By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–James Melton of Big Sandy has been appointed as the new Assistant District Attorney for the 24th Judicial District representing Henry, Benton, Carroll, Decatur and Hardin Counties.
Melton said he is ‘tickled’ about moving into his second career after working as a TVA police officer for several years.
At 64 years old now, Melton said he went to law school at his wife Janie’s urging, in his 50s, after he had retired from the TVA. “I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a lawyer and also had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a prosecutor.”
Melton was appointed to the position by District Attorney Matt Stowe and was sworn in Wednesday by Judge John Whitworth.
He will work out of the Paris District Attorney’s office in the Henry County Courthouse annex (former office of the County Election Commission) and will be the primary prosecutor of DUI and vehicular homicide cases.
“I’m tickled to death,” Melton said, “but it will be quite a challenge.”
Melton is the father of the late Sonny Melton, who most remember was killed in the Las Vegas mass shooting in 2017. Sonny Melton was married to Dr. Heather Melton of Paris, who is an orthopedic surgeon.
James and Janie’s son Jacob is an engineer in Little Rock. He said they will continue living in Big Sandy and he’ll commute to his office in Paris.
Photo: James Melton, center, with Judge Whitworth and District Attorney Matt Stowe at his swearing in. (Pam Mirabella/Camden Chronicle photo).