Judge releases man from jail for wearing blue jeans to court

YOUNGSTOWN — A judge ordered a man he jailed for wearing blue jeans to court released from jail the following day.

On Friday, Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court granted a defense motion to reinstate the $75,000 bond of John Messer, owner of the former Riverbend Tavern, and set him free to await court action on drug trafficking charges linked to the tavern.

When Messer appeared Thursday wearing blue jeans, Judge Krichbaum ordered him to change into a red and white striped jail uniform before a pre-trial hearing and then jailed him until further notice at the end of the hearing.

In that hearing, Judge Krichbaum said he previously had warned Messer, 58, of Raccoon Road, to dress properly for court.

For the complete story, see Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com