Hattiesburg mayor contempt charge dropped
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) - Ten months after a complaint was filed against Hattiesburg's mayor, the court has purged the charge.
Mayor Johnny DuPree was found in civil contempt of court in July for failing to nominate qualified city department heads in a timely manner.
The complaint was originally filed by Hattiesburg City Council President Kim Bradley and Ward 3 Councilman Carter Carroll.
It took DuPree nearly half of this term to have all 17 appointments nominated and approved by the city council, with chief of police being the last position filled this summer.
"You're in contempt until you're not," Bob Gholson said. Gholson represented Bradley and Carroll, and he said the reason this was purged was because DuPree finally fulfilled his duties.
DuPree had no comment.
Each party is responsible for their own attorney's fees, and the mayor is responsible for court costs.
