Salon À la Mode owner Shelley Luther was sentenced Tuesday to seven days in jail for criminal and civil contempt and a $7,000 fine for defying Governor Greg Abbott’s safer at home orders by opening her Dallas salon without permission.
However, Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are now calling for the release of this North Texas salon owner who claims she was simply trying to feed her kids. Texas Lieutenant Governor Ken Paxton has also joined in asking for Luther’s release–adding that he’ll cover the $7,000 fine imposed by Dallas judge Eric Moye.
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We will be updating this breaking story.
Texas Gov Abbott, Attorney General Paxton Calling For Release Of Dallas Salon Owner From Jail
Shelley Luther hasn’t been able to operate her far north Dallas salon, Salon A La Mode, since March 19, when “safer at home” orders forced non-essential businesses to shut their doors across Texas due to the coronavirus pandemic. Luther employs 19 licensed stylists who also were forced to stop working.
On April 28, Luther opened her salon before Governor Greg Abbott allowed her business to reopen. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins served Luther with a cease-and-desist order–which Luther tore up in front of a large, cheering Open Texas crowd in Frisco, Texas last week.
Luther decided to keep her Dallas salon open anyway.
This prompted an in-person court hearing with state district Judge Eric Moye who sentenced her to a week in jail and a $7,000 fine for refusing to close her salon or apologize for her actions.
The judge ruled Luther continued to operate her Dallas hair salon in violation of the governor’s order and in violation of a restraining order from the court.
WHO IS SHELLEY LUTHER? DALLAS SALON OWNER, MAKEUP ARTIST, MUSICIAN, EXOTIC ANIMAL OWNER
The judge did tell Luther that he would consider not giving her jail time, if she admitted that she was wrong, that she was selfish, and if she would apologize to the elected officials whose orders she violated.
Luther’s responded to the judge that feeding kids isn’t selfish and that she won’t be closing her salon.
“I have much respect for this court and laws. I have never been in this position before and it’s not someplace that I want to be,” Luther responded. “But I have to disagree with you sir, when you say that I’m selfish because feeding my kids — is not selfish. I have hair stylists that are going hungry because they’d rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision but I am not going to shut the salon.”
Luther has two grown daughters who are, according to the Dallas Morning News, 17-year-old Logann Raye Porterfield, who lives with Luther and boyfriend Tim Georgeff, and an older daughter Rachael Porterfield. Georgeff has a 10-year-old son that lives with them.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton released statements Wednesday morning calling for the immediate release of Luther from jail.
“I find it outrageous and out of touch during this national pandemic, a judge, in a country that actualy released hardened criminals for fear of contracting COVID-19, would jail a mother for operating her hair salon in an attempt to put food on her family’s table,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The trial judge did not need to lock up Shelley Luther. His order is a shameful abuse of judicial discretion, which seems like another political stunt in Dallas. He should release Ms. Luther immediately.”
It should be noted that Attorney General Ken Paxton faces two counts of securities fraud related to efforts to solicit investors without revealing that he was getting paid for the work. The first-degree felonies carry a maximum of 99 years in prison.
Paxton also was charged with failing to register with state securities regulators while conducting other investment business, a third-degree felony with a maximum 10-year sentence. He is still trying to get the case moved to Collin County, according to the Statesman. Rallying behind Shelley Luther, who has immense support in Collin County where she tore up the cease-and-desist order from Dallas County, could be seen as a motivator.
Collin County Judge Chris Hill has a well-known history for his disdain of the statewide economic shutdown. His biggest beef is over what is considered an essential business under Governor Abbott’s safer at home order, claiming that “all businesses” are essential to the financial well-being of Collin County. This prompted a clarification to the State order which forced Hill to rescind his executive order in order to become compliant.
Governor Abbott also joined in with Texas’ Attorney General, saying, “I join the Attorney General in disagreeing with the excessive action by the Dallas judge, putting Shelley Luther in jail for seven days,” the statement reads. “As I have made clear through prior pronouncements, jailing Texans for non-compliance with executive orders should always be the last available option. Compliance with executive orders during this pandemic is important to ensure public safety; however, surely there are less restrictive means to achieving that goal than jailing a Texas mother.”
Here are Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton’s statements admonishing the Dallas judge as released on Twitter today:
Luther’s attorney, Warren Norred, said he would be immediately appealing the judge’s decision.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has also joined in the fight to get Shelley Luther released from jail in Dallas. He even offered to pay her $7,000 fine…and be placed under house arrest for a week “so she can go to work and feed her kids.”
You can watch the sentencing here.
Well, never mind…because it looks like the Dallas court has taken down the video.
Texas Gov Abbott, Attorney General Paxton Calling For Release Of Dallas Salon Owner From Jail
Salon À la Mode owner Shelley Luther was sentenced to seven days in jail for criminal and civil contempt and a $7,000 fine Tuesday for defying Governor Greg Abbott’s safer at home orders by opening her Dallas salon without permission. However, Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are now calling for the release of this mother who said she was simply trying to feed kids.
More on Metroplex Social:
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