Popcorn Sutton
Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton (1946 – March 16, 2009) was a legendary Appalachian maker of moonshine from Maggie Valley, North Carolina.[1][2][3]
Sutton's career in bootlegging—and getting caught for it—extended back to the 1970s.[2] In 1999, Sutton published Me and My Likker, an autobiography and guide to moonshine production.[4] He was featured in a 2007 documentary on hillbillies on The History Channel.[1]
Sutton considered moonshine production a legitimate part of his heritage, being as he was Scots-Irish and descendant from a long line of moonshiners. [2] In January 2009, Sutton was sentenced to eighteen months in a federal prison for illegally brewing spirits and possession of a firearm as a felon.[5] Sutton, 62 and recently diagnosed with cancer, pleaded with the judge to let him serve his sentence under house arrest. Several petitions were made in attempts to reduce or commute Sutton's sentence, to no avail. In sentencing, the judge specifically referenced the documentary about him.[1] Sutton committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning in March, 2009, apparently to avoid the commencement of a federal prison term to begin a few days later.
References
- ^ a b c Mansfield, Duncan (March 19, 2009). "Widow: Moonshiner took his life to avoid prison". San Francisco Chronicle. The Associated Press. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
- ^ a b c Miller, Stephen (March 20, 2009). "Legendary Tennessee Moonshiner Plied His Trade to the End". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
- ^ Stroud, Emily (March 17, 2009). "Family of legendary moonshiner hoped his sentence would be reduced". WBIR-TV. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
- ^ "Me and My Likker at amazon.com". Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Famed moonshiner gets 18 months". Times-News. Associated Press. January 26, 2009.
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