Judge Norelli Returns to Criminal Court

Update: 5-22-07: Judge Fritz Mercer will remain Chief Judge in Mecklenburg County.

She's baaaack!!

Judge Norelli is returning to the bench in criminal court. Last week, District Chief Judge Mercer announced he was moving the 'hug-a-thug' Judge to family court due to the numerous complaints he received about her behavior in the courtroom. (Previous Post)

Apparently, the Chief Judge felt the heat from his colleagues. Yesterday, he announced that Norelli is returning to preside in criminal court. In addition, the Chief Judge offered his resignation following the criticism he received for his decision to move Norelli. Mercer said he will allow the N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice to make the decision if he should step down as Chief Judge. (More Info)

Judge Norelli is part of the problem with the Mecklenburg County court system. She is responsible for many of the dismissals we see in the records of repeat offenders. Her behavior in the courtroom, especially her lack of respect for the police, does not help anyone. The offenders go unpunished, laugh at the police and continue to commit crime. Why wouldn't they? They know if they are caught... chances are good they will get off.

More Info: 5/12/07 Observer Article ~ The Meck Deck blog

Judge Norelli Removed from Criminal Court

Last month, Mecklenburg County Chief District Judge Fritz Mercer, made a decision to remove Judge Nancy Black Norelli (R) from presiding over criminal cases. Now, Judge Norelli is on the bench in family court where she will be hearing divorce and custody cases. One of the reasons for the move was made known to some of the media outlets today.

According to reports by WBTV News and The Charlotte Observer, several Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers had voiced concerns about Judge Norelli. The officers questioned several of Norelli’s rulings, including case dismissals and acquittals of defendants where the police had a mound of evidence against them.

Police officers and prosecutors were frustrated with Judge Norelli’s conduct in the courtroom and some officers felt they were treated unfairly and said they were sneered at by Judge Norelli.

One of the cases that Norelli dismissed involved a man who cut a natural gas line in an attempt to intentionally blow up his house. Norelli dismissed the case because she said the man had a ‘right to work on his own home.’ A cut gas line is very dangerous and could be deadly to those in the surrounding area. The man put his neighbors in serious danger when he attempted to destroy his home, however, Judge Norelli didn’t feel he should be reprimanded.

In another case, Judge Norelli acquitted a defendant who was charged with possession of marijuana. The arresting officer testified in court that he saw the man smoking marijuana, smelled marijuana and found a burning joint on the ground near the man. Judge Norelli disregarded the officer’s testimony and let the suspect off the hook.

I am thrilled to learn Judge Norelli is no longer presiding over criminal cases. The last thing we need in Mecklenburg County is a hug-a-thug judge like Norelli!

Shame on you, Judge Linwood Foust

Thanks to Judge Linwood O. Foust, Holly Mitchell (R) claimed another victim today. Holly was arrested this morning on felony breaking and entering, larceny and conspiracy charges.

In January, Judge Foust had the opportunity to send Mitchell to jail for 5-6 months for violating his probation. CMPD Officers, Prosecutors and Probation Officers recommended Judge Foust lock Mitchell up! Foust chose to ignore the expert opinions and instead sentenced Holly Mitchell to 10 days of weekend jail time.

It didn’t take long for Mitchell to make a fool out of the thug hugging Judge Linwood Foust. Holly was arrested in March for breaking & entering and again today. He is only 18 years old but he has a criminal record a mile long… stealing cars, breaking into homes, bringing an assault rifle to a football game, assaulting people, carrying guns and selling drugs… and this is only in the past two years. His juvenile record is another story!

Holly Mitchell is pure thug! He makes his living selling drugs and he steals from others to get what he wants. He continues to prove he isn’t trying to better himself by going out and committing more crimes. How far do people like Holly Mitchell have to go before they receive a punishment other than probation? One of these days, Holly will do something that will give Judge Linwood Foust nightmares!

All Holly Mitchell posts: March 6, 2007 – February 3, 2007 – November 15, 2006 – October 6, 2006

Florida Fugitive Caught & Released in Charlotte

UPDATE: 4/18/07: Terry Mauldin was arrested on a Governor's Warrant & will be extradited to Florida to face sexual battery charges. Good Riddance!

On March 10th, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested 48-year old Terry Glenn Mauldin, (R) for two outstanding sexual battery warrants out of Marion County, Florida.

Terry Mauldin is wanted in Florida because he sexually assaulted two special needs students from Dec '06-Feb '07. He was questioned by authorities in February when the students came forward. However, Mauldin fled the state before a judge could sign a warrant for his arrest. A tip led police to his whereabouts in Charlotte and police picked him up.

According to The Ocala Times-Banner, Mauldin was a bus assistant who worked on a bus transporting male students between a group home and a public school for special needs children. The Marion County Sheriff's Office says Mauldin called and approached the group home in Ocala, FL on several occasions. He even asked home caregivers if he could take the boys to the movies, dinner and other places.

Two students, ages 15 and 13, came forward in February and claimed Mauldin kissed, fondled and performed oral sex on them. One student said the incidents happened on a frequent basis on the morning and afternoon bus ride. The second student said he was assaulted on the bus and in a gas station bathroom. Mauldin is one sick man who should be considered a danger to all children.

The two warrants in Florida clearly state Mauldin was to be held without bond and Florida would extradite him. However, Mecklenburg County Magistrate Bozart did not bother checking with officials in Florida or looking at the case and set Mauldin’s bail at $20,000. Mauldin bonded out of jail the following day.

According to Julia Rush, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, officials in Mecklenburg County are working under a new administrative order that allows judges to set bail on anyone, as long as it's not a capital offense.

Holly Mitchell Arrested AGAIN!

Holly Mitchell, 18, was arrested again yesterday! His latest charges are for breaking and entering.

Mitchell is the teenager who brought an M-16 assault rifle to a football game last September. A month before he was caught with the gun, he was sentenced to 36 months of intensive probation for stealing cars.

On January 7th, 2007, Holly Mitchell appeared before District Court Judge Linwood O. Foust for a probation violation hearing. Mitchell's Probation Officer, CMPD Police Officers and the Prosecutor recommended Mitchell serve the rest of his sentence behind bars.

Judge Linwood Foust decided it was better to release Holly back on the streets and not hold him accountable for his actions. Judge Foust chose to ignore the fact Holly Mitchell has a steady arrest record for the past few years and has no regard for the law. When will someone hold this kid responsible?

Update: Jeffrey Lawrence Brooks

On January 14th, I wrote about Jeffrey Lawrence Brooks. He is the repeat violent criminal who was featured on America's Most Wanted and listed on CMPD's 10 Most Wanted List...

Brooks nearly killed a man but that didn't matter to a Mecklenburg County Judge- who reduced his bail and basically set him free 30 days later.

Tara Servatius followed up on the story and Creative Loafing published an article with her findings. Tara's article, 'Judges Gone Wild' reveals some very troubling information about one of our District Court Judges...

From Tara's article:
" ...District Court Judge Philip F. Howerton Jr. saw things differently. Unlike the police department, the magistrate and the folks at America's Most Wanted, he apparently wasn't concerned enough about Brooks' potential for violence to keep him in jail..." <Read More>