Jackson Jambalaya

Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas incarcerated Lakeland Place Cemetery owner Linus Shackelford after he failed to return $550,000 to the guardianship of De Mon McClinton. Judge Thomas ordered Mr. Shackelford to return the money or show cause why he should not be held in contempt of court at a February hearing.

De Mon McClinton is the grandson of Mississippi civil rights legend and former WLBT owner Aaron Henry. Mr. Henry's daughter died and 16 year-old De Mon inherited $3.5 million in 2001. Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Stuart Robinson approved Thomas McClinton as the guardian for De Mon. Thomas is the father of De Mon. The court ordered Mike Brown, the attorney for Thomas McClinton, to place the money in a FDIC-insured bank and further decreed no money could be spent without court approval. Unfortunately for De Mon, a great deal of money was spent without court approval.

Judge Thomas ruled at a February hearing Mr. Brown never deposited the money in an account nor was one ever established. Judge Thomas threw Mr. Brown in jail after he could not account for the money. A special master reported at a March hearing the money was deposited in several bank accounts, but the banks were never informed the accounts were restricted by the court. Special Master Paul Rogers reported Mike Brown, Thomas McClinton, and Linus Shackelford removed large sums of money which belonged to De Mon. Mr. Shackelford borrowed $550,000 from the estate in 2001 but never repaid any of the money. Judge Thomas ordered him to repay the money with interest at the hearing today.

The hearing started on time as Judge Thomas allowed Mr. Shackelford to make his case. Jeff Rimes, the attorney for Linus Shackelford, stated, "Mr. Shackelford does not dispute the amount in the Master's report. He disputes the interest." Mr. Rimes then said, "As of today, Mr. Shackelford has not been able to repay the money be we have the intention to. There is simply no ability on his part to pay the amount without the selling of assets which he has the intention of doing. " Judge Thomas replied, "Well, he has had twelve yeas and it hasn't gotten there yet."

Mr. Rimes said, "When he signed the promissory notes, he did not read them... He tried to work out payment with Thomas McClinton. He has suffered great challenges with his business that has also been a factor." Mr. Rimes asked for more time for his client to repay the money. Attorneys for DeMon McClinton, Brent Hazard and Precious Martin, did not make any statements, nor did Special Master Paul Rogers. The court recessed for ten minutes then Judge Thomas issued his verdict, a short statement dripping with contempt for Mr. Shackelford:

"Sometime in 2000, a guardianship was opened in this court. The child inherited $3.5 million. That money should have been deposited in an account. As we know from previous hearings, we know it was not. This court has been very upset with how this has been handled. Its something this court does not wish to do but has to do.

Mr. Shackelford, your actions in borrowing this money from a minor were wrong. The law is very clear. The statute is very clear. The court could not approve that loan even if it wanted to. We've asked you to show cause why you should not be in jail or paid the money back. As of 1:30 today, you have not paid the money back to the minor. What you and others have done to this minor is wrong. It's appallable and I wish I had never seen you." Judge Thomas then left the courtroom as bailiffs shackled Linus Shackelford.

Mr. Shackelford is imprisoned in the Hinds County Detention Center. Bail is set at $100,000 if he decides to appeal the order.

Pictures (Left to right): Shackelford and attorney Jeff Rimes wait. Mike Brown makes an appearance in the courtroom with his lawyer. Mr. Brown smiled most of the time. Bailiff handcuffs Linus Shackelford after Judge Thomas orders his imprisonment.