Reporter covering case of boy arrested over NRA shirt threatened with arrest
Charlo Greene, the WOWK reporter covering the case of Jared Marcum, the West Virginia boy arrested over a pro-NRA t-shirt, said Monday she was thrown out of the Logan County Courthouse and threatened with arrest before she could present a petition opposing an emergency gag order requested by prosecutors Christopher White and Sabrina Deskins.
Greene told Examiner that Marcum was not due back in court for a couple weeks.
"We were here because the prosecution filed a motion for a gag order," said Ben White, Marcum's attorney. "My opinion is because, seemingly, they want to take it out of the court of public opinion."
Greene reported Monday that prosecutors hoped to bar Marcum, his father and his lawyer from speaking to the press, claiming the ban would serve Marcum's better interest. Greene said that Allen Lardieri, Marcum's father, found the claim ironic.
"It was for Jared's better interest is what I was told, which seems to be a bit odd to me," he said. "These are the same individuals that are trying to prosecute him, so as far as them knowing what is in his better interest, I have a lot of questions about that."
Greene, the reporter who first broke the story, became part of it when she prepared a petition on behalf of her station and a free press.
According to Greene, before she "could present her argument or even deliver her petition to the court clerk, she was thrown out of the Logan County Courthouse, twice, by a bailiff, who said the judge presiding over Jared's case, Eric O'Briant requested it."
She was then threatened with arrest on a charge of obstructing an officer, the same charge Marcum faces, Greene added.
"Meanwhile," Greene said, "Jared met with prosecutors who withdrew their petition for a gag order, on the condition that Jared's parent waive the confidentiality that bars the prosecution from speaking freely about his case, due to him being a minor."
Marcum was arrested and suspended from Logan Middle School in Logan, W.Va., in April after he wore a pro-NRA T-shirt that depicted a firearm and the phrase "Protect your right" to school.
If found guilty, he faces a year in jail or juvenile confinement and a $500 fine. White says he is still working to have the charges thrown out.
Greene said that prosecutors and the arresting officer refused to answer WOWK's questions.
Greene's report can be seen here. Updates, including a statement from WOWK, will be added as they are available.
Related:
----------------------------------------------------------------
If you like this article, you can follow Joe on Twitter @jnewby1956, visit and like hisFacebook page, or subscribe to receive email updates when a new article is published.
For hard-hitting conservative commentary, please visit Joe's blog, the Conservative Firing Line. You can also find Joe's articles at Right News Now, Tea Party Tribune,Liberty Unyielding and PolitiCollision.
Reporter covering case of boy arrested over NRA shirt threatened with arrest
http://www.examiner.com/article/reporter-covering-case-of-boy-arrested-over-nra-shirt-threatened-with-arrest
No comments: