Whatever happened to Ron Meroney?

The other night as I sat watching the news suddenly I wondered “Whatever happened to Ron Meroney”?

You guys remember Ron Meroney, don’t you? Well in case you don’t, Ron Meroney was the Fox 13 Memphis news anchor that was arrested on statutory rape charges back in 2006. The charges stemmed from the statutory rape of a 13-year old girl in Maryland back in 1974. (There was also mention of other allegations of cases in which Meroney was accused of rape/statutory rape; however none of those cases were ever acted upon to my knowledge)

Meroney entered a plea deal and received a 15 year jail sentence and 5 years probation, however all but 18 months of the jail sentence were suspended. The 18 months that Meroney served were in at home detention where he was monitored with an electronic monitoring device. Meroney also had to register as a sex offender.

***in my opinion the registering as a sex offender is the only part of the sentence that makes much sense. I do understand that this happened many, many years ago, however if Meroney pled guilty he should have done some jail time….but this is the United States and we all know that the laws of this country don’t always have a “justice served” ending resolution***

Just Busted!

The Just Busted  newspapers that sell for $1 may actually be outselling the local newspapers around the Midsouth.  The newspaper  has become exceedingly popular and is flying off the shelves.

Just Busted is a weekly publication that displays the mugshots of people in Memphis and Shelby County that have been recently arrested. It also lists the crime the person was arrested for. The crimes range from robbery to murder to driving with a suspended or revoked license. The newspaper also highlight sex offenders in specific areas of the Midsouth.

Personally I view the newspaper each and every week. I have seen quite a few people in it that I know (unfortunately). However I do take into consideration that the people who’s faces you see in the newspaper have been arrested but may have not yet been convicted of the crime listed below their name. Some may beat the case and will never be charged with the crime listed below their name in Just Busted.  However, some others who read the newspaper are excited to see alleged criminals publicly shamed with their mugshots on public display. Many of these people feel that plastering their faces on a weekly newspaper will make some people who are considering crimes take a second thought before doing something that could land their face on the front of a newspaper. Memphis Police Director  Larry Godwin feels the same way. In a statement to Action News 5, Godwin said;

 The publication just might deter some criminals from re-offending. I like it. I think some embarrassment helps

Others, such as Attorney Jerry Summers of Chattanooga, TN believe differently. Summers told Action News 9 WTVC(Chattanooga) that he believes that the Just Busted paper infringes upon the accused person/s rights under the Sixth Amendment which entitles the accused to a fair trial.

The newspaper does say “innocent until proven guilty” on the front page, but for most  consumers those words go unnoticed. That is except for those who are featured in the newspaper. I am pretty sure they feel that it is unfair that without permission or notice their mugshot is placed in a newspaper and sold to the public for thousands of people to view.