Graning pleads not guilty to trespassing charge
Published 10:39 am Wednesday, April 3, 2024
- Millicent Graning
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NATCHEZ — Millicent Graning of Natchez was arraigned in Adams County Justice Court Tuesday morning on a charge of willful trespassing.
Graning entered a not guilty plea.
District 2 Supervisor Kevin Wilson, who is also president of the Adams County Board of Supervisors, signed an affidavit accusing Graning of trespassing on his property at 19 Shieldsboro Lane in south Adams County.
Wilson owns approximately 400 acres there on which a company he owns proposes building an oilfield waste landfill.
Graning, who lives near that property, has been an outspoken opponent of such a landfill.
Wilson claims Graning took photos she presented of construction on his property, which she presented at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting. Graning claims she has never trespassed on Wilson’s property.
Wilson signed the affidavit seeking Graning’s arrest on Feb. 15, but it was not signed by a judge from Amite County until March 13.
Graning asked Judge Danny Barber why a judge in Amite County signed the warrant for her arrest and not an Adams County judge. She said he told her two Adams County judges had recused themselves.
Graning has hired Attorney Madeline Iles of the Eichelberger Law Firm in Jackson to represent her.
Graning said she had not had the opportunity to discuss with her attorney the next step in the judicial process.
“There are some good things about this. The judges here did recuse themselves and the sheriff did not go along with the farce to arrest me at the meeting. And I thought the apologies from the supervisors (Monday) were sincere,” Graning said.
“But, I have had to pay a $500 cash bond for a misdemeanor offense. I have had to pay a retainer to hire an attorney. I will have to pay to have my record expunged and try to undo the damage to my reputation that’s on the internet,” she said. “I’m in the insurance industry and I don’t know what this will do to my ability to get a job. I realize it’s a misdemeanor, but the insurance industry doesn’t want you if you have any criminal record. I don’t even have a speeding ticket, and that is by design.”