Jeff Poor: The 1819 News Editor Who “Outed” Bubba Copeland While Concealing His Own Criminal History

By: Donald V. Watkins

Copyrighted and Published on November 11, 2023

IMAGE: Robert Jeffrey Poor, Editor-in-Chief of 1819 News.

An Editorial Opinion

His real name is Robert Jeffrey Poor. He is the editor-in-chief of 1819 News. In Alabama, he is known as Jeff Poor.

On November 1, 2023, Jeff Poor and 1819 News president, CEO, and publisher Kenneth Bryan Dawson signed off on publishing a highly controversial article by reporter Michael Craig Monger that “outed” Smiths Station, Alabama mayor, businessman, and pastor Fred “Bubba” Copeland’s cross-dressing behavior and works of erotic fiction.

The article was a news media “hit job” that caused Bubba Copeland to commit suicide. As a result, Copeland became the latest victim of "homicide journalism" in America.

State of Indiana v. Robert Poor

This was not the first time Jeff Poor has endangered the life of another human being. On June 4, 2017, Poor entered the realm of criminal endangerment in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The case against him was State of Indiana v. Robert Poor, Case No. 49-G12-1706-CM-020744, Marion Superior Court, Criminal Division 12. [The docket sheet in Jeff Poor’s criminal case may be viewed by clicking here.]

On June 4, 2017, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers arrested a very drunk Jeff Poor for “Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person.” Poor spent a night in jail before he was released on a cash bond.

Thankfully, no man, woman, or child was injured or killed during Jeff Poor’s drunken road excursion in Indianapolis.

On November 9, 2017, Jeff Poor pleaded guilty to the charge. He paid a $725 fine and was sentenced to 365 days in jail. Poor was given credit for the one day he spent in jail. Poor was placed on probation for 363 days and his sentence was suspended for 363 days. Poor’s driver’s license was also suspended for 90 days.

Jeff Poor was required to enter and complete an alcohol and drug treatment program and he was subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

Jeff Poor joined 1819 News in August 2022. He was promoted to editor-in-chief of 1819 News in June 2023.

Prior to joining 1819 News, Poor worked as a reporter for Alabama-based Yellowhammer News from December 2017 to February 2022.

Jeff Poor is also a former contributor to Breitbart News.

1819 News' Absence of Proper Journalistic Disclosures

At no time during 1819 News' reporting on Bubba Copeland did this ultra-conservative "law and order"news organization disclose the extensive criminal history of Kenneth Bryan Dawson or the drunk driving/endangerment criminal charge against Jeff Poor.

Even when Dawson and Poor appeared on Dawson's podcast show last week to defend their decision to "out" Bubba Copeland, the two men failed to disclose their own sordid criminal histories. However, this did not stop a self-righteous Bryan Dawson and sanctimonious Jeff Poor from hinting (without offering any evidence) that some aspects of Bubba Copeland's cross-dressing activities and works of erotic fiction might have been criminal in nature.

The Lee County, Alabama Sheriff's office announced last week that it had examined Copeland's electronic devices and found no evidence of any criminal activity.

In Alabama, Kenneth Bryan Dawson and Robert Jeffrey Poor use a variation of their names that omits their first name. This name obfuscation makes the discovery of their criminal histories in other states difficult for members of the general public to find.

In contrast to Bryan Dawson and Jeff Poor, the publicly available evidence thus far establishes that Fred “Bubba” Copeland lived a life that was free of crime. What is more, Copeland has no reported criminal record, anywhere.

The only hint of criminal activity related to Bubba Copeland comes from the mouths of two men with documented criminal histories. While Bryan Dawson has occasionally discussed his extensive criminal history in public settings, Jeff Poor has not.

Coming soon -- Who are the big money donors propping up Bryan Dawson, Jeff Poor, and 1819 News, and why?