Legal Issues Dominate Latest Legally Served Segment
Attorney Franz Borghardt covered three major legal stories during his March 18 appearance on Legally Served. The conversation focused on Melanie Curtin’s acquittal, felony charges against an attorney accused of bringing contraband onto prison property, and rapper Mystical’s guilty plea in Ascension Parish.
Melanie Curtin Acquittal Reshapes Discussion
Borghardt and Brian Haldane spent much of the segment on Melanie Curtin, who was found not guilty in her second trial tied to a 2014 sexual assault case involving former Livingston Parish deputy Dennis Perkins.
Borghardt said the timing of Curtin’s retrial mattered. In her first trial, she was the first defendant connected to the case to face a jury. That made her the public face of the scandal at the time. By the retrial, Dennis and Cynthia Perkins had already been convicted, which changed how jurors may have viewed Curtin’s role.
He also said prosecutors likely filed charges they believed they could prove, not necessarily the harshest charges available. The discussion explored how guilt by association can shape public opinion and how cases involving intoxication and consent often create legal gray areas for juries.
Attorney Arrest Raises Contraband Questions
The segment then shifted to the case of an attorney charged after authorities said drugs, a firearm, and other items were found on the property of Elayn Hunt Correctional Center.
Borghardt said context will matter. A firearm in a vehicle is not illegal on its own, but bringing it onto prison property creates serious legal problems. He said a defense may argue the attorney forgot the items were in the vehicle, but that argument gets harder once marijuana and additional materials are involved.
The hosts also noted the case lands under extra scrutiny because of ongoing concerns about contraband and inmate deaths at Hunt.
Mystical Pleads Guilty
The final topic focused on Louisiana rapper Mystical, whose real name is Michael Tyler. He pleaded guilty to third-degree rape after originally facing several more serious charges, including first-degree rape.
Borghardt said the plea deal likely reflects a practical legal calculation. Mystical has already spent years in jail awaiting trial, and that time could heavily affect sentencing. He noted that backstory and case details may have shaped the plea agreement long before sentencing, which is expected in June.
Big Picture
The segment centered on one theme: legal outcomes often depend on strategy, timing, evidence, and perception as much as headline allegations.