Friday, June 17, 2005

Camera coverage planned for McLean hearing

Cameras will be in the courtroom when the next hearing in the child welfare case against Brandie McLean, 28, Webb City, is heard in Jasper County Circuit Court.
Court records indicate KOAM's request was approved June 9. Under court rules, one station is designated to make the requests for TV coverage, while one newspaper, The Joplin Globe, makes requests for any camera coverage for the print media.
Ms. McLean, if you recall, had originally pleaded guilty to a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, but hired a new lawyer and withdrew her plea following the shooting death of her eight-year-old son Braxton Wooden while he was in foster care in Alba. She also faces two forgery charges.
Ms. McLean said she withdrew her plea after learning that it could keep her from having her other children returned to her custody. They were taken away from her last year by Family Services after her two-year-old son was found on the roof of her house while she was sleeping inside.
Ms. McLean's new lawyer, Juddson McPherson, Joplin, indicated in a TV newscast earlier this week that his client was considering filing a lawsuit against the foster parents who were in charge of Braxton Wooden when he was shot to death.

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