Jackson Free Press

Dale Danks, Mayor Frank Melton's attorney, told reporters this afternoon that his client had no intention of resigning in response to multiple indictments brought against him this afternoon in Hinds County Circuit Court.

Melton and two bodyguards, JPD Detectives Michael Recio and Marcus Wright, are jointly charged with five counts, including felony malicious mischief and house burglary, as well as conspiracies to commit felony malicious mischief and house burglary. They also face an indictment of directing or causing a minor to commit a felony.

Danks described the indictments as political hits.

"I'm not suggesting (they're politically motivated), I'm saying it," Danks said. "I've been around here a long time, and I have not seen indictments come down in such a short period of time as … this investigation has. They've made this a priority when I've got senior citizens out here getting raped, knocked over the head and their belongings stolen from them. Businesses are having to close and leave the city because of drugs and crimes taking place, and that's what I'm talking about priorities. I mean this is ludicrous, and will be proven ludicrous."

A written statement released at the press conference attributed to both Danks and Melton said: "Also, there is no question that damage was done to the exterior of the drug house at 1305 Ridgeway. Maybe better judgment could have been used, but the charges that have been made against Mayor Melton are an extreme and excessive reaction."

There was extensive damage to both the exterior and interior the duplex on Ridgeway. No drugs were found in the residence on the night of Evans Welch's arrest.

The statement continued: "The powers that be have decided to charge the mayor with crimes that could result in jail time, because a known crack/drug house that was a scourge to the neighborhood was damaged."

Danks played down the importance of the indictments.

"There's an old saying, as a former county prosecuting attorney myself when Ed Peters and I started together back in 1972 and he was D.A. and I was county prosecuting attorney: you can get indictments against anything, living or dead," Danks said.

Peterson said she was paying no heed to Danks' remarks and intended to limit such statements on Monday.

"I'm not interested in those comments, and on Monday I will be seeking a gag order to prevent anyone from tainting the potential juror pool," Peterson said.

by Adam Lynch

Previous Commentsshow

I find it strangely appropriate that Danks brought up Ed Peters. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Sep 15 2006

“There’s an old saying, as a former county prosecuting attorney myself when Ed Peters and I started together back in 1972 and he was D.A. and I was county prosecuting attorney: you can get indictments against anything, living or dead,” Danks said. Folks do not let these men take us back to a time we all want to forget. And from the Ledge: For more than a week, Melton has dodged reporters, skipped City Council meetings and canceled news conferences. Danks said Thursday he had advised his client not to speak publicly. So how is supposed to be an effective mayor if he has to keep mum, and is going to avoid the press and the public. This is outrageous and selfish for two people who supposedly LOVE Jackson. Let's face it, these men have no interest in seeing Jackson succeed. Since Melton got here, and Danks lost, they have used every opportunity to bitch about Jackson or someone in Jackson. Nobody was free from the wrath of Melton and his meddling in police affairs has ruined many police chiefs and resulted in tainted cases. Danks jumped at every chance to sue Jackson or support outlaying cities fight Jackson. If you love this city that is totally unacceptable to the citizens! Go home!

pikersam

Sep 15 2006

I think we'd all be better off if Frank was quiet and out of sight. As for Dale? I didn't like him in the first place.

Ironghost

Sep 15 2006

dank's support of behavior that is so flagrant and illegal is curious.

Scott Thomas

Sep 15 2006

Considering some of the things the good old boys got away with back in those days, I find that statement highly alarming. Good to know Hood has stepped to the fore front to prosecute the case.

pikersam

Sep 15 2006

“I’m not interested in those comments, and on Monday I will be seeking a gag order to prevent anyone from tainting the potential juror pool,” Peterson said. I think that's a really smart move from Peterson. We sure don't need a bunch of silly a$$ spin influencing folks that are STILL not really paying attention. Would a gag order also prevent people like Councilman Stokes from continually spewing his spin? My guess is no, but I don't know for sure.

JAR

Sep 15 2006

Yeah, like the part time radio hosts who are also council members can keep from talking about Melton on the air. If they don't bring it up, callers will. What about discussing city projects? Better yet, I don't think the mayor needs to be at any ribbon-cuttings or public school events lest he bring unwanted negative coverage of him in public. These types of things should compel the Council to formally request, in the interest of Jackson, that the Mayor resign. Doesn't mean he will or has to; but, he needs to know he is an island in Jackson. Our council doesn't need to expose Jackson to any more, than necessary, legal problems or negative press from Melton.

pikersam

Sep 15 2006

It's amazing how quickly Danks has forgotten that under his administration crime was unusually high. The street gangs almost took over the entire city. I can remember that one night there were eight (that's right 8) drive-bys by the same car. There were certain parts of the city that even the police hated to go into. Danks is being paid to be Melton's attorney so just expect him to defend the mayor's actions. Melton made a statement just after he was elected (I'm paraphrasing) saying that he would rather have Danks on his side, than have to fight against him. Clearly this shows that Danks is for sale to the highest bidder. If anyone thinks that the mayor needs a second chance, just someone who is presently serving time for criminal acts and see how much sympathy they have for Frank.

lance

Sep 15 2006

But, Lance... He has a crime summit then and look were we are now! ;-) The only thing that is politically motivated is Danks and the bitter racists that follow Melton around from NEJax and beyond. He's been politically motivated since Mike Moore kicked his ass from Biloxi to Olive Branch when he ran for AG. Now the next AG is going to kick his ass too in court. They want to hold Jackson hostage out of pure hate for the fact that they did a bad job in the late 80's and on to Ditto in the 90's. They didn't recognize the demographic shift of Jackson and try to embrace it and make it work like other cities who went through the same thing and are prospering right now! The system needs fixing and they cannot face the fact that Melton , nor their antiquated ideas, are not working.

pikersam

Sep 16 2006

Just watched the evening news and it showed Danks once again calling the vandalism of the occupied duplex a 'demolition'. To me this is really a strange twist of usage, one I would not have chosen. Perhaps Danks thinks 'demolition' confers some type of legal right to vandalize this property but we all know the Council had not given that order, nor has it ever been suggested that the property was even being considered for demolition. I am concerned for the single mother who depended on this property and the adjoining unit for income. Know she will eventually be recompensed, but in the meantime she does not have the income from the property to cover the mortgage. Has she addressed this?

ChrisCavanaugh

Sep 16 2006

The system needs fixing and they cannot face the fact that Melton , nor their antiquated ideas, are not working. -pikersam Well said Pike. You can almost use a split screen and show Danks and Melton mummuring the same rhetoric. I believe that that was part of Danks downfall or should I say exposure was when he started to believe that he could tell the citizens of Jackson anything and they should have believed him. When Melton said that he had nothing to do with the destruction of the house on Ridgeway street I saw it no different than if he has pi$$ed on our backs and tried to make us believe that it was raining. Danks AND Evers know that they can stick a fork in Melton because he is done. I just hope that this phase of getting Melton out of being in control dosen't take as long as the first.

lance

Sep 16 2006

I am concerned for the single mother who depended on this property and the adjoining unit for income. Know she will eventually be recompensed, but in the meantime she does not have the income from the property to cover the mortgage. Has she addressed this? That concerns me too, Chris. She can't put a new tenant in that house, so that'll be a strain on her and her child(ren). Does anyone know if Ms. Sutton has been offered help from anyone besides the Mayor after he got in trouble? I would love to see the NAACP, the ACLU and the Magnolia Bar Association set up some kind of fund. Can the JFP set up a fund like the one for the Dee/Moore Coalition? Can WE help her somehow?

LatashaWillis

Sep 16 2006

Another idea to consider would be if there was some community effort to rebuild her house in the same manner Habitat For Humanity does for people. It would make a tremendous healing gesture if organizations such as NAACP, ACLU, Magnolia Bar Association, local churches and organizations, etc. put together something to help her rebuild.

Rob

Sep 16 2006

Another idea to consider would be if there was some community effort to rebuild her house in the same manner Habitat For Humanity does for people. It would make a tremendous healing gesture if organizations such as NAACP, ACLU, Magnolia Bar Association, local churches and organizations, etc. put together something to help her rebuild. I really like that idea! If the gouse could be fixed and Ms. Sutton could resume renting it out, that would a big morale boost for her and anyone else in that area.

LatashaWillis

Sep 16 2006

What a lovely idea helping to rebuild the property as a way of saying to that community the mayor did you wrong but we citizens are going to help you if you will only help us by making sure your neighbor hood is safe and you help run the druggers out if there are any. With the help of all citizens and JPD I believe it could be done. Regular citizens can join forces with those organizations and become the power to take back the city legally. Melton may have woke the people who are afraid of the criminal elements in the neighborhood and showed them they do have the power to do something about their streets. The laws are their for everyone even the mayor. All of us need healing after this farce and renewing our efforts to help bring the city back is a start. I hope the next Mayor brings back the crime prevention people and the NARC squad.

jada

Sep 16 2006

As much as Frank needs to seek professional help, go to jail, or at the least resign, and as much as Dale Danks has contributed to this situation, a small word in his defense. As an attorney, you have to protect your clients. At this point, Danks's comments remind me of a lawyer's comments after asserting a foolish defense for an obviously guilty client. (video tap, 4 eye witnesses, fingerprints, alibi witness (his mother) refusing to back the alibi... "I've got to defend him, he is my client, and he has provided me nothing to work with." That is Frank and all his actions and Dale took this client. He made his bed....

AGamm627

Sep 17 2006

This man thinks he is a man of God? To try and use your influence to cast doubt about finding 12 jurors on the news is low! Instant Karma!

pikersam

Sep 17 2006

What a lovely idea helping to rebuild the property as a way of saying to that community the mayor did you wrong but we citizens are going to help you if you will only help us by making sure your neighbor hood is safe and you help run the druggers out if there are any. With the help of all citizens and JPD I believe it could be done. Regular citizens can join forces with those organizations and become the power to take back the city legally. You know, the president of Virden Addition's neighborhood association was very vocal about the incident. I wonder if he is organizing something. Could someone find out?

LatashaWillis

Sep 17 2006

Just last week, I read the plea to the courts for relief of Dale Danks as the personal attorney for Frank Melton and the order further listed the other attorneys who would be handling the case. When was Danks rehired to represent Melton personally. Where are the Priesters in all of this mess. Charlene Priester was on record as his personal attorney. Some people are saying that this case being given to the Grand Jury was too quick. Just remember that this situation started during the "Bat Man Days" with all of the jury tampering from Melton. Faye Peterson has been begging for relief in all of this and many have blogged about how Hood was seemingly turing his head and not acting fast enough on the issues. If he had "called the wolf ugly" a long time ago, Jackson would not be faced with these added problems.

justjess

Sep 18 2006

GET READY FOR A SHOWDOWN! THE DEMAGOGUES ARE INCITING A RACE RIOT FOR TUESDAY NIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING!!! While listening to the radio yesterday afternoon, I turned to 1300 AM to listen to a show called “Straight Talk". One of the hosts of the show is councilman Frank Bluntson. Stephanie Parker Weaver (who is not a host) was also on the show. The demagoguery was so thick it was frightening. It also appeared that they were screening calls to allow only Melton supports to get on the air to spew hate. I actually got chills listening to all the hate Frank Bluntson and Parker Weaver were spewing. They were saying that Frank Melton was indicted because he’s Black, and that Whites don’t want to see Blacks become too powerful. It was also said that those who brought the charges and indictments did so to put him (FM) “back on the plantation” where he belongs. Nothing was said about the “Rule of Law.” It is sad to say, but it appeared that none of the people who called in citing racism understood that Frank Melton allegedly broke laws. Bluntson and Parker-Weaver, aware of this void, took advantage of it and continued to pile it on. Everything was racially charged. It was a feeding frenzy. SCARY! I could not believe what I was hearing. The attacks on the DA, Attorney General, and Sheriff Malcolm McMillan were vicious, vile, and violently racist. During the attacks, Bluntson and Parker-Weaver repeatedly urged ALL Frank Melton supporters to sign up for public comments and to pack City Hall on Tuesday, September 19, at 6:00 p. m. I hope there is extra security at the meeting, because IT’S GOING TO BE UGLY!

blu_n_a_redstate

Sep 18 2006

Don't worry blu, et al. This is Custer's Last Stand. Melton and his supporters are going to fight just as bravely (irony and sarcasm) as Custer actually did, despite the fictional history of his bravely under those dire circumstances. Melton's supporters are about to find out how long and ass-kicking the long arm of the law can be. They have already seen the exceptional speed and accuracy the law is capable of, yet they're still fooled into believing those Indians can't really be that angry and blood thirsty. Others tribes are getting angry too and contemplating jumping in. Soon we will see whether they passed arithematic in grade school.

Ray Carter

Sep 19 2006

Blue in red state, I'm glad some of you listened to that show. Now you are getting an idea of what does exist out there in Jackson. There are more than one or two people that think that way. You've got the klukkers as well, and they are all on about the same level. Jackson would be better off being rid of ALL of them.

Kingfish

Sep 24 2006

Danks played down the importance of the indictments. “There’s an old saying, as a former county prosecuting attorney myself when Ed Peters and I started together back in 1972 and he was D.A. and I was county prosecuting attorney: you can get indictments against anything, living or dead,” Danks said. Hmmm.... I guess Vidal Sullivan, aka The Most Dangerous Man in Jackson, who left with Frank Melton after being released from jail, didn't get the memo from Danks. Remember Melton told the public that he had helped Vidal recently to start a lawn care service in NE Jackson after Melton took him from court that night this past Spring. So, he kidnaps a girl at gun point and this happens: But a grand jury did not indict him on those charges. I guess you can't get indictments against anything living or dead Dale! Now who is playing politics?

pikersam

Sep 24 2006