Jackson Free Press

Many PDFs of original documents are linked in the story below.
See JFP Melton Blog/Archive here.

It began with an interview. Last Thursday, Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin had more on his mind than re-election when he officially announced he would run for sheriff again. Following a barrage of political questions from the Jackson Free Press—the only media outlet that showed up for his announcement—the reporter asked if there was anything important he had neglected to ask.

"Yeah," McMillin replied. "You didn't ask if Frank Melton is being arrested this afternoon for violation of probation, and the answer is: he is," McMillin said.

The JFP broke the news of Mayor Frank Melton's impending arrest on jacksonfreepress.com, and within minutes, telephoto lenses of local news organizations were gazing through the bars of a heavy iron gate at Melton's 2 Carter's Grove home. He had originally planned to leave town the next day on American Airlines Flight 3750 (PDF, 216 KB) for a trip to Meadowood Resort, in Napa, Calif., for a BMI board meeting. Bodyguards Michael Recio and Marcus Wright had tickets for the same flight, though they are no longer allowed to carry firearms and have been assigned to clerical work for the police department.

On March 1, Police Chief Shirlene Anderson went into the house and Melton's bodyguards drove his city car right up to the garage. A moment later, that same car raced out from behind the gate, causing several reporters to leap back in alarm. There were already satellite trucks and reporters at the Hinds County Courthouse, waiting for Melton to turn himself in to McMillin. Instead, Melton went to St. Dominic's hospital, complaining of chest pains, where he remains as the JFP goes to press.

The Letter of the Law, Privatized
Judge Tomie Green, who presided over Melton's November trial for weapons violations, issued the arrest warrant (PDF, 100 KB) for numerous probation violations, including staying out past his midnight curfew, participating in police raids, spending the night with minors and failing to notify his probation officer that he was extending his stay in Texas for heart surgery. Just before that November trial began, Melton pled guilty to two misdemeanor weapons violations and no contest to a felony weapons violation reduced to a misdemeanor. As part of his plea agreement, Melton agreed to a six-month suspended jail sentence, one year of supervised probation and a $1,500 fine.

Through the plea deal, Melton avoided jail and a possible felony conviction, which would have removed him from office. But Melton had to abide by his probation or risk serving out his six-month sentence.

Green did not assign Melton's probation to the Mississippi Department of Corrections but to Probation Services Company of Jackson, a private company that monitors people on probation or bond.

Contractors get the misdemeanor cases involving minor offenses, Probations Services Company CEO Robert Johnson told the JFP. Unlike MDOC probation officers, however, probation officers with PSC have no authority to make arrests for probation violations or any other offense.

"We could have one of our offenders commit a crime right in front of one of our officers, but the only thing he could do was call the police and report it," Johnson said.

There was a wrinkle in monitoring Melton, however, because Johnson, a former Jackson police chief, was also Melton's campaign manager during part of his 2005 mayoral campaign. Friends of both Melton and Johnson say the two had a falling-out during Melton's campaign, but some wondered if Johnson's relationship with Melton could influence the company's recommendations to Green, one way or the other.

Johnson denies that there was a conflict of interest. "I took the case not because of any name associated with it, but because the judge gave it to me," Johnson said, adding that Green could have used another company.

Johnson refused to talk about his relationship with the mayor, but he said that concerns about conflicts of interest were overblown. "I don't supervise any of our clients," Johnson said. "I'm not involved in supervising or monitoring any of them. I'm CEO of the company, and the methods for supervision are spelled out in company policy," he said.

The former chief seems to have made good on that promise when Melton's probation officer, Dennis Grant, issued a report on Melton's numerous probation violations.

Hell Bent for Leather
McMillin says honoring his probation should have been simple for the mayor. "It's not too hard to follow these probation orders. If you need to adjust to schedule conflicts in your order, then you just talk to your probation officer and make whatever changes you need to. It's a matter of the kind of personality you're working with," McMillin said.

However, Melton refused to honor the terms of his probation despite warnings that he was risking jail time. On Jan. 9, after Melton spent the night with the family of Valerie Austin at the Christian Brotherhood Apartments, Grant wrote Melton (PDF, 284 KB) warning him to take his probation seriously. Grant listed a number of Melton's probation conditions, including a midnight curfew, a ban on him using police equipment and a prohibition on him spending time with minors under 17. Grant also reminded Melton that he had to ask permission for exceptions to these conditions at least 48 hours in advance, possibly in response to the fact that Melton informed Grant of his plan to stay with Austin (PDF, 70 KB) on Jan. 3, just hours before his visit. "Remember, ANY AND ALL violations of conditions of probation will result in revocation of suspended time and immediate arrest," Grant wrote.

Nevertheless, Melton continued to violate his probation, most notably with a Feb. 11 raid on the Upper Level nightclub, which the fire marshal closed temporarily for being over its legal capacity. Despite the warnings, Melton informed Grant of his plans to conduct police raids at 3 p.m. on Feb. 10, only hours before the operation began. The next day, Melton sent Grant a letter postdated Feb. 10 (PDF, 376 KB) that described in detail plans for further raids. Melton wrote that "target areas" would include Pops Around the Corner, Freelons, Birdland, Williams Lounge and the Upper Level, among others. The police team would include the Parks Unit, Narcotics, K-9, the Gun Interdiction Unit, the Protective Unit and the Jackson Fire Department.

McMillin said that Melton has contempt for authority, and he seeks to replace office holders who are beyond his control. "The mayor doesn't like the idea of being investigated by other agencies like the (district attorney's) office or the sheriff's office," McMillin said. "That's one of the reasons the mayor's got people running to replace the DA in the upcoming election. It's one of the reasons he's got two Democrats running for my position (in the primaries), and he tried to convince one of my employees to run against me as an independent in the general election."

This Tuesday, Deputy City Attorney Michele Purvis announced her plans to run against DA Faye Peterson, who brought the felony charges against the mayor. Stephanie Parker-Weaver, who works for the city but is also a vocal political supporter of the mayor, was present for the announcement, as was Melton's sister-in-law Carolyn Redd. Robert Smith, who represents Wright and Recio in the Ridgeway trial, has also announced his candidacy for the DA's office.

The two Democratic candidates running for Hinds County sheriff are Tyrone Lewis and Jackson code enforcement officer Lester Williams, who served with Melton in the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Hinds County Sheriff investigator Victor Mason, who McMillin said Melton encouraged to run, did not qualify to run for the sheriff's office by the March 1 deadline.

Mason confirmed that Melton had approached him "a couple times" about running against McMillin. "I just told him it wasn't time, yet," he told the JFP.

Melton did not return calls.

Under the Knife
Melton's Feb. 11 raid on the Upper Level came just over two weeks after Melton had double-bypass surgery in Tyler, Texas, where his wife lives. Melton originally went to Texas to have a pacemaker/defibrillator installed to treat congestive heart failure, but when doctors catheterized Melton in preparation for the surgery, they discovered that two of the arteries in his heart were badly occluded.

Melton planned to return (PDF, 128 KB) Jan. 28 but was not discharged from Mother Frances Hospital until Jan. 30, when he was released to the care of his wife Ellen Melton, who is a board-certified physician. On Jan. 29, Grant wrote Judge Green (PDF, 108 KB) that Melton had extended his stay in Texas as a consequence of the more invasive surgery, but he had not yet received from Melton documentation verifying the procedure. "I will be making out a violation report if I have not received this information by the end of the week," Grant wrote.

On Feb. 2, Danks wrote Green (PDF, 204 KB) asking for more time to provide that documentation. On Feb. 6, Danks provided the documentation and said that Green had extended the deadline. Nevertheless, Melton's extended stay in Texas is among probation violations listed in Green's arrest warrant.

Melton's medical records (PDF, 650 KB), which were attached to legal filings, describe a man in poor health. According to a diagnosis provided by Dr. William Turner, Melton suffers the effects of ongoing tobacco abuse and a history of alcohol abuse. He also suffers from congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Doctors have prescribed Melton Plavix, Vicodin, Restoril, Aspirin, Coreg, Altace and Zocor. Those same records put to rest persistent rumors that Melton did not have bypass surgery in Texas, but they also raise questions about how quickly Melton returned to work. Turner's diagnosis says that Melton suffers from angina, or chest pains. That is the same complaint Melton made when he went to St. Dominic's last Thursday.

Last Chance?
Melton remained in the hospital over the weekend, and McMillin said he would not arrest Melton in the hospital. "We don't want to arrest him and have to pay for his medical bills," McMillin told The Clarion-Ledger.

Then, last Monday, Danks filed motions with the Hinds County Circuit Court (PDF, 484 KB) and the Mississippi Supreme Court (PDF, 3.56 MB) requesting that Melton's arrest warrant be vacated or stayed. In a March 5 motion, Danks sought emergency relief from the Supreme Court, requesting that Judge Green be recused from any further matters involving Melton. Danks' argues that Green should "immediately" be recused based on her earlier decision to recuse herself from Melton's approaching felony trial.

"Previous actions of the trial judge would cause a reasonable person knowing all the circumstances to harbor doubts about (Green's) impartiality to preside over any probation revocation hearing," Danks wrote, referring to Green's Dec. 4 decision (PDF, 128 KB) to recuse herself from all cases involving the city of Jackson except those involving the police department.

Danks also accused Green of violating Rule 8.04 B.4 of the Uniform Circuit and County Court Rules, which "expressly states that '[t]he trial judge shall not participate in any plea discussion.'" He asserts that Green rejected an earlier plea bargain between Melton's attorneys and prosecutors during his November trial, insisting on stricter conditions.

The motion states that it was Green who insisted that Melton wear an ankle bracelet, a condition that clearly bothered the mayor. "I would like to respectfully request that the monitor be removed to avoid any embarrassment while in the hospital," Melton wrote Grant Jan. 19. In a previously sealed conversation during plea bargain talks, Melton said he objected to wearing an ankle bracelet not because of his ego, as Green had suggested, but rather his concern than an ankle bracelet would alarm potential investors.

As part of the plea agreement, Green agreed to keep certain conditions of Melton's plea under seal. On March 1, Danks wrote Green requesting "an expedited copy of the sealed portion of the plea negotiations," and he complains in his motion that he has not yet received that document. Green released those plea bargain negotiations (PDF, 1.3 MB) on March 6.

Jackson Attorney Joe Hollomon said that judges should stay out of the plea bargaining process. "The trial judge shall not participate in any plea discussion, according to state law," Holloman said. "The Supreme Court more than frowns upon it. There's no leeway. The rules themselves encourage plea-bargaining, but that's the duty of the executive, the district attorney or the prosecutor. It's not the role of the court to haggle over what should be the recommendation of a particular sentence."

The crux of Danks' argument is that Melton's probation violations were not violations at all because the terms of his probation were never formally established. For instance, Danks claims that Melton's curfew was set by his probation officer rather than Judge Green. "Mr. Melton's counsel was advised by the probation officer that he had nothing in writing from the Court establishing a curfew, but that it was 'an unwritten policy.'" Danks acknowledges that Melton was "present" during the Upper Level raid. "However, the presence of Mr. Melton as Mayor during activities of the Jackson Police Department is not a violation of any condition of his probation," Danks writes. He also argues that Melton did not violate his probation when he spent the night in the presence of minors Jan. 3 because this was not a term of his probation, either.

"I asked Mr. Grant whether or not there was any written documents requiring Mr. Melton to comply with a curfew. Mr. Grant indicated that such curfew was just the police of Probation Services of Mississippi, LLC, a private coporations (sic), and that the requirement was not in writing," Danks wrote.

The JFP has made repeated requests, including a formal public records request, for the terms of Melton's probation, to no avail. Green did not return calls for comment.

However, probation parameters described in Mississippi Code 47-7-33 and 47-7-34 specifically forbid those on probation from entering "places of disreputable or harmful character." This puts Melton in a catch 22, because by his own admission, the Upper Level reeked of marijuana when the fire marshal shut it down Feb. 11. That and the fact that the Upper Level serves alcohol makes it a "place of nuisance," which means Melton should never have entered the club.

In his affidavit (PDF, 356 KB), Melton wrote that he had never even been told about his curfew until he received Grant's Jan. 9 letter. However, all but one of Melton's probation violations occurred after Jan. 9, when Grant explicitly set out the terms of Melton's probation, including his curfew. Despite Grant's letter, Melton professes ignorance of how he had violated his probation, writing that he had called Grant with schedule changes.

"Mr. Grant had promptly returned my previous telephone calls," Melton wrote. "Mr. Grant had promptly returned my previous telephone calls until the last two or three weeks at which time he ceased returning any of my telephone calls. The only time I have talked to him the last two or three weeks that I can recall is when I finally was able to speak to him on March 1, 2007, concerning his approval for my going on a business trip that day out of state for a BMI board meeting. I previously sent over all the information and the itinerary days before. He told me that my attorney would have to talk to Judge Green about whether or not I could do. This is the first time I was ever was (sic) required to seek the direct approval of the Judge prior to making a trip."

March 1 was the day before Green issued Melton's arrest warrant, and Grant had presumably already made his report to her.

Late Monday, the Mississippi Supreme Court denied Danks' motion (PDF, 276 KB). In a decision written by Justice William L. Waller Jr., the court determined that it did not yet have jurisdiction. "This Court is without jurisdiction to act while the questions of recusal and stay of the arrest warrant are pending before the circuit court," Waller wrote.

Without further action from the Supreme Court, Melton will be arrested when he is discharged from St. Dominic's.

End Game
This Tuesday, Melton was still at St. Dominic's, where has now spent more days under observation than he did at Mother Frances for his heart surgery.

Danks was still not finished with the Mississippi Supreme Court, however. Tuesday morning, he filed another motion for emergency relief (PDF, 256 KB), arguing that the court now had jurisdiction because Green had dismissed his motion with the circuit court. Danks wrote that late in the afternoon Monday, Green filed a decision with County Clerk Barbara Dunn. Shortly after 5 p.m., according to Danks, Green's law clerk told Dunn she needed the order back, and in a subsequent telephone conversation, Green told Dunn that she needed to withdraw her decision because of a "major error." Dunn noted the withdrawal on her docket/minute entry.

Danks contends that Green's withdrawal is more evidence of bias, and he accuses Green of violating 97-9-3, which states that "tampering" with court records is punishable by five years in prison. He argues that Green withdrew her decision only when she "learned of (the Supreme Court's) opinion of March 5, 2007, in an attempt to deprive (the Court) of jurisdiction."

Danks' argument may suffer from the fact that the new motion Green filed is virtually identical to the one she withdrew except that it has attached exhibits, including the sealed plea bargain negotiations and a preliminary report on the Upper Level raid from Grant.

In her response, Green contends (PDF, 288 KB) that Danks' motion is "frivolous and is filed merely to delay the judicial process required by law." (Ed. Note: See the attached exhibits (PDF, 1.3 MB).) She answers the complaints Danks made Monday point-for-point. She denies that she meddled in the plea bargaining process, writing that she only clarified plea terms and explained that the court would not be bound by certain terms. "This is irrelevant and has been waived by Defendant's plea and signature on probation documents," Green wrote.

Green denies that she would be a material witness in a probation revocation hearing because it is the probation officer who would testify about Melton's violations. She denies that her recusal from Melton's felony case has any bearing on her authority over Melton's probation. "The terms of probation were described in open court," Green wrote, "televised, and are in Defendant Melton's probation order. Defendant Melton made no objections … to conditions of probation until the warrant for arrest was issued March 1, 2007." As a consequence, Green argues, Melton waived his right to object on that basis, and Danks' motion for her recusal is left with "no factual or legal basis."

Late Tuesday, the Mississippi Supreme Court ordered Green (PDF, 32 KB) to respond to Danks' new motion by noon, Wednesday. If the Supreme Court declines to intervene, Melton will be arrested whenever he checks out of St. Dominic's.

Previous Comments

ID

67457

Comment

I'm glad you guys are optomistic about this. I still have my nickle on him walking back into City Hall, unfettered by what used to pass for Justice in Hinds County sometime this week.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-06T22:07:40-06:00

ID

67458

Comment

It is good to see that the Sheriff is hip to exactly what Melton is planning to do. He is attempting to place his yes men & women in every city and county office of power. Sheriff, D.A. etc. are all on his list of positions targeted. Absolute power corrupts absolutely! Apparently Frank doesn't need absolute power to be corrupt, as the Brylcreme add used to say "a little dab will do ya" a little power has corrupted Frank, uh, he was corrupt from the beginning. Hopefully, the voters of Jackson and Hinds county will be more careful when they enter the polls this time. Remember, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Voters, don't let the shame be on you this time. Vote against Frank's disciples.

Author

thetruth

Date

2007-03-06T22:15:24-06:00

ID

67459

Comment

I watched the 10'oclock news tonight on WAPT, and they quoted Judge Green as saying that she asked the Sup.Ct. to sanction the attorneys that accused her of criminal actions. I wish I had a link for ya'll. Dale, remember Lumumba and act accordingly. Be nice to the Judge.

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-03-06T22:27:09-06:00

ID

67460

Comment

I saw that too lawclerk. She lays a smack down quote. WAPT will update soon. She doesn't seem fazed.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-06T23:11:46-06:00

ID

67461

Comment

Hey frankie...

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-03-07T06:15:32-06:00

ID

67462

Comment

This crazy guy named Donnie just said that they were having a big rally for Melton at 4pm!!!! Fight Frank Fight! They should be able to see Melton getting his ass hauled to jail as a group! Kudos to Sheriff McMillan for responding to some idiot caller on Larry's show who said COMSTAT was useless. Yet, the guy could look at the Northside Sun and tell by the streets where the crime was around his neighborhood. Duh... I was able to do the same thing with the weekly COMSTAT report in the paper. There is nothing wrong with releasing the stats. As the Sheriff says, it only leads to speculation, and is an example of the administrations lack of leadership.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-07T09:02:02-06:00

ID

67463

Comment

He's turning himself in....

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-07T09:37:15-06:00

ID

67469

Comment

Brian Johnson and Adam Lynch, you guys did a great job in reporting this story as always. In your second paragraph under the section "Hell Bent for Leather" you report, " .......possibly in response to the fact that melton informed Grant of his plan to stay with Austin on Jan. 3, just hours before his visit." Who is AUSTIN? I just heard from an officer that melton is using a back door exit and is leaving the hospital at night. melton has not been available for a couple of MD rounds. Maybe McMillian needs to preced with the arrest and put a guard at his door. melton's reckless behavior is costing the citizens entirely too much. The only protest rally that should be held is one to reclaim this city from the hands of those who promote reckless and unlawful violations against it. I am so disappointed in the actions of a few people who should know better. This is not a black/whie issue: This is a right/wrong issue. Just heard that melton turned himself in.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-07T09:44:04-06:00

ID

67464

Comment

CL has it up now: Melton Turns Self In

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-03-07T09:44:11-06:00

ID

67465

Comment

He really did! So, we'll see what happens. Should be an interesting morning!

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-07T09:44:22-06:00

ID

67466

Comment

Did anyone see the footage of him going turning himself in? It was on WJTV, and from what I can tell, they were the first TV station to report it.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-07T09:48:28-06:00

ID

67468

Comment

Oh yeah...WJTV and the C-L are media partners, so that could be why WJTV got it first. On the other hand, what of one of their reporters camped out at St. D? Nah...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-07T09:53:46-06:00

ID

67467

Comment

Holy Cow. I gotta go call IG: he's nowhere near a computer...

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-07T09:54:26-06:00

ID

67470

Comment

Don't tell me they cut in on Rachel Ray to show melton's perp walk! lol.

Author

jd

Date

2007-03-07T09:55:54-06:00

ID

67471

Comment

LW, everyone is up with the story now... Except WLBT!!!! ;-)

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-07T09:56:01-06:00

ID

67472

Comment

Folks, my guess would be that Danks called the Ledger and WJTV. They are the closest media outlets to Melton (likely because they both have done the worst coverage of him in the market. WLBT has redeemed itself somewhat. At least they had an excuse when he owned/operated them. The others didn't.) We've got some more great stuff on the way. I was up late last night after we went to press reading docs. Hang tight.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-07T10:00:03-06:00

ID

67473

Comment

not only that, but COMSTAT numbers are public record, right? What right do they have to withold important information that could help us fight crime?

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-03-07T10:00:55-06:00

ID

67474

Comment

Austin is Valerie Austin, the woman he spent the night with. It's earlier in the story. You're looking at the second reference, I believe.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-07T10:02:08-06:00

ID

67475

Comment

jestjess, I would bet he was sneaking off because St. D's is a smoke free campus. When I was visiting a friend, when you open the small windows in the room you see a few butts out the window!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-07T10:04:07-06:00

ID

67476

Comment

CL just put up the transcript of the Melton Plea Deal

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-03-07T10:04:43-06:00

ID

67477

Comment

I have just updated this story with a ton of PDFs, so if you want to see any of the original documents that have been flying back and forth, check this story again. This represents by far the most exhaustive compilation of PDFs provided by any media outlet.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-03-07T13:40:34-06:00

ID

67478

Comment

Brian: that's a lot of url coding. :)

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-07T13:42:46-06:00

ID

67479

Comment

Thanks for noticing Ms. Havoc. Man oh man is that a lot of url coding, and many more before I sleep. ;)

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-03-07T14:25:39-06:00

ID

67480

Comment

Whoa, baby, what a lot of PDFs Brian has linked to this document! This thing is filled with little treasures. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-07T16:03:58-06:00

ID

67481

Comment

It is a beautiful sight, Donna. I hate url coding: I just can't get used to doing it. But Brian has done a bang-up job on this: he has everything you'd ever need to know in this one article. I stand (sit?) in awe.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-07T16:14:22-06:00

ID

67482

Comment

The Ledge is a wee bit behind on this story about McMillin saying Melton has put two opponents up against him. See March 6 story above: McMillin said that Melton has contempt for authority, and he seeks to replace office holders who are beyond his control. “The mayor doesn’t like the idea of being investigated by other agencies like the (district attorney’s) office or the sheriff’s office,” McMillin said. “That’s one of the reasons the mayor’s got people running to replace the DA in the upcoming election. It’s one of the reasons he’s got two Democrats running for my position (in the primaries), and he tried to convince one of my employees to run against me as an independent in the general election.” This Tuesday, Deputy City Attorney Michele Purvis announced her plans to run against DA Faye Peterson, who brought the felony charges against the mayor. Stephanie Parker-Weaver, who works for the city but is also a vocal political supporter of the mayor, was present for the announcement, as was Melton’s sister-in-law Carolyn Redd. Robert Smith, who represents Wright and Recio in the Ridgeway trial, has also announced his candidacy for the DA’s office. The two Democratic candidates running for Hinds County sheriff are Tyrone Lewis and Jackson code enforcement officer Lester Williams, who served with Melton in the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Hinds County Sheriff investigator Victor Mason, who McMillin said Melton encouraged to run, did not qualify to run for the sheriff’s office by the March 1 deadline. Mason confirmed that Melton had approached him “a couple times” about running against McMillin. “I just told him it wasn’t time, yet,” he told the JFP. Melton did not return calls.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T09:18:05-06:00

ID

67483

Comment

So, what radio show did Melton call into while McMillin was on the air? Typical. "If I wanted to do something, I would have run for sheriff myself," the mayor said, adding that McMillin has a personal beef against him that goes back to Melton's days as director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Seriously, does anyone believe Melton when he says crap like this? Doesn't sound like the words of a man who has changed. "(Melton) was elected to the position of mayor, but he wants to be police chief and now he wants to be sheriff as well," said McMillin, a former Jackson police officer first elected in 1991. "But I've been in the business more than 30 years, and I can tell you this ... You don't cure the crime problem by riding down the street in a motor home followed by the park police," continued McMillin, referring to Melton's well-known police-style patrols in the Jackson Police Department's Mobile Command Unit. "It's like his own magical mystery bus tour, and I don't mind saying it. It's ridiculous. It's laughable." ROTFLMAO!!!! It's ridiculous. It's laughable. Yes, yes it is!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T09:26:48-06:00

ID

67484

Comment

Tsk, tsk, tsk. The stuff Melton is doing is so obvious, but his supporters refuse to take off the rose-colored glasses he personally handed out. At this rate, Hinds County will be more like Hazzard County if all of these offices are occupied by FOFs (Friends of Frank).

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-30T09:27:45-06:00

ID

67485

Comment

Well, and the Ledger didn't bother to mention that Victor Mason openly admits that Melton asked *him* to run against his boss for sheriff. Ask him, Ledger. Do some reporting.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T09:29:53-06:00

ID

67486

Comment

Pike, I needed that laugh. McMillin has a way with words, doesn't he? :-)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-30T09:29:57-06:00

ID

67487

Comment

Release the videos McMillin!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T09:30:03-06:00

ID

67488

Comment

LW I prefer to call them "FLUFFS" Friends, Lovers, Up-sucks, and Followers of Franks

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T09:32:45-06:00

ID

67489

Comment

Yeah, the motor home thing is priceless. It's about time people start telling Melton how ridiculous he looks out there. It's extremely embarrassing. I just wish he knew it instead of listen to the people who want him to look so ridiculous for their own purposes. In many ways, I feel sorry for him, but that doesn't mean we should let him get away with the stupid crap he does. Somebody, sit him down and tell him the fool he's making of himself. Please.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-30T09:33:15-06:00

ID

67490

Comment

That quote from Mac was money. Is there anyone that Melton DOESN'T have a personal beef with? He claims there is corruption at the highest levels. Who?Barbour? He IS the highest level. Maybe he is talking about himself. The DA is corrupt. Mac has a personal beef with him. Duece is connected with shady people. Nagin is looking better and better and I didn't think that was possible.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-30T09:40:39-06:00

ID

67491

Comment

Pike, I like your acronym better. LOL Donna, I think Melton is walking around with blinders on (probably made of leather, covered with studs and a big M branded on each side). If you only listen to people who tell you what you want to hear, you'll always think you're right.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-30T09:43:31-06:00

ID

67492

Comment

Kingfish, remember people who Melton likes are never questioned about their transgressions. Like, Michael Taylor or the billionaire from TX who has a shady past. And, it should be noted that not one of the people Melton has ever called corrupt during the last few years has ever yielded results or factual evidence. What about Hickingbottom? Any of his vile claims come true? Nope! Keep patting him on his back Meltonites and public officials who support him. He's all class!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T09:51:54-06:00

ID

67493

Comment

Melton must have pushed McMillin one too many times. McMillin is not the guy you want to have on your bad side.

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-30T09:54:32-06:00

ID

67494

Comment

Larry can you tell us about Lester Williams since he has all this experience in the MBN and DEA as listed in the paper today? I can't say the "flash interviews" the Ledge had posted impressed me with any of the three running against McMillin.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-30T09:56:47-06:00

ID

67495

Comment

Ask Lester to explain what I call "drug trafficking 101." Where is it (cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroine and the psychedelics) manufactured and/or grown indigenous? Who transports it and how (boat, plane, mules)? Who distributes the drug and how do they channel the profits back to the source countries? What are the major drug prices? What I'm getting at his Lester in all likelihood would not be able to answer the simplest of drug questions. Ask Lester to provide and example of his largest "drug bust" while at DEA? Certainly he would be able to discuss his role in the take down of a large trafficking organization (closed case) if he had headed such investigation. Any person with any kind of drug experience would in a debate be able to tear Lester to shreds on knowledge alone. Regards, Larry

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-30T13:10:15-06:00

ID

67496

Comment

tare not tear...my bad!

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-30T16:21:51-06:00

ID

67497

Comment

Let me give you the inside store about Lester when it comes to drugs investergation. First I have know dout that either one of u know anything about drugs and very little about Lester. You can't find any one and the Jackson Metro area that was more out gooding to frighting the war on drug. Just ask around the law enforcement coummnity that would not say he was one of the best narcotics agent in the metro area. Now they may say that he was not the esay person to work with and that is because he was always looking for the Big Man. chech with DEA, FBI, AFT, IRS and most of all the MBN guys that worked with him every

Author

flw

Date

2007-04-09T22:23:39-06:00