Former Gordon Mayor Elbert Melton IN CUSTODY and Handcuffs
Rickey StokesViewed: 8606
Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
334-790-1729
Date: Feb 20 2019 11:22 AM
Dothan (WTVY)-- The former mayor of Gordon, Alabama received a 12-month prison sentence Wednesday. That follows his conviction on two charges of Absentee Voter Fraud.
Assistant Houston County District Attorney Mark Johnson requested 10 years on each count, the maximum. However, defense attorney Joey Sheffield requested leniency because Melton is 71 and suffering from health issues.
A jury last month took only 45 minutes to find Melton guilty of notarizing two ballots in 2016, when he was running for mayor. He was immediately forced from office after his conviction.
While Melton is officially "in custody" at this moment, he could still file an appeal on his conviction. If the appeal is filed the Judge could be required to set an appeal bond. Then Melton could make bond on the appeal and remain free until which time the appeal run it's course through the upper courts.
But as of right now ( 11:21 AM ) Melton was sitting in the box in the courtroom, dressed in a coat and tie, in handcuffs awaiting transport by the Houston County Sheriff Prisoner Transport van to the Houston County Jail.
<- back