Biloxi online critic answers city court charges, disputes judge’s jurisdiction
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Yuri Petrini is representing himself on an obscene electronic communication charge.
- Special Municipal Judge Scott Lusk entered a not guilty plea for Petrini.
- Petrini added Lusk to a federal lawsuit, saying Lusk has no jurisdiction over the case.
Yuri Petrini is representing himself on a misdemeanor charge of obscene electronic communication, but a special judge had to enter a not guilty plea on Monday for the Biloxi resident.
Petrini, who has a fractious relationship with the city, said he was appearing under protest when asked for his plea. He was in court for an arraignment, which involves only how a defendant will plead. But Petrini said that he wanted another judge, claiming Special Judge Scott Lusk does not have jurisdiction.
Lusk said that he would take up Petrini’s request later, meanwhile entering the not guilty plea on Petrini’s behalf.
On Monday morning, Petrini added Lusk as a defendant in a federal lawsuit that Petrini and Biloxi resident Jarrod Fusco have filed against the city, Harrison County, numerous Biloxi officials and residents. The federal lawsuit claims Lusk signed the warrant for Petrini’s arrest without being properly assigned to the case.
Lusk questioned why Petrini would want Lusk off the case. “You don’t know the first thing about me,” Lusk said.
Biloxi allegations fly online
The recusal request is only the latest salvo from Petrini, who has filed numerous motions in the misdemeanor case. Petrini also has four federal lawsuits pending against the city and one against municipal Judge Apryl Ready.
Biloxi’s regular municipal judges have recused themselves from hearing the municipal criminal case against Petrini. Lusk normally serves as a municipal judge for D’Iberville.
Lusk chastised Petrini for using artificial intelligence to draft motions for the municipal case and for including case law that does not apply. When the judge asked about a couple of the cases Petrini’s motions cited, Petrini said he was not prepared to discuss them. Petrini acknowledged using AI for his motions.
The obscenity charge is based on a sworn statement from city Code Enforcement Administrator Tara Ramage. Ramage detailed a March post on Petrini’s website in which he accused her of being a “crackhead” and also used a derogatory term applied to women. In a post on his website, Petrini subsequently apologized for calling Ramage a “crackhead.”
Fusco shared a link to the apology on his Facebook page, Biloxi Politics Uncensored. Ramage referenced the link in the sworn statement she filed against Fusco. Lusk found probable cause to charge both men. Fusco waived arraignment and pleaded not guilty.
While Fusco has hired an attorney, Petrini is representing himself. The 31-year-old said he’s finishing law school at Loyola University in New Orleans and plans soon to take the Louisiana bar exam.
This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 5:37 PM.
