Anatomy of a mug shot

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

1

Once again, WLOSers led with the so-called teacher sex scandal story tonight at 6 p.m., so we at Ashvegas figured we’d take an in-depth look at this story and its hold on the media and the public.

Michelle Boudin’s story was pretty much the same thing WLOSers ran Monday night at 11, yet they haven’t posted anything about it to their web site. Which doesn’t really make much sense. Because if you want people to click on your Web site, all you need to do is post a pic of Heather Shelton, then say Heather Shelton Heather Shelton Heather Shelton Heather Shelton Heather Shelton. We’ve certainly gotten a bazillion hits that way.

The WLOS report had an interview with the 18-year-old that allegedly had sex with the 22-year-old Heather, a former North Buncombe High School teacher’s assistant. (School officials fired her last week.) WLOS flashed the guy’s name up briefly, but once again we missed it. And Boudin conspicously never said the dude’s name, which is odd.

So, what to make of Heather’s mug shot? That’s the question.

The answer most certainly is found somewhere between Heather’s doe-eyed openness and her smile, full of some knowledge – we’re just not sure what it is. Is there a “come hither” resting somewhere in between those eyes, that mouth?

Heather’s mug shot cannot be called a mask, as so many celebrity mug shots we’ve seen. Take Tom Delay’s mug shot. If he’s not hiding some illicit cash underneath that iron grin, then who is? Delay’s mug shot has “image consultant” written all over it.

Heather’s shot is not nearly so contrived. Yet is does seem to speak to a certain worldliness, a certain knowledge that she’ll be judged by how she comes off. So she smiles for the camera. She stares it straight down. She’s not relaxed, but she looks comfortable.

The same cannot be said of the way Jennifer Wilbanks, the “runaway bride,” looks in her mug shot. Has anyone yet figured out what’s up with the wide-eyed deer-in-the-headlights look? The hyper-consciousness of the photo, and of her guilt, hits you like a frying pan, right upside the head.

Nick Nolte, on the other hand, can’t seem to muster enough sobriety to understand his surroundings. As wild mug shots go, his really captured the stench of somebody drying out after one helluva bender. The hair says it all.

Heather’s hair appears perfectly casual. Not too done up. Not coiffed or cut just to look good for the judge. Just… right. Like the comely, Kenny Chesney-loving country girl that she truly is.

And while only 22, Heather doesn’t appear to be “young.” There’s a sort of worldliness there, an awareness of her own pre-celebrity. Which can’t be said of Frank Sinatra’s mug, taken back in 1938 when he was charged with adultery. The guy had no idea he would grow up to be an icon, did he? Or did he?

Does Heather know she’ll be a star? Who knows. Maybe she’s just riding her five minutes. Maybe she knows she needs to make the most of her limited time in the spotlight.

Want to see some fun mug shots? Go to the Smoking Gun’s mug shot gallery for more interesting mugs.