An indicted Tennessee decide is distributed to jail after her bond is revoked for constructive cocaine checks

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee prison court docket decide was despatched to jail Wednesday after her bond was revoked for testing constructive for cocaine whereas she was out of custody pending a trial on fees of coercion of a witness and harassment.

On-line information confirmed Shelby County Prison Courtroom Decide Melissa Boyd was booked right into a Memphis jail. Earlier Wednesday, a decide revoked her bond throughout a listening to in Memphis, court docket information confirmed.

Elected in 2022, Boyd is accused of coercing, influencing or trying to affect Lashanta Rudd, her former marketing campaign supervisor, to testify falsely or “withhold truthful testimony” in an official continuing, the indictment says. The indictment doesn’t describe the official continuing.

The indictment additionally says Boyd’s communications with Rudd had been makes an attempt to harass, alarm or frighten her. Boyd has pleaded not responsible.

Boyd was suspended in Might after she was accused of threatening an acquaintance, soliciting cash through the use of her function as a decide and substance abuse. The accusations embody asking for donations for a college in a social media put up exhibiting Boyd carrying a judicial gown.

Below circumstances of her launch, Boyd was ordered to bear drug screening and informed to not use medicine. Prosecutors requested for her bond to be revoked after she twice examined constructive for cocaine in March and did not report to a different drug take a look at, court docket paperwork confirmed.

Decide Roy Morgan then revoked her bond and despatched her to jail.

“Lots of effort has been supplied, and it’s simply not working,” Morgan mentioned throughout the listening to, based on the Business Enchantment newspaper. “And that’s unhappy, simply so unhappy.”

Arthur Horne III, considered one of Boyd’s attorneys, mentioned that Boyd “wants assist” and has not been cooperating with them, saying the decide was “in a full relapse” and is “not considering with a transparent head,” the newspaper reported.

Boyd’s trial is scheduled for April 24. In the meantime, the Tennessee Normal Meeting is predicted to vote April 4 on whether or not to take away Boyd from her place as decide, the Every day Memphian reported.

Below state regulation, judges might be referred to the legislature after receiving two public reprimands.