Thursday, August 24, 2023

Will Judge McDaniels Protect Scumlord?

 The owner of the run-down Hotel 0 on I-55N in Jackson just might catch a break in Hinds County Court after the city of Jackson ordered him to demolish the eyesore last month.

Hinds County property records state Noah Muthana has owned Hotel O on 4639 I-55 N frontage road in Jackson for  two years.  JJ reported on March 19: 

Jackson Municipal Court Judge Jeff Reynolds ordered the demolition of the Hotel O on I-55 N frontage road Friday. 

Jackson cited Muthana for six code violations in June 2022.  Jackson Municipal Court Judge Jeff Reynolds adjudicated the case on December 16.  He said the hotel had unsafe electrical wiring, the roof was in a serious state of disrepair, defective plumbing, pervasive mold, and structural weaknesses.  Residency-challenged individuals occupied the building even though there was no power.  However, one should never underestimate human ingenuity, even among the residency-challenged.  The squatters simply ran extension cords to outlets on adjacent properties.  The Court said some cords were in contact with water.  A detective testified Muthana had three employees who lived on the property. 

 


The Court said Muthana made no effort to improve the property.  If anything, the property was "worse today than it was in November 2021, when the city first began investigating the property." 

Muthana faced the wrath of Reynolds and went to jail after the Court found Muthana made no effort to improve the property.  If anything, the property was "worse today than it was in November 2021, when the city first began investigating the property.  Apparently, Muthana's financial backer was more than happy to let him sit in jail.  

The defendant sat in jail for a few days before Judge Reynolds released him.  Judge Reynolds ordered JPD to evict all "tenants" from the premises and Code Enforcement to ensure a secure fence surrounded the pool.  Judge Reyonlds ordered Muthana to post a $275,000 secured appearance bond and $2,500 cost bond.  

Muthana appealed to Hinds County Court.  He argued the bonds violated the Eighth Amendment.  The defendant paid the cost bond but not the appearance bond.  

Judge Reynolds ruled July 26 Muthana did not post an appearance bond nor file an affidavit of indigency (Mississippi Code 99-35-7).  Thus the appeal was defective on its face.  The Court said Mississippi Rule of Criminal Procedure 29.4(a) "leaves the amount of the appearance bond up to the trial judge's discretion."  Judge Reynolds said the rule trumps the statute.  

The defendant claimed he could not afford the $275,000 appearance bond but Judge Reynolds said he could have filed an affidavit of indigency.  Judge Reynolds also pointed out Muthana retained four lawyers, thus limiting any claim of indigency.

 Jackson Municipal Court Judge Jeffrey Reynolds condemned the building July 26 and gave the owner to ten days to clear everyone and everything out of the hotel. 

However, Hinds County Court Judge Johnny McDaniels had other ideas about the case and blocked it all, ruling on August 8 he had "exclusive jurisdiction of the case: 

 6.   That the lower court did not have any Jurisdiction over the parties or subject matter herein after April 17, 2023, and all actions, findings and Order(s) entered by the lower court after April 17, 2023, are hereby declared void and of no legal force or affect. That the Appellee, City of Jackson, is hereby prohibited from taking any action to enforce any Judgments and/or Orders of the lower court until further order of this court.

Judge McDaniels scheduled a hearing on the appeal bond tomorrow at 9:30 AM in Hinds County Court.  A hearing on the merits of the case is scheduled for Spetember 6. 


17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ensconce Judge McDaniels in the flop house for a week.

Anonymous said...

Continue to believe that the unusual Lumumba administration interest and eagerness to condemn and demolish properties on the west frontage is suspicious. Where else in this city filled with properties in the exact same circumstances and standing is Lumumba, et al. moving with such haste?

Anonymous said...

Homeless are openly living in the units facing frontage road right now.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the fix is in!!

Anonymous said...

Needs to live there just like the movie The Super with Joe Pesci.

Anonymous said...

We get what we vote for.

Anonymous said...

palm grease-

Anonymous said...

I was just thinking this morning on the drive to work how nothing had been done on Hotel O or the Meadowbrook building.

Anonymous said...

Take a short drive down the streets of south Jackson. You will see places in much worse shape for many more years that that one. What makes them so much safer and nicer to live in that that one? Could it be that someone has their eye on the piece of property?

Anonymous said...

2:37 stole my thunder! Exactly. Anybody who can hire four lawyers knows how to grease palms.

A mere 50K sounds sufficient.

Anonymous said...

Hwy 80 thru Pearl, the older part, is much nicer than I-55 North thru Jackson.
WTF has happened? Its a disgrace. It looks like a bomb went off. When I moved here in 1987 Jackson was actually a pretty nice and fun place to be.

Cue The Music said...

@4:30 - Like sand through an hourglass...such is the passage of 36 years.

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure that filing a notice of appeal and posting a cost bond are required to perfect an appeal to a higher court, in this case from municipal court to county court, where the appellant would have a right to trial de novo. If an "appearance" bond is also required but not posted the county court would not have jurisdiction; otherwise, the county court does have exclusive jurisdiction.

Anonymous said...

Damn shame that people traveling thru on I-55 have to look at boarded up property! Tear it down!

Anonymous said...

@4:30
Within 4 years after your arrival it was getting dangerous to visit MetroCenter and decent people were avoiding being downtown after sunset. I remember as a kid we only went to Waterland USA once due to the pools being filthy and also the violence. Soon it shut down and Rapids on the Rez was starting to become intolerable. Eventually the water there also became filthy and diseased and decent folks just stopped paying to visit. We don’t have a water park anymore. We literally can’t have anything nice.

Anonymous said...

7:04 - The water park threads are elsewhere on this blog. Do a search for sewage-water, shit-ditch and Pearl Discharge.

Jacckson residents have no manners said...

4:30. The trash and uncut grass along I-55 is horrible. If I lived in the nasty Jackson, I would be so pissed. As soon as you cross into Madison County, voila! Trash gone. Grass cut. What is the difference?


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.