Melisia Prout (left) talks with Chuck Frye, (center) county attorney, and Jon Myers (right) about legal proceedings for the next board of election hearing, which will be May 7, after the primaries. Standing next to Prout is Lynn Grainger. SONNY HEDGECOCK |HPE
“The whole bottom line is that I put her brother in prison for 12 years for statutory rape,” Hege said, referring to Melisia Prout, president of Salvation’s Way. Prout, a Winston-Salem resident, led a group of Davidson County residents earlier this month to challenge Hege’s candidacy in the Republican Primary set for Tuesday.
Prout’s brother, James Floyd Stanley Jr., was convicted in 1998 of statutory rape. Prout argues that her brother’s conviction has nothing to do with her attempt to stop Hege from becoming sheriff.
“It has nothing to do with anything regarding my brother,” she said. “(Hege) was not involved in an investigation, arrest or questioning whatsoever. ... He absolutely had nothing to do with my brother’s case, as much as he would like people to believe that. Again, that is self promotion of his ego.”
Salvation’s Way, a nonprofit established in 2000, is a free legal service offered to individuals and families, according to information filed by Prout with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s office. Prout changed the nonprofit’s address from 400 Oakgrove St., Linwood, to 4531 Kreeger Road, Winston-Salem, in January with the secretary of state’s office. Prout, who is the only member of Salvation’s Way, said her nonprofit has a board of directors, but would not release any further information Friday.
According to Prout, Salvation’s Way, which had 100 members at its peak, had several dealings with Hege during the former sheriff’s tenure. In one instance, she appeared on Hege’s Court TV program, “Inside Cell Block F,” to confront the sheriff about a teenager who died in the Davidson County Jail. Hege said Friday an autopsy revealed the teenager committed suicide, but Prout claims there was foul play with the sheriff’s office.
Prout said she founded Salvation’s Way because of her experience growing up as a ward of the state. She said she has had “personal dealings with many benefactors of the court system” during her whole life.
Prout is registered as an unaffiliated voter in Forsyth County, according to the N.C. Board of Elections Web site. She said she doesn’t support any candidate in the Davidson County’s sheriff race.
Prout said she got involved in protesting Hege’s candidacy when several Davidson County residents asked her what could be done to stop the former sheriff from being elected. After studying state laws, she claims Hege, a convicted felon, would be in direct violation of state law if elected because he would have control over firearms in the sheriff’s office.
Prout and the Davidson County residents challenging Hege will get a hearing May 7 with the Davidson County Board of Elections.
dignasiak@hpe.com | 888-3657
AT A GLANCE
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Salvation’s Way President Melisia Prout is leading a group of Davidson County residents challenging the candidacy of Gerald Hege. For more information on Salvation’s Way, contact Prout at 997-3072.
Bringing in innocent people name and saying crap that people are doing this for revenge.
This is NOT about revenge.
Hege this is about JUST SAYING NO TO YOU.
Nancy Reagan had a saying Just Say No To Drugs.
Well Davidson County is sending you a message Hege.
We are standing up and saying NO to you. We do not want you as our High Sheriff.
If you want to run for Sheriff go to Hollywood, they will elect you, they put movie stars in as mayors now or have you been buried under a rock to long to notice that the world does not revolve around you.
The association also has endorsed a state constitutional amendment, proposed by state Sen. Stan Bingham, that would prohibit felons from serving as sheriff. Although the legislature took no action on the amendment last year, Bingham plans to re-introduce it during this year's short session. It's obviously no coincidence that Bingham is from Davidson County, where Hege's candidacy has stirred strong passions both among his detractors and supporters. Even if the Sheriffs Association and Bingham were initially reacting to one particular candidate, there's still a larger issue — and other candidates — at stake. If a convicted felon isn't allowed to serve as a deputy, what could possibly justify allowing one to be boss of the entire department?
Sheriffs need to have experience with law and order — but it needs to come on the right side of the law.