Judge Rules YNW Melly Could Be Freed If Broward Officials Fail to Prove Bond Denial

It looks like YNW Melly’s fight for freedom is taking a major turn. The rapper’s attorney, Michael A. Pizzi Jr., recently filed a scathing 12-page lawsuit against the Broward Sheriff’s Office, accusing them of subjecting Melly to inhumane conditions. According to the lawsuit, Melly—real name Jamell Demons—has endured nearly three years in solitary confinement without visits or phone calls, making communication with his legal team nearly impossible.

“We are asking a Federal Judge to Order the immediate release of Jamell Demons (a.k.a. Melly) because the Broward County jail system has been violating his Constitutional Rights,” Pizzi Jr. told XXL.

He claims that the treatment violates Melly’s First, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights, stating, “The refusal to let Melly see his family and the interference on his legal representation violates the Constitution and cannot be allowed to stand.”

Now, Judge Melissa Damian has issued a decisive order in response to the lawsuit. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office has until December 6, 2024, to defend their handling of Melly’s incarceration. “On or before December 6, 2024, the Respondents shall file a memorandum of fact and law to show cause why this Petition should not be granted,” the ruling reads. If they fail to meet the deadline, Melly could be released on bond as he awaits retrial.

In their defense, the Broward Sheriff’s Office has denied the allegations. “The jail does not utilize ‘solitary confinement.’ Rather, Mr. Demons has been placed on administrative segregation,” they stated, describing the classification as necessary for the safety of inmates, staff, and property.

With the court-ordered deadline looming, Melly’s future hangs in the balance. Will this lawsuit pave the way for his release, or will Broward County mount a defense strong enough to keep him behind bars?