Billy Long Wants Witness to Be Evaluated

July 26, 2008 - 3:20 PM

Before former Hamilton County Sheriff Billy Long is sentenced, he wants a federal judge to order a psychiatric evaluation for a key government witness in the drug and extortion case. A motion supporting Long's request for leniency at his October 27th sentencing contends the witness, Clarence Eugene Overstreet, "has a history of manipulating, lying to and cheating" people. Long resigned as sheriff after his arrest and pleaded guilty May 5th to extortion, money laundering, drug and gun charges. Long's attorney, Jerry Summers says a psychiatric evaluation of Overstreet will help show that "the whole picture of Billy Long is a lot different" than what's covered in the indictment. Summers declined to elaborate.