Monday, June 10, 2019

Live from New Albany

If you are reading this post, it means I am sitting in the courthouse in Union County. 


A hearing in the Sheldon Alston, Jr. case started at 2 PM.  The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Kelly Luther. A Lafayette County grand jury indicted Alston for aggravated domestic violence and kidnapping in June 2017.  The alleged beating and kidnapping of his girlfriend took place in September 2016.

The case has been scheduled for various terms in Judge Howarth's court but has not yet gone to trial.  The court docket doesn't show a motion for a change of plea hearing.  A subpoena for an Oxford Police detective to appear in court popped up in the docket late last week.  The subpoena stated there would be a hearing today at 2 in Union County.  Judge Kelly Luther will preside over the hearing. 

Judge Luther denied my camera coverage request.  I submitted the request Thursday afternoon.  The Judge contacted the attorneys for both sides even though he is not required to do so.  The Supreme Court rules give him the discretion to allow electronic recording devices in domestic violence cases.  I offered to turn off the camera during the victim's testimony.  No dice.  I offered to keep the camera focused away from the victim during the proceedings.  Nyet.  The Judge will not allow any still photos to be taken in court.  JJ obtained permission to record the Brian Clark hearings but the victim had gone public. 

The circuit covers several counties.  If the hearing is indeed a change of plea hearing, it would make sense to hold the hearing where the Court is in session.  

JJ will report later today on the proceedings. 

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alston's grandfather died last week. Maybe he prevailed upon his grandson to do the right thing?

Anonymous said...

Kingfish please keep us updated on this case as I know you will. Will the rich spoiled Ole Miss kid get what he deserves? Will the family of the victim be bought off? Will the Oxford police kill the golden goose? Inquiring minds want to know!

Anonymous said...

Motion to fix, your honor.

Anonymous said...

While you're up there, take a look into what's going on in Oxford. Our favorite attorney Carlos Moore delivered a claim to the City of Oxford and the Oxford PD for $5 million on behalf of the family of Dominique Clayton.

Anonymous said...

i do realize that lafayette and union are in the same judicial district , but why is this being heard in union county???

Anonymous said...

Union County? Sudden, not 'advertised' hearing? New Judge surprise?

Sounds like some more home cooking for the spoiled rich kid with political connections.


Three years, so spend year and a half? Probably be kept in local Oxford jail so he can have personal service, personal meals delivered from the house, and amenities rather than going to the farm down south.

Yes, proves that 'he who has the gold makes the rules'. Only good thing is that his granddaddy (a nice guy) didn't have to see this final chapter of the sordid story.

Anonymous said...

Union County? Sudden, not 'advertised' hearing? New Judge surprise?

Sounds like some more home cooking for the spoiled rich kid with political connections.


Three years, so spend year and a half? Probably be kept in local Oxford jail so he can have personal service, personal meals delivered from the house, and amenities rather than going to the farm down south.

Yes, proves that 'he who has the gold makes the rules'. Only good thing is that his granddaddy (a nice guy) didn't have to see this final chapter of the sordid story.

Anonymous said...

I'm confused. But, that's nothing new.

One Old Lawyer said...

@4:45 PM - it is not the least bit unusual to have a motion heard in another County of a court district if that's where the Judge is and time is a factor. Have done it many times, but when was the case assigned to this Judge JJ?

Anonymous said...

Can't a brother catch a break?

What if it was your failson fixing to have his life ruined?

Anonymous said...

Alex Alston was one of the finest men and attorneys I have ever known. His son, Sheldon, is also a good guy. I know nothing about Sheldon's son other than what I read on this blog.

Alex suffered from dementia in the time leading up to his death. Dementia is such an insidious disease.

Anonymous said...

One Old Lawyer - true, would not be stage for it to be 'heard' in Union County, except for your question. When, and why, was the case transferred from Howarth to this new Judge. Last minute move, it appears, as was the hearing itself.

Obviously the defense, and his multiple family lawyer connections cut a sweetheart deal with the DA, to get sonny boy out as easily as possible, moved the case to new judge, and had an immediate 'hearing' for the sentencing. Drop the kidnapping, hang a 'domestic abuse' on him for beating the cap out of what he claims was his 'girlfriend'. Damn, would hate to be his enemy!

Anonymous said...

What is the deal about blaming Ole Miss? He was a student there, along with about 23,000 other students. MSU has some students leave to join ISIS, but MSU was not at fault and not all MSU students left to join ISIS. Perhaps they were spoiled too.

Anonymous said...

There is a civil suit pending.

If the family is happy with the $$$ from the civil suit and expresses that to the DA....and will
Back the DA on the criminal outcome publicly.....

Then there’s not much anyone can do.

It’s why money talks

Anonymous said...

You poors are like sharks in chum water whenever one of ours gts in a scratch. Well let me break the bad news for you. He will still be rich and privileged when this is all behind him. And you will all still be poors.

Anonymous said...

You poors should concern yourselves more with repaying the interest on your loans rather than the details of how your betters conduct their personal affairs. It will do you no good.

Anonymous said...

@9:23 PM. This crime has nothing to do with Alex or what a “fine” man he was. Does the defendant have Dementia?
Furthermore this case is about some punk shit that pummeled a defensive girl. Hopefully the defendant will get the same beating in the slammer that he administered to her.

Anonymous said...

to 7;25 and 8;03....if we are alll 'poors' what does that make you? this i got to hear.

Anonymous said...

3:57, how much is usually settled out on something like this? I don’t know if I could settle out if it were my daughter who was abused like this. Does that family have that much money? I know nothing of them.

Anonymous said...

@8:35
The Ruling Class


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