WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Will Melton Be Removed From Office?

Will Melton Be Removed From Office?

by Howard Ballou
howard@wlbt.net

He struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to three misdemeanor weapons charges and avoids jail time, but can Mayor Frank Melton remain in office? 

According to the Mississippi constitution, the mayor may have to step down. 

 Jackson Mayor Frank Melton pleaded no contest to a reduced charge on the felony gun count and guilty to two misdemeanor gun charges. He was given a six-month suspended sentence on each count, one year probation and fined a total of $1,500.

Melton said the plea deal was "in the best interest of the city. Melton said, "the message today is the rules are the same for everybody including the mayor, the governor and the president. I accept that; I can live with that and we'll just move on." 

State Attorney General Jim Hood said, "...many times the defendants have to see the white of the jurors' eyes before they make a decision. It's best to resolve the case and I'm glad we were able to resolve this case." 

Hinds County District Attorney Faye Peterson said, "..I was surprised they had done that. I think that was a good decision."

The 57-year-old first-term mayor was accused of carrying a gun onto the campus of the Mississippi College School of Law, a felony, which he denied. He and prosecutors agreed to reduce that charge to a misdemeanor; avoiding jail time and removal from office.

But article six, section 175 of the Mississippi Constitution, titled: liability and punishment of public officers says: "All public officers, for wilful neglect of duty or misdemeanor in office, shall be liable to presentment or indictment by a grand jury; and, upon conviction, shall be removed from office, and otherwise punished as may be prescribed by law.

" In light of that, we asked Mayor Melton if he would resign. Melton said, "No, that's not applicable in this case.."

Attorney General Jim Hood's spokesman, Jan Hedgepeth, said Hood was attending a funeral wednesday evening and would comment on the constitutional provision tomorrow.

Earlier, Hood had this to say about Melton, "If he steps out of line...he doesn't behave, Judge Green is going to put him in jail and I don't know of any better way for somebody that doesn't behave than to have a judge looking over their shoulders."

For his part, Mayor Melton says it's now time to get back to the business of the city of Jackson.  

Mayor Melton is not out of the woods yet. He goes to court again in April on charges stemming from the destruction of a Ridgeway Street duplex.