Jackson Free Press

In a major move, Judge Dan Jordan ruled this morning to allow testimony of Mayor Frank Melton's alleged alcohol consumption the night of the Ridgeway duplex destruction, as well as testimony from defense witness Daniel Smith stating that he bought crack at the duplex the day of the raid and told Melton about it that same day. Jordan ruled yesterday just before opening arguments that he would not allow alcohol testimony, but said he would consider admitting it later.

Former Melton mentee Michael Taylor just took the witness stand for the second day, and will testify about Melton's alleged alcohol consumption the night of the demolition, The government has moved to treat Taylor as a hostile witness. More details to come.

Previous Comments

ID

143452

Comment

Don't laugh, but did Daniel Smith buy the last bag/box/can/plug/sack of crack off the shelf since the sale occured the same day of the raid? Don't laught, but there was NO MONEY, NO DRUGS, NO TRAFFIC, only a "roach clip?" Don't laught, but did Evan Welch have the sophistication to run a credit system and have the magical skills of a person who can hide an elephant under the green of a pool table? Just asking.

Author

justjess

Date

2009-02-10T11:19:58-06:00

ID

143453

Comment

You are right that they didn't find any drugs in the duplex, and God knows they tore the place to pieces looking, if that's really what their intent was. (I don't see how dumping paint all over the place helps you find drugs.) As for paraphernalia, they found a straight-shooter, not a roach clip. The former is used to smoke crack, but it's still a pathetically small piece of evidence. It's good news that they'll admit alcohol evidence, because that makes it much harder for Melton to argue that he was a saint who was carried away by his saintliness. It's not such good news that Daniel Smith will testify about buying crack there, but I'll be very curious to hear about how the cross-examination goes. I'll have to look through my files to see whether this is the same informant who was barred from the last trial, but if it is, his testimony (which the jury never heard) was distinctly uncompelling. Do we have any sense of who this witness is, and why haven't we heard more about him before now?

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2009-02-10T11:32:44-06:00

ID

143454

Comment

Brian, was Daniel Smith sent by melton to buy drugs there? I ask this question because what drug user would BUY crack and then run to the mayor to tell him that he bought it. Did does not make sense. frank was in mania and he was having fun: The kind of fun he has always had in the past, screwing over the less fortunate and the down trodden.

Author

justjess

Date

2009-02-10T11:43:18-06:00

ID

143459

Comment

excellent point, who is Daniel Smith and why did he feel compelled to tell the mayor he bought drugs at that house, and were there any other credible witnesses to that conversation between Smith and the mayor? Because I might not trust just the 2 of them - Just wondering.

Author

lanier77

Date

2009-02-10T12:25:01-06:00

ID

143465

Comment

The motions in question are here on the JFP site. Look for "Melton's Response to Govt. Motion to Exclude Drug Evidence" and "Affidavit of Daniel Smith." Basically, all of Melton's testimony about the duplex being a crack house will come from two of his own "mentees," namely Christopher Walker and Daniel Smith. Both of them are convicted drug users and dealers. I suppose they are the people who would know where to buy crack, but their close ties to Melton surely diminish their credibility. Oh, and Michael Taylor. Can they find a witness who has not, ya know, lived with Melton?! Oh, and then there's Sharon Gray's typically feckless laundry list of every crime committed all up and down Ridgeway Street over the last 739 years.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2009-02-10T13:50:52-06:00

ID

143469

Comment

IMO this entire Daniel Smith thing is a lie. I say this because Mr. Smith's name never came up during the State trial against Melton. Judge Webster put the same limitation on Melton's defense team. Before he would allow witnesses to testify regarding drugs at the home they would have to show that Melton knew about the drugs before he demolished the home. Melton has gotten some idiot to lie in order to prop up his defense. It's sad that Melton would illicit perjury from two people, Taylor and now this Smith guy.

Author

clarkkent

Date

2009-02-10T14:51:29-06:00

ID

143471

Comment

Chris Walker is apparently coming in to testify about the condition of the duplex -- to the extent the judge allows it. Recall that Walker told the JFP (me) that Melton asked him to testify falsely against the Donelsons, during the time he was living with Melton, driving his car, using his credit card, etc.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-02-10T15:14:11-06:00

ID

143478

Comment

OK, so Daniel Smith alledgedly purchased crack cocain at that house that day. Did he purchase it from Evan Welch? Or, is it possible that others were using this sick man's house to deal drugs? It is likely they could bring Welch weed or beer in exchange for using the front porch. Just a thought.

Author

Razor

Date

2009-02-10T20:01:54-06:00

ID

143481

Comment

Even if these absurd allegations are true, there are law and procedures in place. They must be followed before you can destroy a "crack house". The Mayor didn't do that. He hasn't defended that fact. He's guilty.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-02-11T09:47:46-06:00