A Black man has been stranded behind bars in North Carolina amidst the agonizing means of getting in entrance of a decide to plead his innocence. The accusations..? He’s going through a laundry checklist of costs filed by a girl he claims has been utilizing her energy to verify he stays in jail.
What Occurred to Julius?
Julius Bishop, former head of the Constructive Youth Transformation nonprofit, has been in jail since August of 2021. He’s going through home violence costs filed by his ex-girlfriend, Ashley Blackwell — who occurs to be a Justice of the Peace decide in Mecklenburg County.
The 2 have been collectively for over 5 years earlier than issues took a severe flip for the worst, Bishop instructed WBTV. In July 2021, Blackwell accused Bishop of yelling at her over an electronic mail, threatening her and choking her, in response to a request for a home violence protecting order. Nevertheless, in a counter declare, Bishop stated he confronted her as a result of he caught her dishonest, per court docket paperwork. He then alleged Blackwell received bodily with him and threatened to kill herself if he received a protecting order in opposition to her.
Bishop additionally admitted to choking Blackwell however claimed he was given consent as a result of it was considered one of her kinks. He additionally instructed WBTV he believed her consent to such actions was actually an excuse to justify breaking apart with him. Ultimately, solely Blackwell’s order was granted.
By August, Bishop was accused of violating her order by going to their shared house, regardless of Blackwell being the one kicked off the lease – and was arrested, the report says. He was then slammed with 5 costs of home violence protecting order violations and extra counts of felony stalking, assault by strangulation, assault on a feminine and speaking threats.
“I can’t consider it. And I nonetheless don’t know after I’m going to get out, to be trustworthy,” Bishop instructed WBTV throughout a video name from the Mecklenburg County Detention Heart. “[Blackwell] thinks she will be able to do no matter she needs.”
Blackwell’s Alleged Scheme
From day one, Bishop has been standing ten toes on denying the allegations. Nevertheless, he additionally voiced his suspicion that his ex had been abusing her judicial powers at his demise. There are a number of components to his case that elevate some eyebrows.
First, Blackwell had beforehand had an ethics criticism filed in opposition to her by one other decide accusing her of dragging her relationships into her work, per court docket paperwork. That decide additionally accused her of admitting Bishop by no means hit her however nonetheless attempting to get a decide assigned to his case that will take her facet.
That’s not all: The criticism additionally claims Blackwell had a “particular relationship” with one of many judges who signed off on considered one of Bishop’s arrest warrants and was allegedly requested by Blackwell to alter the decide on Bishop’s case. Nevertheless, the report says the probe into Blackwell’s actions fell flat.
Let’s additionally think about different conflicting components. The report says Bishop’s bond wasn’t set till after a month of him being arrested, which contradicts North Carolina’s 48-hour maintain for home violence circumstances. Although, his authentic $10,000 bond skyrocketed to $100,000 when the jury indicted him. He additionally refused a plea deal that will give him time served, given a conviction on any of the fees would land him a sentence the size of his present keep in jail.
As of now, he nonetheless doesn’t have a trial date.