Not Guilty Verdict In Shelnutt Trial

Mark Shelnutt fought back tears as Judge Clay land read the verdict. With each not guilty announced, the embattled attorney’s family sobbed openly.
“I’m just happy. I feel like justice was done today and I’m just ready to go home and get some sleep, said Shelnutt outside the courthouse following the verdict.“

His freedom in tact, now he faces the task of rebuilding his tarnished practice. “So I would hope that now that this is over, that his law practice will soar where it should be,” said Craig Gillen, one of Shelnutt’s attorneys.

This verdict brings to an end a two year ordeal for Shelnutt. “Mark has said since the first day he appeared in court he was glad that the innuendo of the investigation was over so that he didn’t have to answer to shadows, the shadows of the investigation, said Tom Withers,” his attorney.

People Shelnutt touched in his many years as an attorney were there for every moment of the trial. Willene Jackson has known Shelnutt for about 25 years. “He prosecuted me in ‘89. Everybody say he prosecuted you, why are you his friend? He was doing his job.“

Shelnutt’s oldest sister says the verdict is an answer to her prayers.“To have the court system tell the world what we have known for years, that our brother is one of the finest men to walk this earth,” said Jan Whalen.

Shelnutt was found not guilty on all 36 counts of money laundering, conspiracy to launder money,
aiding and abetting a drug conspiracy, attempted bribery and making a false statement. Carlton Bourne, Jr., the lead prosecutor read a quick statement outside the courthouse. “Both sides worked hard, the jury worked hard, we accept their verdict. I have no further comment at this time. Thank you.“

Shelnutt says as we approach the Thanksgiving Day Holiday, he’ll be even more grateful this year.