Former Ridgeland Resident Found Guilty of Two Counts of Felony Child Abuse

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, announced today that Akilah Watson, 36, was convicted after a two-day jury trial for two counts of felonious abuse of a child. Circuit Judge Steve Ratcliff set sentencing for May 13. She faces a possible sentence of between five years to life for each charge. 

On July 6, 2023, Child Protective Services received an anonymous report of a mother holding her child at gun point. CPS had two previous reports of abuse involving Watson and her children. CPS and the Ridgeland Police Department responded to Watson’s apartment for a welfare check. Upon arrival, they found a sixteen year old girl and fifteen year old boy at the residence with Watson. After speaking with the minors, it was determined they should both be taken into State custody. The two children disclosed to authorities multiple instances of felonious child abuse dating back several years. The children were placed in temporary foster homes and eventually placed with their godmother. 

Both children testified at trial, and each detailed instances when they were beaten with various objects including an extension cord, walking stick, bat, and belt. The children were also able to show the jury multiple injuries they had received as a result of those beatings. Both children also testified of the mother pistol whipping the female child. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “The bravery of these children to testify against the mother they love, compounded by the brutality of the abuse suffered at her hands, did not go unnoticed by the jury during this trial. We are grateful to them both and for the teamwork of, and between, Child Protective Services and the Ridgeland Police Department ensure justice.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Akilah Denise Watson 

Date of Birth: 09/28/1987 

###

Canton Man Pleads Guilty to Having Sex with Underage Girls

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, announced today that Bruce Jermal Thompson, 27 of Canton, was sentenced to serve twenty years in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections without the possibility of early release or parole. 

In February of 2019, UMC reported to Canton Police Department that they had a fifteen year old female miscarry a child while at the hospital. CPD began an investigation to determine who the father of the child was due to the mother still being under the age of consent. Their investigation and DNA testing confirmed that Thompson was the father. He was 22 years old at the time the baby was conceived, and the victim would have been fourteen. 

Prior to the indictment being served on the Defendant, officers received a complaint from another juvenile’s mother that Thompson had been having sex with her child since the child was 12 years old. Thompson and the juvenile were cousins. Officers searched Facebook and text messages which revealed explicit text messages between Thompson and the underage female indicating that he had been engaging in sexual acts with the child since 2021. 

Neither victim wished to testify against Thompson, who pleaded guilty in each case. He was sentenced to serve twenty years on each case with that time to run concurrently. All time will be served day for day with no chance for early release or parole. Upon release, he will be required to register and report as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Defendant: 

Name: Bruce Jermal Thompson 

Date of Birth: 08/17/1996 

###

Two Women Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Identity Theft in Rankin County

Rankin County – Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Sylyndrell Pugh and Samantha Wilson to both serve fifteen years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections for their crimes of Identity Theft in Rankin County. 

On February 17, 2023, the Flowood Police Department received a call regarding two females stealing a lady’s purse inside the store of TJ Maxx at the Dogwood Shopping Center. Flowood Police responded to the scene, obtained a description of the vehicle they were traveling in, quickly located the vehicle, and conducted a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, officers searched the car and found several items of new merchandise from Belk and Target. They also found purchase receipts, several gift cards, marijuana, and a wallet that did not belong to the suspects. Officers searched Wilson and found a credit card belonging to the victim from TJ Maxx and a driver’s license belonging to another individual. Both females were arrested and taken into custody. 

Shortly after the arrests, the Flowood Police Department received multiple reports from other victims claiming their wallets were stolen while grocery shopping at Kroger and that their credit cards had been fraudulently used at Belk and Target. Flowood investigators obtained surveillance video and found that the same suspects were responsible for these thefts and fraudulent conduct. Additionally, Flowood investigators found that the receipts, credit cards, and identification information found during the vehicle search belonged to the victims. 

“Sylyndrell Pugh and Samantha Wilson are career criminals with a history of fraudulent conduct all over the United States,” stated District Attorney Bramlett. “We applaud the outstanding work of the officers and investigators of the Flowood Police Department. The success of these two cases exemplifies what happens when a community's citizens, retailers, and businesses work hand in hand with law enforcement.” 

Defendants

Name: Sylyndrell Pugh 

Date of Birth: 05/04/1979 

Name: Samantha Wilson 

Date of Birth: 01/08/1973 

###

Brandon Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Battery Against Minors and Will Serve Twenty Years

Rankin County - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, announced that Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Christopher Coursey to a term of twenty-five years for sexual battery involving two minor children. Coursey, 39, will serve 20 years of his sentence in prison and then be placed on supervised probation for five years. He must register as a sex offender and will have no contact with his victims. 

On July 20, 2022, the Brandon Police Department received a walk-in complaint about Coursey sexually assaulting two young children for the last year and a half. The child victims had a forensic interview at the Parker Children’s Center, which is a child-friendly setting where the child can safely tell their story with professionals trained to interview children in a nonleading manner. Additionally, both children were seen for medical exams at the Mississippi Children’s Safe Center. 

The Brandon Police Department interviewed witnesses, reviewed phone records and text messages, and interviewed the defendant. The defendant confessed to committing some of the crimes reported by the victims. Based on the investigation, the defendant was charged with multiple sex crimes against the two victims. 

“We hope this sentence gives some closure to the victims and their families who have had to endure these horrendous acts,” stated District Attorney Bramlett. “We appreciate the Brandon Police Department, Parker Children’s Center, and Mississippi Children’s Safe Center for the part they played in ensuring Coursey will serve prison time for the terrible things he did to these two innocent children.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Christopher Coursey 

Date of Birth: 06/21/1984 

###

Possession of Cocaine and Handgun in Madison County Lands Jackson Man in Prison

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, announced that Damarius Rashon Graham, 32, of Jackson, will spend every day of the next fifteen (15) years of his life in prison for the crimes of trafficking in controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Madison County, Mississippi. 

On September 30, 2022 an officer with the Madison Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle for driving northbound on I55. While explaining the traffic violation to the female driver, the officer smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Officers also noticed that Graham, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was sitting on top of a firearm. 

Officers asked both individuals to exit the vehicle. Graham stated he was cold, and requested the officer retrieve his jacket from the front passenger seat. The officer patted down the jacket, for officer safety purposes, before handing it to Graham. Inside the jacket, officers located a bag containing marijuana. Upon further inspection of the car, officers found a purple Crown Royal bag in the backseat that contained a large amount of what appeared to be cocaine. 

Officers took custody of the firearm and discovered that it had been reported stolen out of Starkville, Mississippi. They also later learned that Graham had been twice convicted of felony offenses. The suspected drugs were sent to the Mississippi Crime Laboratory and, after a forensic evaluation and testing, the substance was confirmed to be cocaine and weighed over 200 grams, leading to the indictment for aggravated trafficking in controlled substances. 

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024 Graham pled guilty to one count of trafficking in cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to twenty five years with ten suspended for the drug charge and ten years for the possession of a firearm by a felon charge. The court ordered that the sentences were to be served concurrently with another. The time will be served day for day without the possibility of early release or parole. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “This individual had been twice convicted of felony crimes and yet he did not learn his lesson those first two times. He was sitting on top of a stolen firearm while knowing it was against the law for him to be in possession of one. He was also knowingly transporting over two hundred grams of cocaine which we can only infer he intended to sell. We are thankful for the officers from Madison Police Department; their actions kept over 200 grams of cocaine from entering the streets of Mississippi.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Damarius Graham 

Date of Birth: 12/05/1991 

Former Richland Music Teacher and Preacher Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Crimes

Rankin, MS – Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Samuel Lamar Taylor, 52, to life without parole for one count of sexual battery and 15 years in prison for one count of gratification of lust. Taylor was found guilty of both charges on September 20, 2023. Both sentences will be served day-for-day without the possibility of parole or early release. 

Taylor served as a music teacher for over 25 years at schools across Mississippi, retiring from Richland Upper Elementary School in 2020. Taylor was also a minister at several churches throughout Rankin County, dating back to the 1980s.

On August 23, 2022, the Richland Police Department received a call from Richland Upper Elementary School concerning an 11-year-old autistic child disclosing sexual abuse to his Region 8 counselor. The child identified Taylor, his legal guardian at the time, and gave specific details regarding different instances of abuse perpetrated by Taylor at his home in Richland. 

Due to the quick actions of Region 8, Richland Upper Elementary School, and Richland PD, the child was immediately removed from Taylor’s custody, and a forensic interview was conducted with the child the next day. During his interview, the child recounted, in detail, the sexual abuse he endured from Taylor from 2020-2022.

During the investigation, authorities located and interviewed at least one other victim who alleged Taylor abused him from 1990-91 when Taylor worked as a counselor at the YMCA on Flowers Dr. in Jackson.

“The diligent efforts of faculty and staff from Richland Upper Elementary, Region 8, the Parker Children's Center, and the Richland Police Department are to be commended,” stated Bramlett. “Their quick actions and the voice of this brave child helped ensure this sex offender is locked away for the rest of his life. We hope this lengthy imprisonment brings some closure for the victims and family members.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Samuel Lamar Taylor

Date of Birth: 12/30/1970

###

Pearl Woman Pleads Guilty to Capital Murder of Infant Daughter

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, announced that Makaylia Shaylynn Jolley, 21 of Pearl, was sentenced to life in the State Penitentiary without parole for the capital murder of her two (2) month old daughter. 

The afternoon of May 12, 2022, is a day that bystanders and others on North Bierdeman Road in Pearl, MS will never forget. Pearl Police Department received several 911 calls about a woman grabbing a baby by the ankles and slamming the child onto the concrete multiple times. When law enforcement arrived, they learned that Makaylia Jolley slammed the baby down and left her lying in the road. The baby was Khalysie Lashay Jolley, Makaylia’s two (2) month old daughter. After throwing Khalysie down, Jolley ran off into some nearby woods where she was later taken into custody.

Khalysie was transported to Blair E. Batson where she lived for a few days but unfortunatley died from her injuries on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Khalysie sustained extensive skull fractures, brain swelling, abrasions, hemorrhages to her eyes, a right elbow fracture, left thumb fracture, and brain bleeding. Khalysie’s cause of death was homicide as a result of blunt force injuries to the head. 

Makaylia Jolley was taken for medical treatment and evaluation at UMMC prior to being released to the Pearl Police Department. During her interview, Jolley stated that she hurt her baby and she didn’t know why she did it, but it was an accident. There were several eyewitnesses to the abuse and killing by Jolley. Additionally, Jolley’s family members were interviewed about the time leading up to the crime and what they witnessed. 

On November 17, 2022, a Rankin County Grand Jury indicted Jolley for Capital Murder. This was based upon the killing of Khalysie while in the commission of the felony crime of child abuse. On May 15, 2023, at the court’s settlement conference, the Madison and Rankin County District Attorney’s office, announced that the State of Mississippi would seek the death penalty at a trial.

Jolley underwent a mental evaluation. On September 13, 2023, a report on the mental evaluation was submitted to the Court, which stated that Jolley was competent to stand trial. On October 31, 2023, the Rankin County District Attorney’s Office sent a plea offer to Jolley allowing her to plead guilty to Capital Murder and be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole rather than to proceed to trial wherein the State would seek the death penalty. Jolley was given a deadline of Friday, November 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. to file a guilty plea petition and on Friday, she filed that petition.  

On November 6, 2023, Jolley, who was represented by Rankin County Public Defenders and the Office of the State Public Defender, appeared before Judge Steve Ratcliff to plea guilty. Prior to accepting the guilty plea, the defense and the State presented the mental evaluation report and an agreed order finding Jolley competent to stand trial. Following the competency hearing, a stoic Jolley pleaded guilty to capital murder for the abuse and killing of her daughter Khalysie Jolley. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “This is an unexplainable and heinous crime against an innocent child. My office thanks the witnesses, the EMTs, the medical providers at Blair E. Batson and the Mississippi Children’s Safe Center, the Pearl Police Department and the Pearl Fire Department for their work on this case. Those men and women will forever be affected by what they saw on May 12, 2022. The very woman who was supposed to love and support Khlaysie is the one who chose drugs over her children and caused Khlaysie’s death. Makaylia Jolley will die in prison where she belongs for committing these crimes against her daughter.”

Defendant: 

Name: Makaylia Shaylynn Jolley  

Date of Birth: 05/10/2002

Flora Man Found Guilty of First Degree Murder

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Jakeviyon Hunter, 22, of Flora was found guilty of one count of first degree murder and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle after a three day jury trial in the Madison County Circuit Court. Circuit Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced him to life in prison for the murder charge and five years for shooting into a vehicle. 

On January 21, 2023, law enforcement officers with the Madison County Sheriff’s office were called to 623 St. Charles St. in Flora on reports of an individual being shot. Upon arrival, deputies found Jaquarius Ross deceased with multiple gun shots to the left side of his body. Officers were able to obtain surveillance footage from a neighboring home. The video showed Ross pull up at the residence, and almost immediately an individual approached his truck and fired approximately nine shots into the vehicle. The suspect then fled on foot. Officers could tell the suspect was wearing a tan colored hoodie. 

The passenger of the vehicle was unharmed and was able to tell officers that Hunter was the gunman. Investigators were then able to track Hunter down and obtain a search warrant for his cell phone. Phone records showed that Hunter had told Ross to come to his home under the guise of bringing him a pair of shoes. Investigators had found the shoes still in Ross’s lap when he was murdered. They were also able to use the location data stored on Hunter’s phone to put him on the scene. Finally, officers discovered a social media post that Hunter made hours before the shooting wherein he was wearing a tan hoodie matching the one seen on the original surveillance tape. It appears Hunter was motivated by a prior dispute between the two. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “This was such a senseless shooting, and because of it, Jaquarius Ross lost his life and Jakeviyon Hunter will spend the rest of his life behind bars. We hope the guilty verdict gives Mr. Ross’s family closure and our hearts go out to them for their loss. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office conducted an extensive investigation in this matter which led to the quick apprehension of Mr. Hunter. Finally, we thank all of those who showed up for jury duty. Madison and Rankin counties cannot remain among the best counties in this State without citizens who are willing to show up and do their civic duty.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Jakeviyon Hunter 

Date of Birth: 09/27/2001 

MADISON AND RANKIN NAMED TOP MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

Rankin & Madison, MS - 

The District Attorney’s Office for Madison and Rankin counties was recently named the Top District Attorney’s Office in the State of Mississippi at the 2023 Sex Offender Registry Conference, sponsored by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Highway Patrol.  Pictured with the award is Bubba Bramlett, District Attorney for Madison and Rankin counties.

###

Brandon Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Battery Against a Minor

Rankin, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Gino Giovanni Giammarco, 50, of Brandon was sentenced to twenty-five years for sexual battery involving a minor child. 

Giammarco will be required to serve 20 years, day-for-day of his sentence in prison, without the possibility of parole or early release. He will then be placed on supervised probation for 5 years. He must register as a sex offender and will have no contact with his victim. 

On October 10, 2022, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a local hospital that a juvenile patient was there to be examined. The victim reported being previously sexually assaulted by the defendant. The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department sent a deputy to the hospital to gather information and obtain evidence. The victim had a forensic interview at the Parker Children’s Center, a child-friendly setting where the child can safely tell their story with professionals trained to interview children in a nonleading manner. 

The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department interviewed witnesses, reviewed phone records and text messages, and interviewed the defendant. Giammarco confessed to committing some of the crimes. Based on the investigation, the defendant was charged with multiple sex crimes against the same victim during the summer of 2022. 

In addition to the charge of sexual battery, Giammarco faced three other charges. On September 25, 2023, the morning of trial, rather than proceeding on all the charges, Giammarco pled guilty to the one count of sexual battery and was sentenced to 25 years for a sex crime involving a minor. 

“Thank you to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, the Parker Children’s Center, and the local hospital for reporting and conducting a thorough investigation that led to getting this sex offender off our streets,” stated District Attorney Bramlett. “This is a great example of why mandatory reporting is necessary and helps victims. I am glad our office, with the help of others, was able to provide some justice for this victim.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Gino Giovanni Giammarco 

Date of Birth: 06/06/1974 

###

Man Pleads Guilty to Natchez Trace Drunk Driving Accident that Left Four Injured

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Ne’Tron Lambert, 25, of New Iberia, Louisiana pled guilty to two counts of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence Causing Injuries and was sentenced to serve fifteen years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections by Judge Steve Ratcliff in Madison County Circuit Court. 

On March 12, 2022, law enforcement officers with the National Park Service were called to the scene of a two car accident on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Investigators were able to determine that the car driven by Lambert had been traveling in the wrong lane and hit another vehicle head on. Lambert, his three passengers, and the driver of the other vehicle all suffered significant injuries as a result of the wreck. Everyone was taken to UMC with one individual being airlifted from the scene. Officers were able to obtain toxicology results from a blood draw showing Lambert was under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana at the time of the accident. Investigators spoke with Lambert’s passengers, and they confirmed that they had been drinking and smoking marijuana for several hours before they left a party at approximately 4:45 a.m. Accident reconstruction reports indicated Lambert was traveling 89 MPH when he hit the other car head on. 

With the approval of all four victims, Lambert was allowed to plead guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI. He was sentenced to fifteen years on each count with that time to run concurrently. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “This is the prime example of just how dangerous it is to drink and smoke marijuana and then get behind the wheel of a car. Ne’Tron Lambert changed the course of five lives that morning when he elected to drive under the influence and ended up driving on the wrong side of the Natchez Trace. It was truly a miracle no one died in such a serious accident. I hope this case is a lesson to all individuals that if you choose to drink and drive on the roadways of Madison and Rankin County, you need to be prepared. You will go to prison for a long time if people are hurt or killed as a result of your decisions.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Ne’Tron Lambert 

Date of Birth: 10/08/1997 

Former Richland Music Teacher and Preacher Convicted of Sex Crimes

Rankin, MS - District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Samuel Lamar Taylor, 52, was convicted by a Rankin County jury on September 20, 2023, of one count of sexual battery and one count of gratification of lust. Taylor served as a music teacher for over 25 years at schools across Mississippi, retiring from Richland Upper Elementary School in 2020. Taylor was also a minister at several churches throughout Rankin County, dating back to the 1980s.

Judge Dewey Arthur will sentence Taylor on November 13, 2023. Taylor faces life imprisonment for the sexual battery and a maximum sentence of 15 years for the gratification of lust. Any sentence will be served day-for-day without the possibility of parole or early release.

On August 23, 2022, the Richland Police Department received a call from Richland Upper Elementary School concerning an 11-year-old autistic child disclosing sexual abuse to his Region 8 counselor. The child identified Taylor, his legal guardian at the time, and gave specific details regarding different instances of abuse perpetrated by Taylor at his home in Richland. 

Due to the quick actions of Region 8, Richland Upper Elementary School, and Richland PD, the child was immediately removed from Taylor’s custody, and a forensic interview was conducted with the child the next day. During his interview, the child recounted, in detail, the sexual abuse he endured from Taylor from 2020-2022.

During the investigation, authorities located and interviewed at least one other victim who alleged Taylor abused him from 1990-91 when Taylor worked as a counselor at the YMCA on Flowers Dr. in Jackson.

“I want to commend the faculty and staff at Richland Upper Elementary School, the Community Support Specialist with Region 8, the Parker Children’s Center, and the Richland Police Department,” stated District Attorney Bramlett. “Because of this brave child victim and each of these agencies, Sam Taylor’s 30-year-old secret was finally brought to light. While these acts are ones no person should ever endure, especially a child, we hope this conviction brings closure to the victim, his family, and any other victim Taylor’s actions affected.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Samuel Lamar Taylor

Date of Birth: 12/30/1970

###

Former Old Town Middle School Coach Convicted of Sexual Battery

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Marchenne Nyree Hatchett, 46, was convicted by a Madison County jury of one count of sexual battery. Hatchett was a coach and teacher at Old Town Middle School in Ridgeland, and his victim was his student. 

On February 23, 2023, Hatchett engaged in sexual contact with a then fourteen-year-old female student while they were in school. The child’s mother became aware of the allegation and notified school personnel approximately one week after the incident. Officials with the school were able to pull video surveillance from the school that confirmed Hatchett and his victim were outside of the classroom during class time which corroborated the victim’s time line of events. 

School officials turned the surveillance tapes over to the Ridgeland Police Department after confirming with the victim as to what had occurred. The student disclosed that the contact had only occurred one time while she was in the former teacher’s class. 

The case was indicted by a Madison County grand jury in May for a single count of sexual battery and proceeded to trial Monday, September 18. After hearing testimony from both the victim and school personnel, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. Hatchett will be sentenced November 13, 2023, by Judge Steve Ratcliff. 

Defendant: 

Name: Marchenne Hatchett 

Date of Birth: 01/27/1977 

Canton Men Sentenced for Roles in Murder for Hire Plot that Led to Highland Colony Shootout

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that three Canton men have been convicted for their part in a murder for hire plot that ended in a shootout on Highland Colony Parkway at the Renaissance roundabout. Dondre Blackmon and Corrie Ollie were both convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and each sentenced to serve 20 years in custody—the maximum sentence allowed by law. Corrie Ollie also pled to felon in possession of a firearm and received an additional five years on that charge. Finally, Xavious Johnson pled guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to the maximum of twenty years to serve. 

On November 4, 2021, law enforcement officers were called to the area of Highland Colony and Old Agency Road in reference to what witnesses described as two cars traveling north on Highland Colony shooting at one another. Law enforcement found one of the vehicles involved on the shoulder of I55 southbound. Anterrion Robinson, LaChristopher Smith, and Tyrone Lewis were outside the car between the ditch and a wood line. Lewis had been shot in the arm. Ridgeland Police Department officers rendered life-saving aid to Lewis on scene. 

Through a months-long investigation, officers were able to determine that the shooting had stemmed from a murder for hire plot. Local businessman, Dondre Blackmon, had contracted with Corrie Ollie for Ollie to murder Lewis for $20,000. He paid Ollie $5,000 as a down payment on the hit. Ollie and Xavious Johnson used social media to track down Lewis at Walk-On’s restaurant in Ridgeland. Then, when Lewis left with Robinson and Smith, Corey Ollie and Xavious Johnson followed them. While heading towards I-55, Ollie drove and Johnson shot into the car driven by Lewis. Lewis returned fire and the two cars exchanged gunfire as they went through the roundabout and merged onto the interstate in Ridgeland. Lewis was the only person struck. 

All parties involved were from Canton and authorities determined that this was the connection between Blackmon and Lewis. Sources indicated that Blackmon was angry with Lewis over a business deal that had gone wrong, and Lewis had refused to pay Blackmon back. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “If not for the quick thinking and life saving measures provided by the officers of Ridgeland Police Department, Tyrone Lewis would have died. This is unacceptable behavior on so many levels. First, people cannot simply pay money to have other humans murdered. This is just as bad as pulling the trigger yourself. Second, it is a wonder and a miracle that no one else was hit, hurt, or killed by the reckless actions of these individuals. Opening fire on a moving car while driving up Highland Colony Parkway and then onto I-55 is so incredibly reckless and dangerous. I hope these sentences send a message to others that we will not tolerate this type of violence in Madison and Rankin counties.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Dondre Blackmon 

Date of Birth: 09/03/1995 

Conspiracy to Commit Murder, 20 years to serve in the MDOC 

Defendant: 

Name: Corrie Ollie 

Date of Birth: 05/14/1987 

Conspiracy to Commit Murder, 20 years to serve in the MDOC 

Felon in Possession of a Firearm, 5 years to serve in the MDOC 

Defendant: 

Name: Xavious Johnson 

Date of Birth: 03/03/1994 

Aggravated Assault, 20 years to serve in the MDOC 

Madison County Man Sentenced to Twenty-Five Years Following July 29 Standoff in Cypress Lake Subdivision

On the morning of July 29, 2023, law enforcement officials were dispatched to Cypress Lake subdivision in Madison, Mississippi. Reports of a man assaulting a woman outside of a residence were confirmed upon the officer’s arrival. The female victim had clearly been beaten, suffering multiple and serious injuries. 

Brandon Bly had administered the beating and officers began attempts to contact Bly while rendering medical aid to the victim. Bly had barricaded himself, along with Bly’s four-year-old nephew, inside the residence to which officers had responded. Bly refused to cooperate for approximately three hours, after which he was taken into custody without further incident. The four-year-old child was unharmed during the standoff. 

Thirteen (13) days later, on August 11, 2023, the District Attorney’s Office brought Brandon Bly before Circuit Judge Dewey Arthur on a revocation hearing and guilty plea to a Bill of Information. Bly was sentenced to thirteen years for violating the terms of his probation for a previous house burglary conviction, and twelve years to serve consecutively for the July 29 aggravated domestic violence charge. This resulted in a total of twenty-five years to serve in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. 

“Our office commends the quick, professional and coordinated response of the Madison Police Department, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ridgeland Police Department to this violent and volatile crime scene,” stated District Attorney Bubba Bramlett. “They brought about a peaceful resolution without further incident.” 

“Mr. Bly is a familiar face to the Madison County criminal justice system,” Bramlett continued. “While only twenty-six years old, he has been to prison before, and the thirteen years that were hanging over his head were basically putting the ball in his court to do right. He didn’t, and he ended up back in our court. He will now serve those thirteen years and then serve an additional twelve years for this most recent incident.” 

#### 

Defendant: 

Name: Brandon Bly 

Date of Birth: 03/10/1997 

MDOC Escapee Sentenced to 40 Years in State Prison

Rankin, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties' District Attorney Bubba Bramlett has announced that convicted felon Shunekndrick Huffman, who escaped the Mississippi Department of Corrections in August 2022, pled guilty to two counts of kidnapping. Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff sentenced Huffman to 60 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with 40 of those years to be served in the state prison. 

On August 25, 2022, Huffman escaped from the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl, MS, where he was serving a seven-year sentence for aggravated assault and was scheduled to be released in December. Huffman escaped on foot and broke into a nearby home, holding the homeowner and two daughters at gunpoint for hours. Huffman then stole one of the hostages’ cars before wrecking and taking off on foot toward the nearby Mississippi State Hospital campus. Over a hundred local law enforcement officials surrounded the area, and Huffman was quickly apprehended after being found hiding inside a trash can near one of the campus homes. 

Huffman was sentenced to 30 years, with 20 years being served and the last ten suspended for one count of kidnapping. He was also sentenced to an additional 30 years, with 20 years being served and the last ten suspended for another count of kidnapping. Upon release, Huffman will be placed on five years of supervised probation. Both sentences are to run consecutive to one another. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “The excellent and efficient work and cooperation of MDOC officials, state officials, the Pearl Police Department, Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, and other agencies involved in this tense manhunt led to the successful apprehension of this escaped convict.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Shunekndrick Huffman 

Date of Birth: 09/09/2001 

Scott County Duo Plead Guilty to Murdering a Man in Rankin County

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Jeffrey Allen Freeman and Madison Nicole Hardin pled guilty in Rankin County Circuit Court to their involvement in the 2022 stabbing death of Keair Stowers, a 22-year-old resident of Forest, Mississippi. Both Freeman and Hardin are originally from Morton. Freeman, 24, pled guilty to First Degree Murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Hardin, who was 17 at the time of the crime, pled guilty to Second Degree Murder and was sentenced to thirty years in prison. 

On April 23, 2022, Keair Stower’s body was found in a shallow ditch near the Rankin-Scott County line. He had been stabbed multiple times. Officers from the Rankin and Scott County Sheriff’s Departments quickly ascertained that the victim’s 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche was missing and in Franklin County. Pursuant to a BOLO, Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies along with a Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper stopped the truck which was occupied by both Freeman and Hardin. Inside the Stower’s truck was a rifle, which Freeman later admitted he used to strike the victim. Investigators obtained DNA evidence which linked the defendants to the crime as well as Facebook and other electronic messages which revealed Hardin had befriended Stowers and then lured him to a location with the intent to steal his truck. 

District Attorney Bramlett commends the hard work and cooperation of the law enforcement officers of Franklin, Scott, and Rankin Counties, MHP, and the analysts of the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory. “The quick apprehension of both suspects and the thorough investigation resulted in convictions of these defendants in a just over a year. While Keair Stowers was beloved by his family and community, it is my sincere hope that this swift justice has at least provided some comfort for the victim’s family who have endured a tremendous loss in a truly senseless tragedy.” 

Defendants: 

Name: Jeffery Allen Freeman 

Date of Birth: 02/07/1999 

Name: Madison Nicole Hardin 

Date of Birth: 02/21/2005 

Canton Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of Monroe County Woman

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Broderick Giles, 34, pled guilty to one count of attempted murder and was sentenced to serve twenty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections without the possibility of early release or parole. 

On June 25, 2022, Malissa and Derik Wood, of Hamilton, Mississippi, stopped in Canton at the LaQuinta Inn in an attempt to rent a room for the night. While Derik was at the front desk, Giles approached their vehicle and tried to steal their car. He shot through the front window of the car and the bullet hit Mrs. Wood in her side. Officers with the Canton Police Department responded to the crime scene and were able to obtain spent shell casings, surveillance tapes, and eyewitness statements of others who were nearby during the attack. 

On July 5, 2022 officers made a routine traffic stop on a car in which Giles was riding. He was in possession of a firearm that was consistent with shell casings recovered from the crime scene. Ballistics comparisons confirmed that this was the same gun Giles used on June 25. Giles was arrested and eventually pled guilty to the attempted murder of Malissa Woods. He will not qualify for early release or parole because he is considered a habitual offender based on his prior felony convictions of business burglary and grand larceny. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “This couple was simply looking for a place to stay the night while on the road, and Mrs. Woods almost gave her life for it. That is unacceptable in Madison and Rankin Counties, and I hope this conviction will send that message. Broderick Giles did not show one ounce of concern for Mrs. Wood’s life, and he deserves to spend the next twenty years in prison without the possibility of parole.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Broderick Giles 

Date of Birth: 08/12/1988 

SERIAL RAPIST CONVICTED USING FORENSIC GENETIC GENEALOGY

On August 12, 1990, “Jane” was working the late shift as a waitress at the Western Sizzlin in Flowood. Jane later said she took the job because she was new in the area and wanted to meet as many people as possible. 

Once off work, she talked with a few coworkers in the parking lot. One of these coworkers was interested in purchasing the Dodge van. Jane and her coworkers all got in the van and looked around. After congregating for a few minutes, the group separated, and Jane got into her van to go home.  She followed a coworker the short distance to the downtown exit in Brandon. 

Jane’s van

Just a half-mile from her home, Jane stopped at the Texaco to get her children some cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  Jane’s co-worker honked a final goodbye as she continued to her home.  Jane went inside to make her purchase and noticed the windows in the gas station were fogged because of the humidity. She noticed a man near the pay phone to her right and a family with car problems to her left.

Photo of Texaco

Jane was only inside for a few minutes.  She got back in her van and started the quick trip home. After driving a short distance, a shadow emerged in her rear-view mirror. This, however, was no shadow but a man wielding a knife. This man rushed her and quickly put his knife to her neck. This knife caused a cut to her neck.  He shouted that she stop the van.  He reached up and put the van into park.  He commanded her to get on the vehicle's floorboard and not look at him.  All the while, this man kept a knife at her neck.  She complied, and he drove the van to a rural area in the county.  Once at this location, he parked the van and forced Jane to strip off her clothing.  This man then forcibly raped Jane at knifepoint.

Inside of van

  Once he was finished, the attacker made her cover her face as they left the area.  He drove back to what she would later discover was the Exit 56 onramp headed west.  She told the authorities he rummaged through her belongings.  She reported to the police that she was missing $40 and some Western Sizzlin name cards. He instructed her not to call the police. He told her if she called the police, he would come to her home and harm her family.  The attacker left her and slithered into the darkness to make his getaway.  

Jane drove the van onto the interstate and quickly realized she was headed west towards the Crossgates Brandon exit.  She made her way back home, at which point she called for an ambulance.  Once at Rankin General Hospital, she was subjected to a rape examination. Investigator Don Magee came to the hospital early that morning to collect the evidence from the rape examination. 

Investigator Magee thoroughly investigated the case.  He took photos of the van and canvased the nearby area.  He looked at other potential suspects. He took Jane for hypnosis to try and help her remember further details of the rape.  He faxed reports across the nation to other agencies looking for similar crimes. The crime went cold until they received a letter from Rubin Weeks.  

Weeks from approximately 1991

Weeks was doing time in Missouri for similar crimes.  Weeks claimed to have committed the crimes against Jane.  Despite his letter, Brandon Police Department was skeptical of the confession.  Nevertheless, Weeks was interviewed by Investigator Magee.  The details provided did not match the facts of the crime.  Nevertheless, Investigator Magee collected evidence from the sexual assault examination as well as evidence from Rubin Weeks.  That evidence was sent to the crime lab, and though Weeks was not a match, he could not be ruled out.  

Meanwhile, Jane continued to try to recover from this crime.  Her husband was also having trouble dealing with the crime.  Overcome with guilt from being unable to protect Jane, he tried to take his own life but was unsuccessful. He was left as a quadriplegic and later died of those injuries.  Jane was left with several small children to raise on her own.  Despite law enforcement’s best efforts, the case went cold. 

David Ruth is the current Rankin County Coroner.  However, in 1990 David was a patrol officer with Brandon Police Department. David was not working the night of Jane’s rape, but he became aware of this crime the next day.  This type of thing didn’t happen in Brandon in 1990.  

David Ruth early in his career

In 2004, David progressed in his career and was an investigator with Brandon PD.  This case had always bothered David. So, when David became an investigator, he decided to reopen the case.  After a thorough review of the file and the evidence, Ruth was also convinced that Weeks did not commit the crimes. By 2004, DNA had progressed and was used in many cases to help solve crimes.  As a result, David sent the evidence collected from Jane and Weeks to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory for comparison.  

In 2004, the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory contracted with Reliagene in New Orleans, Louisiana to perform some of their DNA testing.  Through two different tests in 2005 and 2006, Weeks was eliminated as a suspect using DNA analysis.  There was however an unknown DNA profile developed.  This unknown DNA profile not (Rubin Weeks) was the person that raped Jane.  This DNA profile was sent to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory and was uploaded to CODIS (Combined Organized DNA Index System). 

The case went cold until 2017. That was until Deedra Hughes, a DNA Analyst and CODIS administrator with the Mississippi Forensic Laboratory, was notified that the DNA profile in Jane’s case matched a case in Memphis, Tennessee.  Though the match in Tennessee didn’t happen until 2017, the crime in Memphis occurred just 30 days after the crime in Brandon.  

Annette Cotton, an investigator with the cold case unit with the Shelby County Tennessee Sheriff’s Department, contacted Beau Edgington with the Brandon Police Department to compare details of the crime.  In the Memphis case, “Kim” got off work after a late shift at a local Memphis Hospital.  She stopped her SUV at a local convenience store to grab a quick snack before heading home.  She made her purchase and returned to her SUV to drive the rest of the way home. As she began to pull out of the parking lot, a man in the back seat sprung from behind her and sliced open her face. He then put the knife to her neck and forced her to the passenger seat.  He then instructed Kim not to look at him.  Instinctively she glanced over, and in return, he struck her already injured face. 

He drove Kim to a remote area and stopped the car on the interstate. He made her take off her clothing.  He then forcibly raped Kim by knifepoint. He covered her face and then drove back to the interstate. He then robbed her. Before leaving, he looked at her license and threatened her. He told her that if she called the police, he would come to her home and harm her family.  Finally, he took her keys and threw them into the darkness. She locked the car after he exited.  At some point, she went to get the keys and inadvertently locked herself out of the vehicle.  This left Kim naked on the interstate in the middle of the night.  Several truckers stopped and helped her to the hospital.  Once at the hospital, she was given a sexual assault examination.  The evidence from this examination stayed dormant until 2016, when Shelby County, Tennessee, processed and uploaded the evidence to CODIS along with other cold cases.  

The case went cold again until 2020.  By 2020, David Ruth had left the Brandon Police Department and was working with the Rankin County District Attorney’s Office as a part-time investigator.  He was also the Rankin County Coroner. 

David had repeatedly told the prosecutors in the District Attorney’s office about Jane’s case. Assistant District Attorney Ryan Berry previously read several books about the Golden State Killer (GSK) and how investigators in California used Forensic Genetic Genealogy to capture him.  In 2021, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office conducted a seminar in Oxford featuring former California district attorney Greg Toten.  Toten gave examples of how they caught the GSK.  Berry left there believing investigators could solve the case using genetic genealogy. Berry and Ruth pitched this idea to District Attorney John K. Bramlett. He agreed to fund this pricey endeavor.  Berry and Ruth then contacted the Brandon Police Department evidence custodian, Mark Miller, to locate the evidence that had been lying dormant in the secure vault for so many years. 

 After locating the evidence, the Rankin County District Attorney’s Office contacted Deedra Hughes with the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory about how to proceed with further testing.  She recommended a company called Bode Technology.  Bode Technology is a private DNA laboratory that provides Investigative Genetic Genealogy services.  Teresa Vreeland is the Director of the Forensic Genealogy division of Bode and helped the Rankin District Attorney’s Office with this process.  David Ruth sent Bode the evidence in order to develop another DNA profile of the suspect.  Once the suspect’s DNA profile was developed from the evidence swabs, that profile was uploaded to find genealogical matches.  This is similar to the process used by websites like ancestry.com and 23andme.com. After a long and exhaustive process of reconstructing family trees using birth, death, and marriage records from across the county, Bode worked backward to build the suspect's family tree.  

In 2023, Bode was able to focus these matches and determined the perpetrator of this crime was either Skaggs or one of his two brothers.  In 2023, Daniel Ray Skaggs was a resident of Oklahoma.  Daniel Ray Skaggs’ background was investigated, and it was discovered that he had been charged and convicted of several counts of rape in 1977 in the Dallas, Texas area.  In these rapes, he broke into young women’s apartments and ambushed them. Once inside their homes, he would forcibly rape them. He was convicted of rape and burglary, and he served approximately eight years in a Texas prison.  Once released, he moved to Arkansas, where he became a truck driver for Meyers Bread Company, making deliveries across the country.  

Photo from Texas Dept. of Corrections (1977)

The Rankin District Attorney’s office also learned that in 1991 in Newnan, Georgia, Skaggs abducted another woman after she left Walmart. Tate Washington, an officer in Newnan, noticed a suspicious man in a vehicle and attempted to make an investigatory stop.  “Cindy” jumped out of the van and was yelling, “knife”.  Cindy ran to this officer for safety.  Officer Washington attempted to stop this person and was almost struck by the abductor. The person was eventually stopped and was identified as Daniel Ray Skaggs. Cindy was a native of Germany and left the country before Skaggs could be tried for the kidnapping and attempted rape.  Skaggs was acquitted on charges of assault on an officer and presumably returned to Arkansas.

Photo from Skaggs arrest in Newnan Georgia (1991)

After learning of Skaggs's criminal history, the Rankin County District Attorney’s Office contacted the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations.  Agent Josh Dean was assigned to assist with the investigation of this case. Agent Dean surveilled Skaggs and was able to collect discarded items in the trash, including a C-PAP mask and a pill bottle with the name Daniel Ray Skaggs printed on the label. 

Items of trash collected from Skaggs’s residence

 Dean sent these items of trash to Bode Technology to see if they could develop a DNA profile of Skaggs. This profile of Skaggs was developed and compared to the 2005 Reliagene DNA report.  The results were staggering.  Skaggs’ DNA was a match, with a statistical probability being 1 in 660 quintillion.  

With the DNA test results in hand, Assistant District Attorneys Kathryn Newman and Ryan Berry and the Victim’s Assistance Coordinator Leslie Owens from the Rankin County District Attorney’s Office traveled to South Carolina to inform Jane of the updates in her case. Once landing at the airport, the rental car they had reserved was not available.  Desperate to make their appointment, the trio rented a U-Haul truck for the day to make the trip to the rural area where Jane lives. 

Leslie Owens, Kathryn Newman and Ryan Berry

By 2023, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department had agreed to assist in the investigation of Jane’s case. Deputy John Burt had an arrest warrant presented to Rankin County Judge David Morrow for rape, kidnapping, and armed robbery.  This warrant was sent to Agent Dean in Oklahoma.  Dean developed an operational plan for the arrest of Skaggs. Deputy Burt traveled to Oklahoma for the arrest of Skaggs, which occurred on March 14, 2023. 

Skaggs arrest at his home

Agent Dean and Deputy Burt interviewed Skaggs.  Skaggs initially denied all allegations but then changed his story to tell the police that he could not remember anything from the time of the rapes.  Despite his claiming a lack of memory, Skaggs was able to tell officers precise details about the type of truck he drove in 1990 and 1991.  Skaggs refused to waive extradition to face the charges back in Mississippi. The District Attorney’s Office was prepared for this as they had already started the extradition process.  Soon thereafter, Skaggs was extradited to Mississippi to face his crimes. 

Interview of Skaggs

Once in Mississippi, Deputy Burt presented Judge David Morrow with a search warrant for the DNA of Skaggs.  Burt went to Skaggs and obtained a buccal swab from him.  Burt then took this swab to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory for comparison to the original Reliagene DNA profile developed from the 05/06 sample.  Joe Heflin, a DNA Analyst with the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory, developed a profile from the buccal swab.   He then compared this sample to the 2006 Reliagene DNA sample that was developed from the sexual assault kit obtained from Jane in 1990.  Again, the results were staggering. Skaggs DNA was a match with a 1 in 10 billion statistical probability.  Joe Heflin later testified these results were capped at 10 billion (the approximate population of the earth).

A Rankin County Grand Jury indicted Daniel Ray Skaggs on April 6, 2023, for Rape, Kidnapping, and Armed Robbery crimes.  His trial was set for June 19, 2023, with Judge Dewey Arthur presiding.  ADA Kathryn Newman and ADA Ryan Berry represented the State.  A jury was selected on June 19, 2023, with testimony beginning June 20, 2023.  The State called 13 witnesses over the next two days, including Jane and Kim. The case was given to the jury on June 22, 2023.  After deliberating an hour and a half, the jury found Skaggs guilty of Rape and Kidnapping. Immediately after the trial, Judge Arthur proceeded with sentencing. Skaggs was sentenced as a violent habitual offender and given two life sentences consecutive.

After the verdict, District Attorney John Bramlett said, “Daniel Ray Skaggs is a serial rapist who has been a sexual predator since at least 1977.  I’m sure Skaggs thought he had gotten away with these crimes, but we didn’t stop working to get justice for these brave ladies. The science caught up with Daniel Ray Skaggs, and as a result, he will spend his remaining years in prison.”  After the verdict, ADA Ryan Berry stated, “This case would not have been solved without the hard work of several different law enforcement agencies.  We would like to thank the Brandon Police Department, Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, FBI, Mississippi Forensics Laboratory, Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations, Bode Technology and the Pearl Police Department for all their help and teamwork in securing this conviction.”  

Bramlett also said, “I want to encourage others that may have been attacked by Skaggs to come forward and contact their local law enforcement agency.  We believe these are not the only women Skaggs attached and would love help others find justice and peace. Also, we urge law enforcement agencies across the country with cold cases meeting these facts to process and upload any sexual assault kits. We believe there will be other victims of Mr. Skaggs who we would love to see have some closure.” 

Defendant:

Name: Daniel Ray Skaggs                                                     

Date of Birth: 11/8/1956

####

Man Pleads to Armed Robbery of Ridgeland Store Clerk

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Darrius Donta Brown, 34, pled guilty to one count of armed robbery and was sentenced to serve twenty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. 

On March 9, 2023, Brown walked into Olde Town Wine and Spirits, located in Ridgeland, and pulled a handgun on the store clerk while demanding money from the register. The store clerk was able to get a possible tag number and gave officers a description of the man’s clothing. RPD contacted surrounding agencies for possible leads and discovered that Capitol Police worked an armed robbery three hours earlier by a man fitting the same description and wearing the same clothing. 

The Madison Police Department ran a still shot from the Jackson area robbery through their facial recognition software to develop Brown as a possible suspect. Brown was located five days later in Houston, Texas by the US Marshals. He was driving the same car and in possession of what police suspect to be the same handgun he used in the Ridgeland and Jackson robberies. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “This is yet another example of efficient and cooperative investigative work by law enforcement. The Ridgeland Police Department, working with Capitol Police and the Madison Police Departments quickly identified this individual which is crucial when solving crimes. My office was able to work with law enforcement throughout the process and Mr. Brown was pleading guilty less than ninety days after he committed his crime.” 

DEFENDANT: 

NAME: Darrius Donta Brown 

DOB: 10/01/1988