The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 7/18/8
In all the craziness of Mayor Frank Melton’s term in office, perhaps one of the most bizarre came Wednesday when he said he didn’t understand the federal charges against him.
When Melton and co-defendants police bodyguards Marcus Wright and Michael Recio made their court appearance before federal Magistrate Linda Anderson, she asked if they understood the charges. Wright and Recio said they did. Melton replied, “No, ma’am, I do not.”
Anderson had Mark Blumberg, deputy chief of the U.S. Justice Department Civil Rights Division and lead prosecutor in the case, read the indictment aloud.
They are charged with violating the constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure of Jackson residents Evans Welch and Jennifer Sutton. Melton is accused of directing a group of young men to damage the house with sledgehammers.
Magnolia Tribune
