Zach Scruggs released from jail

As the corruption trial of Hinds Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter inches closer, one of the defendants in the original Scruggs trial is out of jail. MPB’s Cari Gervin reports from Oxford.

Judge DeLaughter’s trial is still scheduled to start April 6. But the venue has been moved to Oxford instead Aberdeen. Earlier this month, DeLaughter pled not guilty to charges that he allowed himself to be influenced to rule in favor of Richard Scruggs.

Scruggs has pled guilty to influencing DeLaughter and is cooperating with authorities. He has been in jail on a separate bribery charge since last summer.

His son Zach was also implicated in that case. The younger Scruggs pled guilty to knowing a felony was being committed but not reporting it. He was given a 14-month sentence.

Now Zach is out of prison. He has moved to a halfway house in Tupelo, where he will live until his release in August. He is expected to work during this time, but he remains disbarred from his former profession as a lawyer.

For MPB News, I’m Cari Gervin in Oxford.