On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, FOX13 reported that former Shelby County Judge Melissa Boyd had been placed on probation after violating the terms of her diversion agreement.
According to court records, Boyd was in court last week facing charges for violating her diversion, which had been put in place earlier this year after she pled guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge. The judge subsequently sentenced Boyd to a period of probation lasting 11 months and 29 days.
Boyd had originally been charged in December 2023 with coercion of a witness and harassment. However, the coercion charge was dropped when she chose to plead guilty solely to harassment. As part of a diversion agreement, she avoided jail time and the harassment charge was deferred for a period.
However, it appears Boyd ran afoul of the conditions of her diversion, prompting prosecutors to pursue the probation violation charge against her. Her attorney, Arthur Horne, confirmed to FOX13 that Boyd would now have a harassment conviction on her record due to violating the terms set out in her diversion program.
The legal issues are the latest development in a series of problems facing Boyd, who has been suspended from her role as a criminal court judge in Division 9 of Shelby County since May 2023. Reports indicate her suspension was due to confirmed issues with substance abuse. As part of her probation, Boyd will still be required to participate in veterans court, perhaps receiving treatment or counseling.
Source: FOX13
