Former Melton bodyguard pleads guilty
Wright admitted in court that he conspired with Mayor Frank Melton and another former police bodyguard Michael Recio to tear down the home on Aug. 26, 2006. The conspiracy charge is a misdemeanor.
Wright, who was a police bodyguard for the mayor, agreed to the plea deal offered by federal prosecutors earlier today. In return, he must cooperate with the federal government’s case against Melton and former police bodyguard Recio.
Wright, Melton and Recio were indicted in July on charges they violated the constitutional rights of the tenant and owner of the duplex to be free of unreasonable search and seizure. A second charge said the men violated the constitution under the “color of law.” A third charge is the men possessed a firearm while committing a crime of violence.
Wright also must resign immediately from his job as police officer and never seek law enforcement employment again. He will be sentenced on Dec. 30 and faces a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison, up to a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release or no more than five years probation.
Clarion Ledger
10/7/8
Magnolia Tribune
