The Ellis County Press: Wilmer mayor’s husband found not guilty by jury

Wilmer mayor’s husband found not guilty by jury
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Editor on 07/24/2003 00:00:00


_Video tape shows profanity not used against councilwoman_
SHERRY LONG
The Ellis County Press
WILMER - A Wilmer Municipal Court jury on July 16 found the mayor's husband, Jim
Root, not guilty of a charge of disorderly conduct in the alleged verbal attack
of a Wilmer City Council member last November.
Root was accused by City Councilwoman Tiny Lange of calling her 'a stupid
b-----, during the meeting.
Mayor Linda Root did eject her husband out of the meeting and threatened others
about the outbursts, but has maintained he never used profanity toward Lange.
Jim Root's attorney, Frank Hernandez, showed jurors a videotape from the meeting
to let them see what had happened during the meeting.
'If you listen to the recording it says stupid woman,' said
Root.
Wilmer Mayor Pro-Tem Tiny Lange said she did not like the six-member jury's
decision.
'The jurors said they did not hear it on the tape,' Lange said. 'But that's why
we have a judicial system.'
According to Lange no other Dallas county judge wanted to hear the case due to
the media publicity of Wilmer Mayor Linda Root.
The defendant called the lawsuit and charges 'frivolous' and was glad the first
amendment to freedom of speech still applies.
'It restores my faith in human nature that there are some honest people out
there,' Root said.
Previous The Ellis County Press news reports stated Root called Wilmer Mayor
Pro-Tem Tiny Lange a 'stupid woman' during the meeting.