boy Williamson, George Jones, Waylon and Dylan and all the boys… that some of us feel instinctively protective of the tradition and those who uphold it? Or hell, maybe it was just the hat.
[...] » Must Have been his Lucky HatPosted 46 minutes [...]
Waylon and dylan? That aint right. You know that aint right.
i think what they done to him was wrong. They should have just left that man alone and let him finish the rest of his days at home. RIP POPCORN SUTTON your legend lives on………..