Jackson Free Press

*Corrections appended. See bottom of story.*

The mother of a 17-year-old housemate of Mayor Frank Melton excoriated* the county today at a press conference in front of the Hinds County Courthouse. Youth Court* ordered that Taylor be re-arrested earlier today on armed carjacking charges after Youth Court mistakenly released him earlier this year.

Taylor's mother, Valerie Taylor, 36, called her son's return to jail "payback" for ratting on drugs at the county—and repeated an earlier claim by Melton that Taylor was innocent and that the girls accusing him were crack users.

"We have a lot of illegal stuff that's going on, and we're going to see what we can do about this problem. I don't want to comment on what (Michael Taylor's) telling me but there's a lot of stuff going on and we hope we get it out in the open," Taylor said Tuesday.

Taylor denied that her son committed the car-jacking last year, and implicated the victim in that crime. "It wasn't actually Michael," Taylor said. "This is dealing with a woman that was on drugs. She was going into this neighborhood pawning her car for crack. Then when she would pawn her car for crack, and she would go back and not have her money, or whatever, she couldn't get her car and was calling anybody (to reclaim it). ... She doesn't call the police. She called the Department of Wildlife."

The victim has said that the Jackson Police Department would not respond and help her after Taylor arranged to sell her back her car for $300.

Taylor, who said she is working on paying her son's bond, said he had moved in with Melton at 2 Carter's Grove in late 2005 to "get him away from a bad neighborhood." She denied any knowledge of Melton leading her son to commit felonies in the destruction of a duplex on Ridgeway Street last year.

The young man's mother said she knew about her son's MySpace pictures, featuring Taylor loaded down with weapons and pointing a gun at the camera, but dismissed the photo as "kids will be kids."

She said her son took the pictures in 2005, and denied the location of the photos as either in Melton's house or her own home.

"He got some guns from someone older in the house, he told me," she said.

Sheriff Malcolm McMillin vows that Taylor—who Melton tried to hide last year when his deputies tried to arrest him for an earlier armed robbery warrant—will not get special treatment due to his close relationship with the mayor. He and the DA also want Taylor to testify under oath about drug use that he and Melton have alleged to occur regularly in the Hinds County Detention Center.

CORRECTIONS APPENDED: When posted yesterday, this story stated that Valerie Taylor had threatened to sue the county at the press conference. However, we had heard that in advance, but she did not say that at the press conference. At this point, the JFP has no confirmation that she is planning to bring a lawsuit.

Secondly, this story originally said that the sheriff and DA had Taylor re-arrested. That is not true. Youth Court apparently reversed an earlier error that allowed him to go free on the other charge, not realizing that he had to post a $250,000 bond to get out of jail on the armed carjacking charge.

Previous Comments

ID

93394

Comment

Can we get any more idiotic?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-07-17T14:25:51-06:00

ID

93395

Comment

Don't ask, they'll think of something. We already have frankie-boy.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-07-17T14:29:55-06:00

ID

93396

Comment

Sue them? They should sue her for having to feed, clothe and house her law-breaking son! We've never heard from her all this time. I get the feeling ole FM is behind this.

Author

honey2me

Date

2007-07-17T15:54:43-06:00

ID

93397

Comment

We've never heard from her all this time. I get the feeling ole FM is behind this. honey2me Ric Romero reporting.... ;-)

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-07-17T16:17:08-06:00

ID

93398

Comment

Kids will be kids? We're talking about weapons here, not water balloons. I'm going to assume that the mother just doesn't know any better. Judging from the ages of the mother and son, she probably had him when she was about 19. I wonder about the circumstances surrounding Taylor's birth and upbringing? What kind of support did the mother get, if any?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-17T16:56:21-06:00

ID

93399

Comment

The young man's mother said she knew about her son's MySpace pictures, featuring Taylor loaded down with weapons and pointing a gun at the camera, but dismissed the photo as “kids will be kids.” "Kids will be kids"? Taking pictures of themselves holding guns in their hands on camera? Where the hell was she when he first got a hold of the gun?

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-07-17T16:59:13-06:00

ID

93400

Comment

Kids will be kids, cops will be cops, sheriffs will be sheriffs, lawyers will be lawyers, jurors will be jurors, judges will be judges and politicians will be politicians. I finished the sentence for her.

Author

dpsmith

Date

2007-07-17T18:39:06-06:00

ID

93401

Comment

WLBT version

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-17T19:29:07-06:00

ID

93402

Comment

Funny the stuff the others leave out.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-07-17T19:36:26-06:00

ID

93403

Comment

Oh, and this does seem a prime example of what I always say—that Melton's always-the-victim, break-the-rules mentality will rub off on those around him. So much for personal responsibility, eh? This lesson from Melton is going to serve those kids well.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-07-17T19:37:56-06:00

ID

93404

Comment

I was in the courthouse yesterday when Marcus Wright escourted Michael Taylor into the Hinds County Courthouse. I came within 10 feet of him and made eye contact with him. He's a stone-cold killer. I hope he stays warehoused for the rest of his life. When DA candidate Robert Smith says "No Deals for Violent Offenders," this is the kind of thug he's talking about. Hopefully, this case won't come to trial until Robert is DA and can put this piece of human excrement away for life.

Author

AnchorBaby

Date

2007-07-17T20:50:00-06:00

ID

93405

Comment

In Michael's defense, he may've done bad things and deserves whatever punishment he gets, but he is not human excrement.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-07-17T21:56:02-06:00

ID

93406

Comment

This has to end. Period. They're trashing a good man. This is someone who's dedicated his life to public safety. "Service to your fellow man". Ask not what your country(in this case, county) can do for you, but what you can do for your country. That's Sheriff Mac. Just read what he said when the so-called mother of this...(insert your on expletive) was worried about her baby boy's safety in jail: Sheriff McMillin said, "If she is that concerned, I certainly can hold him in isolation; make sure that for certain that nobody can do anything to him; harm him in any way. I would think he would be in more danger on the street than he would be in jail." These are words of a reasonable man. But, the mother, the mayor and the choir boy... All nuts. Avericious, power hungry thugs that cheat their way through life. My, my....what an interesting chapter in a sad tale tha will not end.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-07-17T23:42:14-06:00

ID

93407

Comment

He's a stone-cold killer. I hope he stays warehoused for the rest of his life.

Author

wow gold

Date

2007-07-18T00:20:17-06:00

ID

93408

Comment

The young man's mother said she knew about her son's MySpace pictures, featuring Taylor loaded down with weapons and pointing a gun at the camera, but dismissed the photo as “kids will be kids.” That little quote from Mommie Dearest says volumes regarding how Michael Taylor went down this dark path. Some people have no business being parents. I'd hate to know what she would dismiss as acceptable public behavior from her daughter, if she has one.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-07-18T05:36:09-06:00

ID

93409

Comment

"Kids will be kids"....(M. Taylor's mother) Do we recall the recent shooting at Tech? That offender had photo's with guns also. AND, let us not forget the Columbine High School Shooting where Dylan Klebold & Eric Harris had plenty of pictures on their websites (and home movies) showing them with firearms! I would venture to guess that the only reason our schools are safe from Taylor is because he is not in them! The ideology of 'kids will be kids' shows the lack of responsibility that the mother & Melton are taking as the role of mentor's to this teen. As I have said many times, our children, for the most part, are a product of their upbringing, and of the society who 'made' them! That is not to say that all kids who go bad were not given the proper upbringing, to include morals, values, etc., however, I fail to see how this woman can say with a straight face that her baby is innocent - has he not shown that he can/will use the judicial system as a revolving door? Please tell me that someone will eventually put all the jigsaw pieces together and figure out that Melton has NO BUSINESS around minors, as it is assured that he is one of the least protective/proactive members of society that mentor children on the right path! (the right path for what is viewed by the majority of the population, not just a select few)

Author

Katie D

Date

2007-07-18T06:55:50-06:00

ID

93410

Comment

"Kids will be kids" I guess some kids were just having fun when they shot up that house and killed the 12 year old girl! What an idiot! She sure looked fit enough and well dressed enough to raise a child on TV. Too bad she's too lazy to do so!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-07-18T07:25:10-06:00

ID

93411

Comment

"12 year old boy..." not girl...

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-07-18T07:49:33-06:00

ID

93412

Comment

Frank Melton is trying to influence voters to vote against Sheriff McMillin by spreading false rumors of "illegal activity" at the county jail. Now, he (FM) is screaming that the sheriff is mistreating his "poor little innocent, beady-eyed, gun-toting munchkin," Michael Taylor for spilling the beans about the so-called "jail corruption". And let's not leave out Frank's personal deliverer (into the ears of the public) of all of the wrong-doings against he and his "sweet little boy criminals". They are none other than those forget the fact-checking, leave out pertinent information, report all that Frank says as truth, sorry excuse for reporters, WLBT! I am sure the voters of Hinds County can see through this smoke screen. I hope they will also wake up to Frank's other political campaign managers, WLBT. In the meantime, here is a story about our state from the New York Times: IN MISSISSIPPI, RULING IS SEEN AS RACIAL SPLIT Kate Medley for The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/us/18south.html?hp=&pagewanted=all

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-07-18T08:24:06-06:00

ID

93413

Comment

[quote]In the meantime, here is a story about our state from the New York Times: IN MISSISSIPPI, RULING IS SEEN AS RACIAL SPLIT Kate Medley for The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/us/18south.html?hp=&pagewanted=all[/quote] blu, could you start this in another thread? I got some stuff I want to say, but I don't want to throw off the conversation here.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-18T08:36:19-06:00

ID

93414

Comment

"blu, could you start this in another thread? I got some stuff I want to say, but I don't want to throw off the conversation here." OK. Sorry. But feel free to past it in another place.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-07-18T08:52:47-06:00

ID

93415

Comment

"blu, could you start this in another thread? I got some stuff I want to say, but I don't want to throw off the conversation here." OK. Sorry. But feel free to paste it in another place.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-07-18T08:54:17-06:00

ID

93416

Comment

Notice that "Kate Medley for The New York Times" part. That's our girl! ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-07-18T09:12:03-06:00

ID

93417

Comment

I need to second golden from above: Michael Taylor is a human being and is clearly, as Dylan sang, "a pawn in the game." He is being used, one way or another, as is his mother. He clearly needs help, and under the guise of giving him help, he is no better than a chess piece at this point. I feel compassion for him, and his life is going to keep going downhill if he can't be extricated from Melton Madness. That part is clear.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-07-18T09:14:57-06:00

ID

93418

Comment

Notice that "Kate Medley for The New York Times" part. That's our girl! ;-) --ladd Yeah, go Kate!!!! Must feel great to see your own photo credit in the NY Times!!

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-07-18T10:59:48-06:00

ID

93419

Comment

Indeed, kids will be kids, which includes being how they were raised.. so blame the mom, especially since she shrugs off the fact that he poses with guns and attributes it to child behavior.

Author

Jo-D

Date

2007-07-18T11:13:09-06:00

ID

93420

Comment

err, so why is everything posting in italics now?

Author

Jo-D

Date

2007-07-18T11:13:34-06:00

ID

93421

Comment

The italics are gone now.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-18T11:24:52-06:00

ID

93422

Comment

Michael Taylor hasn't been convicted of this car jacking, and while things don't look well for him, disparaging him isn't helpful either. He's a pawn in this game for sure. Hopefully his mother will take him back in after he gets bail and get him away from the malcontents he's been staying with.

Author

GLewis

Date

2007-07-18T12:07:43-06:00

ID

93423

Comment

Why on earth would his mother move him? She obviously feels that him being with Melton is good or she would have taken some control of her child's life long ago.

Author

honey2me

Date

2007-07-18T14:13:01-06:00

ID

93424

Comment

Wasn't Michael Taylor convicted of killing someone in a reduced charge in a prior life?

Author

HDMatthias, MD

Date

2007-07-18T19:42:43-06:00

ID

93425

Comment

No, I don't believe so. Brunson/Butler had been accused of rape, but the charge dropped, I think.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-07-19T09:25:26-06:00

ID

93426

Comment

Kids will just be kids? I wish my mom was that "cool." Not really, because I'd end up being "taken in" by some body like Frank Melton and my life would be over.

Author

Melishia

Date

2007-07-19T15:47:58-06:00

ID

93427

Comment

MICHAEL TAYLOR JUST A CHILD? What age was M. Taylor when he started committing offenses to citizens of this CITY? Is he just 17 now and charged with "Armed Carjacking"? I think his mother should be held somewhat accountable for her "son's" actions, since he seems to be a minor. I believe that when a child committs such a "FELONY" crime, you should sue the family and send the offender to jail. Once weapons are involved at such a young age then it will be only a matter of time before there is a dead victim. Isn't it against the law to carry or have in your possession a fire arm without a permit? I may be wrong, but it just makes good sense. This so-called mother needs some jail time herself. She can decide if she wants her son to do the time or she would like to do it for him. PLEASE GET THIS MOM AND SON OUT OF OUR CITY, WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE!

Author

Debwah

Date

2007-07-30T17:55:52-06:00