Melvin Potts goes on trial February 23 in Madison County for first degree murder and auto theft. The indictment charges he killed Dr. Garrick Shelton on May 21, 2014 and stole his car. Remember that date. Dr.
Shelton was a professor and Department Chair at Jackson State University. He was stabbed to death. However, the twenty-one year-old Potts is also a participant in the Hinds County catch & release program.
However, Potts has never been to trial for these Hinds County charges. Judge Kidd has approved no less than EIGHT continuances for the case. The most recent order was issued on October 21, 2014. Judge Kidd has yet to set a trial date for Potts. EACH and EVERY order has cited "ongoing plea negotiations" as the reason for the continuance. The District Attorney's office has not entered any responses opposing any of the continuances. Mr. Wiggins recently left the Office of the Public Defender.
Kingfish note: Keep in mind Potts allegedly killed Dr. Shelton 15 months after he was indicted in Hinds County. Meanwhile, Madison County is taking him to trial nine months after he allegedly killed Dr. Shelton. Earlier post. This case was covered extensively by the media in 2014 and the victim is a black male. 2014 WAPT story and video.
16 comments:
A shame that Potts wasn't Str8 Dropped during his apprehension.
Anyone recall C-L columnist Brad "I-still-maintain-that-the-lives-of-black-victims-in-this-city-aren't-held-in-the-same-regard" Franklin's expressing outrage over Dr. Shelton's murder -- which was covered extensively by the metro area media?
Okay. I thought not.
Can't be authentically black if you live in Madison. So no outrage over the non-lack of outrage. Duh.
The Shane is that everyone involved silk say they correctly did their jobs:
- The judge will say bond is to ensure the suspect doesn't flee. The suspect never fled, always attended his court appearances, so the judge will say "good job."
- The defendants lawyer will always try to delay, delay, delay. If the DA doesn't object,a good lawyer will keep chasing until you die of old age. Good job.
- The DA has less of a leg to stand on. I don't know why it would take months to negotiate a plea, but I'm sure if pressed the DAs office will have a ready excuse.
So everyone did their jobs, and a college professor is dead as a result. The system is broken.
The solution is a new DA! Robert Smith doesn't care about the people of Hinds County. I heard Stan Alexander is going to run for DA. He needs to so the catch and release program with criminals in Hinds County will finally end!
How is a circuit judge impeached?
So, JPD and Madison Law Enforcement arrest the perpetrators. Its the Hinds DA and some of the Hinds Judges who allow these "un-convicted but suspected criminals to be loose to injure other victims. Glad Madison has him now.
You're learning. Another $20,000 bond and he goes and kills someone. Meaning his actual bond was two grand.
Still making fun of Dale Danks and his million dollar bonds?
Eight continuances. Eight.
Thank you for continuing to call the judges out for doing this shit. It's about time. Keep the heat on them.
Until the judges are elected at-large keeping the heat on them don't mean jack shit. Hinds and Jackson are lost.
Won't happen. Dilutes the minority vote.
Blacks living in Madison ain't down wit the struggle, so Kazzie was right to ignore this unfortunate event.
Won't happen. Dilutes the minority vote.
Right. Voting for those judges at-large would mean no white judges, or, definitely fewer and further between.
Lacking a voting population willing to remove judges like Green and Kidd the Hinds County criminal justice system will never be fixed. Replacing only the District Attorney means you change your socks but not your dirty soiled underpants.
Potts will be using the "George Costanza" defense....(when George was caught banging the cleaning woman)
"Was that wrong, should I have not done that?"
Jackson needs either a new electorate (won't happen) or we need statewide appointed judges (please).
To wring our hands and say there is no better person to hold the job D.A. and stick with the status quo is pathetic.
If another person is willing to attempt to try to change the prosecution arm of the Hinds County justice system for the better, listen to what that person has to say, evaluate the proposal they offer and make an informed decision.
I know for a fact that it benefits many of those employeed in the criminal justice system in Hinds County to let things carry on as usual. These people request/agree to/allow coninuances of criminal prosecutions all the while collecting very substantial saleries, waiting for another pay increase passed by the legislature and passing days until time to retire.
NO, everyone is not doing thier designated jobs and it is costing lives, dollars and dignity.
Melvin Potts is homosexual and so was the murdered professor from what this neighbors are saying. It could have been from a lovers dispute gone wrong
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