MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

In a two-paragraph order dated Friday, President Judge Gordon Miller of Crawford County Court of Common Pleas found that Meadville resident Lisa Miceli “has purged herself from civil contempt, for the moment.”

In a single-paragraph letter addressed to Miller dated the same day, Miceli

said she was able to state “without question, that I intend to follow this court’s order of June 12, 2008, that absolutely prohibits me from contacting certain people who are enumerated in that order.”

As a result of that letter, Miceli was released from Crawford County jail, where she had remained since being taken from Crawford County Courthouse on Aug. 13 in handcuffs and shackles.

Thursday, Miller issued a memorandum and order stating that Miceli had failed to comply with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedures for purging from a civil contempt order. After spending seven days in jail, a sentence aimed at giving her one last chance to produce a letter acceptable to the court, she had failed to do so.

Miceli, who is accused of sending more than 400 voicemails and e-mails to basketball superstar Michael Jordan and the law firms representing him, claims Jordan is the father of her child. As a result of violating the June 12 order to cease such communications, she was beginning a two- to six-month sentence for contempt of court.

In the letter that gained her release, Miceli heeded Miller’s advice.

In his Thursday letter, the judge noted: “Quite frankly, this defendant is making this very difficult for herself, her family and her child. She continues to fight and resist this case, which, as stated above, quite simply, only prohibits her from contacting certain enumerated and identified people. She should move on from this point. She should comply with the injunction and contempt orders and she should move on to address what other rights and other matters that might be available to her.

Friday, she complied with the injunction and contempt orders to Miller’s satisfaction.