Prosecutor of Perry escapes contempt of court charge

Attorney Mike McCrum (right) gets a hug from a supporter Monday November 17, 2014 in the 225th District Court at the Bexar County Courthouse during a contempt of court hearing. McCrum, serving as a special prosecutor in the case against Gov. Rick Perry, who is also accused of professional misconduct, could spend up to six months in jail if found guilty in contempt. After nearly a nine-month hiatus, the hearing resumed for McCrum. less Attorney Mike McCrum (right) gets a hug from a supporter Monday November 17, 2014 in the 225th District Court at the Bexar County Courthouse during a contempt of court hearing. McCrum, serving as a special ... more Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Prosecutor of Perry escapes contempt of court charge 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — After a daylong hearing Monday, local attorney Mike McCrum was found not in contempt of court.

The prominent defense attorney — currently serving as special prosecutor in the criminal case against Gov. Rick Perry — faced a possible sentence of up to six months in jail if the contempt charge had stuck.

A grand jury indicted Perry on Aug. 15 on two counts: abuse of official capacity, a first-degree felony, and coercion of a public servant, a third-degree felony.

The Bexar County district attorney’s office filed the contempt motion against McCrum in January, several months after a trial in which his client, Taylor Rae Rosenbusch, was convicted of intoxication manslaughter.

Prosecutors alleged McCrum had instructed Melanie Little, a punishment-phase witness who had served as Rosenbusch’s addiction counselor, to “get lost for awhile,” turn off her cellphone and take a long lunch to avoid coming back to testify.

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mcasady@express-news.net