MADISON COUNTY, Miss. – A March 30 trial date has been set for the political blogger accused of breaking into the nursing home room of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran’s bedridden wife last year and taking her picture.
Clayton Kelly, indicted for burglary, was in Madison County Circuit court Monday for an update on the case. One of four original defendants charged, Kelly is the only one left waiting on a court trial. Ridgeland Attorney Mark Mayfield took his own life shortly after his arrest. John Mary of Hattiesburg pleaded guilty to conspiracy, and under a plea agreement received no prison time. And Laurel teacher Richard Sager entered a pretrial diversion program, which if successfully completed, he won’t be prosecuted.
Madison County’s District Attorney said Monday there were no plea negotiations currently in the works with Kelly, and Friday would be the deadline to reach one.
Kelly’s family had said, in an attempt to make a name for himself as a political blogger, he was encouraged by some supporters of Cochran’s then opponent Chris McDaniel, to take pictures of Rose Cochran to help prove allegations that her husband was having an inappropriate relationship.
Mrs. Cochran died in December of last year, a month after her husband won the general election fight with McDaniel.
