While the arraignment via Zoom of Mark McClure had a special judge, Kim Razor of the 18th District Court (doublecheck this), and a special prosecutor, Jesse Melcher, Robertson County Attorney, most of the proceeding was as normal as any other case.
Jeff Lawson was introduced as McClure’s defense attorney at the arraignment held at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 24, and he entered a Not Guilty plea for him while waiving the formal reading of the charges.
The arraignment did take a curve when the victim addressed the court and asked Judge Razor to remove the restriction about no contact of any kind between her and the former Falmouth Police Sergeant.
“Our whole life has been turned upside down,” she said while telling the judge that they have been told to vacate the home she rented and shared with McClure. She told Judge Razor that she needed to move back where she is from, which is next door to her mom and dad, because her address has been reported and there are people showing up there that do scare her.
“They have said that Mark can live there with me,” she said while adding, “I am not afraid of Mark and neither is my 16-year-old daughter. I begged them that night to not charge him and I don’t want these charges.”
Razor ruled that verbal contact can begin but there is to be no physical contact till they both are enrolled in counseling and a professional could tell her that it is safe for the two to have physical contact.
The next court appearance will continue to be via Zoom and scheduled for 1 p.m. on June 25.
