Wed. Dec 11th, 2024

‘Weak as a kitten’s meow’: Sen. Taylor criticizes Steve Mulroy, DA’s Office

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — “Ill-informed and unfair” are the words District Attorney Steve Mulroy used to describe harsh criticisms from a state lawmaker.

“You know, Mr. Earnest, you’re not a punk kid anymore.  Welcome to adulthood,” Shelby County Judge Bill Anderson said. “If you get convicted of this, you’re going to the state penitentiary, sir.”

This audio from the courtroom was sent in by State Senator Brent Taylor, who had harsh criticisms of the judge’s decision to release Tyreese Earnest.

Tyreese Earnest (SCSO)

Earnest, 18, is accused of shooting a co-worker at the FedEx World Hub three weeks ago.

In a Facebook post, Taylor argued that the District Attorney’s office didn’t fight enough to keep Earnest behind bars.

In the post, he said, “Despite DA Mulroy stating ‘The DA’s office opposed lower bond and ROR’, the ADA in this case was as weak as a kitten’s meow.”

“There are a lot of questions that I have after looking at the affidavit about what happened. I have questions about what exactly Mr. Earnest told police because they do acknowledge he agreed to speak with them,” the defense attorney said during Earnest’s bond hearing.

The defense is heard saying Earnest is a “hard worker” and had two jobs while attending high school.

There was no audio available of the prosecutors, which the DA’s office said was because it wasn’t recorded.

In a statement, Mulroy said, “This happens on occasion because General Sessions is not a court of record, and court staff must turn the recorder on.”

He went on to say that the prosecution did note the violent nature of the crime, the fact that someone could have died, the strength of the prosecution’s case and more.

This past week, state and local lawmakers expressed unhappiness with Judge Anderson’s decision.

“I think he has a screw loose. I wish he would trade in his robe for an orange jumpsuit because I think he is a threat to the public,” Commissioner Mick Wright said.

House speaker Cameron Sexton said his team is now reviewing all of Judge Anderson’s criminal cases.

“We believe the facts and circumstances that suggest a task to public safety and so we think these people need to be in custody,” Mulroy said.

WREG spoke with Mulroy last Thursday, the same day his office filed an appeal on Earnest’s release. He said the appeal was necessary to keep the public safe.

“We weren’t responding to outside political pressure or public outcry. This was not political,” Mulroy said. “We made a decision on the facts and the law and that’s what we will do in every case.”

Earnest is due back in court on Tuesday.

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