Jackson Jambalaya

The MC Herald recently reported WMGO station manager Jerry Lousteau was convicted in Canton Municipal Court of disturbing the peace after charges were filed against him by a Canton alderwoman's mother:

"Jerry Lousteau of WMGO pleaded no contest in Canton Municipal Court today on a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace. His attorney, Kevin Broughton, said he intends to appeal to County Court. He was fined $223.50.

“This is a politically motivated charge,” Broughton said. “We want a public trial hat goes by the rules and where a judge is not under political pressure.”

The charge against Lousteau was filed by Aimee Gilkey, the mother of Canton Alderman Eric Gilkey in August 2009.

Lousteau said three months earlier, on municipal election day in Canton, he went by Gilkey's house to ask why absentee ballots cast by nine people listed her address.

He said he stood in the street as he talked to her in what he called a “very calm” manner.

“About the third question in, she realized who I was,” and went into the house, leaving him in the street, Lousteau said.

Broughton said Lousteau did not get notice of a court appearance until September 2010. At that time, Broughton said he worked out a verbal agreement with then-Municipal Judge Kelsey Rushing to move the case to Madison County Justice Court since a city official was involved. About a month later, Rushing was removed as municipal judge, Broughton said."

Question for the legal beagles that read this site. Why didn't the judge transfer it to another court? It would also be interesting to examine the voter rolls to see if indeed there were more than a few absentee ballots from the same address. Interesting stuff.