The Lafayette County District Attorney withdrew an indictment for sexual battery against the owner of a popular Oxford bar in April.
Oxford police arrested John Scott Michael on April 24, 2023 and charged him with sexual battery and kidnapping. Michael owns Rooster's Blues House in Oxford. The alleged victim's affidavit for his arrest states on
12th day of April, 2023, in Lafayette County; did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously without lawful authority inveigle with intent to cause her to be confined or imprisoned against her will by locking her inside his office and would not let her unlock the door while she was intoxicated. He also locked her inside the bedroom with himself and would not let her leave....
She also accused him of sexually penetrating her with his hands as well.
The District Attorney presented the two charges to the grand jury. However, the grand jury returned an indictment only for sexual battery.
North Mississippi super lawyer Steven Farese represented Michael. The defendant requested a plea offer in September 2023.
Assistant District Attorney Steve Jubera filed a motion to "nolle pros" the case. Lafayette County Circuit Judge Kent Smith approved the motion and issued on order of nolle pros on April 9, 2024. The order states:
This cause having come on for hearing on the ore tenus motion of the State !f Mississippi through the District Attorney's Office that Count(s) ALL of this cause be NOLLE PROS fo the following I reasons: State declines prosecution, and the Court having considered same finds the motion is well taken and should be sustained.
Kingfish note: Oddly enough, the case does not appear in MEC although the initial arrest does. Michael's arrest was widely reported in the media as a Google search will quickly show. However, there seems to be no mention of the dismissal of the case. Good job, media, good job.
10 comments:
It appears her story was greatly embellished or that she just made it up. The judge and prosecutor both agreed to this.
If you're guilty, hire a Farese.
More than likely victim did not want to pursue further and/or DA thought not going to get a conviction.
Not saying it did or didn't happen. I will say sexual crimes are really tough against the victim. They are the worst for the victim to make public. They are the easiest for the charged to deny. They always have the social stigma that damages the accuser, with the defense, "She deserved it" leaving the accuser responsible for whatever someone did to her. For whatever punishment the accused gets, the accuser still holds the full brunt of the crime. Guilty or not? I have no idea. However, no one deserved to be sexually abused. It is a shame, organized crime refuses to provide a "Pay for service" deal where she could have paid a couple of hundred dollars to have some goons show up one night and sexually abuse the guy to see how much he likes it. Oh well ... if those services actually exist, she might be a potential customer. I bet the bartender wouldn't object any at all to being locked in a room and penetrated. He might even enjoy it, which is likely what he thought when he abused the lady.
Wonder how much he paid her. Freedom from being in state prison as a sex offender is priceless.
If he wanted a plea deal, what the hell does that say about his guilt or innocence?
If you’re NOT guilty, hire a Farese. Good lawyers are always worth the money.
Hello Captain Obvious: "Not saying it did or didn't happen", but you typed a total of 185 words ranting on about how it might have, could have or probably DID happen.
Victims of sexual abuse have my sincere sympathy.
Victims who are wrongfully accused of sexual abuse do too.
Both people will live with that forever.
I read the headline and I immediately figured it was the Rooster's owner. This type of behavior has been known about this person for a while. And yea, the Farese and their connections to the Langstons and the Bidens is pretty fascinating in North Mississippi.
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