Man Sentenced to Thirty Years for Statutory Rape

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, Jr., announced that on February 22, 2021, Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Willis Delano Murray to 30 years for statutory rape.

Murray, 54, will serve all 30 years of his sentence in prison without the possibility of parole. He must register as a sex offender and will have no contact with the victim.

On November 17, 2016, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a homeowner regarding an unknown adult man found in her daughter’s bedroom. The man fled the scene. The man was identified as 50 year old Willis Delano Murray from Houston, Texas. It was later determined that Murray began an online relationship with a 13 year old child, he continued to communicate with her and drove to Mississippi to have sexual relations with her when she was 15 years old.

Murray was indicted for statutory rape in February 2017. However, he was not extradited from Texas until December 2019. The jury trial began on December 7, 2020. On December 8, 2020, the jury found Murray guilty of statutory rape.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “Murray used the internet to start an inappropriate online relationship with a child and then drove across state lines to have sexual relations with her. Thanks to the Rankin County citizens who served on the jury in this case, Murray will have to pay for the crime he committed.”

Defendant:

Name: Willis Delano Murray

Date of Birth: 10/04/1966

Man Gets Two Life Sentences for Sexual Battery

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced that on February 22, 2021, Judge Steve Ratcliff sentenced Keith Lamar Reeder, 47, to concurrent life sentences on two separate sexual battery charges. He must also register as a sex offender and have no contact with the victims.

On May 16, 2020, Pearl Police Department received an emergency call from an individual seeking assistance because a man was in her home holding her and two children against their will. When Pearl Police officers arrived on the scene, they located Reeder hiding in the attic. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Reeder used a knife and forced his way into the home. He robbed and assaulted one of the occupants and physically and sexually assaulted the juveniles in the home.

All three victims were taken for medical treatment at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Upon their release, the juveniles were interviewed by the Mississippi Children’s Advocacy Center. Reeder made a partial confession to the Pearl Police Department during his interview.

Reeder faced charges of burglary, kidnapping, child abuse, aggravated assault, armed robbery, statutory rape, gratification of lust and sexual battery as a result of his heinous actions inside the home in Pearl on May 16, 2020. He was indicted as a habitual offender, meaning he had two or more prior felony convictions. Rather than proceeding to trial on all charges, Reeder pled guilty to two counts of sexual battery. He will serve two life sentences concurrently without the possibility of parole.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “I am thankful for the prompt response and hard work of the Pearl Police Department, the Mississippi Children’s Advocacy Center, the Mississippi Crime Lab and the Safe Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Because of their efforts on this case, we were able to avoid having a trial where these victims would have to relive this terrible trauma on the witness stand. Keith Reeder will spend the rest of his life in prison for his actions, which is where he belongs.”

Defendant:

Name: Keith Lamar Reeder

Date of Birth: 02/17/1974

Madison County Man Receives Two Life Sentences Plus Thirty Years for Stabbing, Killing, and Burning Wife and Stepdaughter

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Walter Simpson, 47, was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff after being convicted of the double murders of his wife and stepdaughter. A jury found Simpson guilty of two counts of First Degree Murder, one count of First Degree Arson, and one count of Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon on October 29, 2020. Judge Ratcliff sentenced Simpson to life without parole for each of the murder convictions, twenty years for the first degree arson conviction, and ten years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On June 5, 2018, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to Crown Road located in the Camden area to a home belonging to Walter and Falonda Simpson as well as her daughter Davonda Washington. When they arrived on scene, they found two badly burned bodies inside the home. Each victim had suffered multiple stab wounds and were both deceased.

Authorities were able to determine that Simpson had stabbed his step-daughter and wife to death and then attempted to set their bodies and the house on fire. Simpson was found guilty after a three day jury trial. Family members of both victims testified during the sentencing hearing.

District Attorney Bramlett stated “We want to again tell the victims’ families that we are so sorry that this happened to their loved ones. We hope it brings them some closure to know that Mr. Simpson will never get out of prison as they continue to grieve their loved ones.”

Man Pleads Guilty to Exploitation of a Child and Will Serve Forty Years

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, Jr., announced today that Michael Eugene Farmer was sentenced to 40 years for Exploitation of a Child.

Farmer, 45, will serve all 40 years of his sentence in prison. He must register as a sex offender and will have no contact with his victims.

On April 26, 2019, the Richland Police Department received a complaint regarding Farmer sexually assaulting a child. It was reported the abuse took place at his home in Richland.

The child was interviewed by the Children’s Advocacy Center. During the interview, the minor child disclosed that Farmer performed sexual acts with the child over a period of six months. Additionally, a search of Farmer’s electronics revealed that he possessed images of child pornography. These images were of two separate minor children, including the victim of the sexual assault.

Farmer was charged with one count of sexual battery and five counts of exploitation of a child. On September 8, 2020, Farmer pled guilty, to one count of exploitation of a child. He was sentenced on November 2, 2020 by Judge Dewey Arthur.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “I am glad to know that Michael Farmer is locked up for his foreseeable future and that he cannot hurt anymore children. My office will continue to prosecute sexual predators like Farmer to the fullest extent.”

Defendant:

Name: Michael Eugene Farmer

Date of Birth: 09/09/1975

Pearl Man Sentenced to Twenty-Five Years for Sexual Battery

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Cullen Royce Fields was sentenced to 25 years after being found guilty of sexual battery by a jury.

Fields, 40, will serve all 25 years of his sentence in prison without the possibility of parole. He must register as a sex offender after he is released and can have no contact with the victim either while in custody or after his release.

On August 4, 2019, the Pearl Police Department received a complaint regarding Fields sexually assaulting an adult female. It was reported the rape took place at his home in Pearl.

The jury trial took place over the course of a few days. The defendant claimed that the sexual encounter was consensual. However, after hearing from multiple witnesses, including both the victim and the defendant, the jury found Fields guilty of sexual battery. He was sentenced by Judge Dewey Arthur on November 4, 2020 to 25 years in prison.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with the victim, who was very courageous throughout this process. It takes a lot of courage to publicly testify about such a traumatic event. As for Mr. Fields, he will spend the next twenty-five years in prison. Anyone convicted of a sexual crime such as this will serve every single day of his sentence in prison. No exceptions – that’s the law.”

Defendant:

Name: Cullen Royce Fields

Date of Birth: 02/04/1980

Jackson Man Found Guilty in Homicide of Missouri Woman at Logan’s Roadhouse Restaurant

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Zebulum James, 27, was convicted, after a jury trial, of the murder of Kristy Mitchell.

On November 19, 2015 Ridgeland Police Department was alerted to a shooting at the Logan’s Roadhouse on County Line Road. Upon arrival, they located Kristy Mitchell, 48, who was from Excelsior Springs, Missouri and staying at the Drury Inn on a business trip.

Mrs. Mitchell had been shot in her abdomen by an unknown man driving a blue Mustang. Witnesses stated that the Mustang left the parking lot heading south towards Hinds County via I-55. Officers later received information, from the Jackson Police Department, that they were working multiple crime scenes involving a man driving a blue Mustang. After a joint investigation, it was determined James had shot and killed a woman at a gas station in Hinds County, shot a JATRAN bus, shot into a house in Jackson, and shot and killed Mitchell all within an hour and half period.

James was located shortly thereafter at his mother’s apartment in Jackson. Authorities also located the blue Mustang as well as the gun that was used in both murders. James went to trial in Madison County Monday asserting an insanity defense. Multiple forensic psychiatrists evaluated James over an extended period of time and testified at trial that he was not insane at the time of the murder. After deliberation, the jury unanimously found him to be guilty of the murder of Mitchell.

District Attorney Bramlett stated “First, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mrs. Mitchell. It is inconceivable that someone here on business could be gunned down by a stranger as they walked through a parking lot for dinner. Why Zebulum James found it necessary to take this innocent woman’s life we will never know. But, what we do know is that he was not crazy. He was not insane. He is a murderer, and he will now spend the rest of his life in prison as a result of that. A special thanks goes out to the many officers with both the Ridgeland and Jackson Police Departments that worked together in order to quickly capture this violent criminal. I also want to thank my investigators at the DA’s Office for the countless hours they spent helping to bring this case to trial. None of this would be possible without the work of law enforcement. We hope this verdict brings some sort of closure to Mrs. Mitchell’s family.”

Defendant:

Name: Zebulum James

Date of Birth: 10/26/1993

Guilty Verdicts in Double Murder Trial of Camden Man

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Walter Simpson, 47, was convicted after a jury trial of the double murders of his wife and stepdaughter.

On June 5, 2018, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to Crown Road located in the Camden area to a home belonging to Walter and Falonda Simpson as well as her daughter Davonda Washington. When they arrived on scene they found two badly burned bodies inside the home. Each victim had suffered multiple stab wounds and were both deceased.

Through a complex, multi-agency investigation involving the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, MBI, Madison Police Department, the State Fire Marshals, and others, authorities were able to determine that Simpson had stabbed his step-daughter and wife to death and then attempted to set their bodies and the house on fire.

The investigation also led to the discovery that Simpson was making unwanted sexual advances towards his young adult step-daughter. When Washington confided to her mother about the sexual advances, the mother came to the family home to confront Simpson and demand he leave the residence. However, Simpson refused, became angered, and stabbed Falonda Simpson four times and Davonda Washington 54 times. He then set the bodies on fire and left the residence.

Officers were able to use GPS to track Simpson to Winona to a burn pile where officers believe he destroyed the clothing he was wearing and other evidence from the crime scene.

Simpson was found guilty of two counts of First Degree Murder, one count of First Degree Arson, and one count of Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon. Simpson had previously been convicted of stabbing a girlfriend, causing her to lose her eye, in 1998.

District Attorney Bramlett stated “First, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of both Davonda Washington and Falonda Simpson. We are, as always, appreciative of our dedicated law enforcement agencies that worked to make sure that justice was served for both women. No person deserves to have their life cut short, especially not in such a brutally, violent way. And finally, I am so proud of all the men and women in our District Attorney’s Office who have been all hands on deck this past month in obtaining six murder convictions.”

Walter Simpson is set to be sentenced January 4, 2021.

Defendant:

Name: Walter Simpson

Date of Birth: 11/28/1972

Found Guilty of Two Counts of First Degree Murder; First Degree Arson, and Felon in Possession of a Weapon. Sentencing Set for January 4, 2020.

Flora Man Convicted of Second Degree Murder

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Frederick Edwards Jr., 20, was found guilty of second degree murder after a two day jury trial held before Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur.

On February 24, 2019, the Flora Police Department was dispatched to 457 Railroad Avenue located in Flora to the scene of a knife attack. Mr. Jimmie Forbes, 63, who was disabled and wheelchair bound, told police that a man named Freddy had come to his home demanding to borrow his truck and, when Forbes refused, he attacked Forbes with a knife. He stabbed Forbes multiple times in the chest and stomach region. Mr. Forbes later succumbed to his injuries, passing away on March 2, 2019.

During the trial, Edwards told the jury that he had smoked marijuana. However, he claimed that the joint must have been laced with something causing him to act out as he did. Medical experts determined he was competent to stand trial, and the jury found him responsible for his actions.

District Attorney Bramlett stated “This was a violent attack on an elderly, disabled man. We are thankful to the Flora Police Department for such a thorough investigation as well as the jurors of Madison County who showed up for jury duty and ultimately served on this trial so that Mr. Forbes could receive justice. The law in Mississippi does not allow you to escape conviction because you voluntarily became intoxicated and had an adverse reaction that you were not expecting. This is true even if you did not know the intoxicating substance was laced with another intoxicating substance. You are still responsible for your actions when you decide to engage in the use of illegal drugs.”

Frederick Edwards, Jr. is set to be sentenced January 4, 2021.

Defendant:

Name: Frederick Edwards, Jr.

Date of Birth: 08/02/2000

Found Guilty of Second Degree Murder

Man Sentenced to Forty Years for Killing Girlfriend

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Errik Nichols, 55, pled guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to serve forty years for the shooting death of his girlfriend.

On January 2, 2020, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to 192 Victoria Lane in Camden. When officers arrived, they found Nichols on scene near a small travel trailer located in a field. Inside the trailer, Betty Allman had been shot in her bed and was deceased. Nichols showed investigators the homemade shotgun that had been fashioned with a pipe and a welded handle.

Nichols was taken into custody at that time. Nichols and Allman had moved to Madison County from Kansas City, Missouri in December 2019. Nichols indicated that the two had gotten into an argument, and, during the argument, he shot Allman. Nichols pled guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced by Judge Dewey Arthur to serve forty years in prison. Those serving second degree murder sentences are not eligible for early release or parole. Nichols had previously been convicted of Aggravated Assault out of Hinds County and Attempted Murder out of Cook County, Illinois.

District Attorney Bramlett stated “Mr. Nichols has an ugly history. He is a violent person. Mr. Nichols is 55 years old and will have to serve every day of the next forty years of his life in prison. Perhaps his days of hurting other people are over. I would like to thank the Madison County Sheriff’s Department for working to solve this case quickly and effectively so that we could get justice for Ms. Allman. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.”

Defendant:

Name: Errick Nichols

Date of Birth: 12/16/1964

Pled to: Second Degree Murder; 40 years to serve

Six Sentenced in Murder of Man at Ridgeland Park

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, Jr., announced today that Christopher Coleman, Lenzarius Roberts, Darius Farmer, Kaland McCollum, Christopher Tyler, and D’Antonio Guyton, each pled guilty for their part in a drive-by shooting that left one man dead at a local park.

On June 18, 2019, the Ridgeland Police Department was dispatched to the basketball courts at 325 Midway Avenue where 23-year old Kendrell Miller had been shot. A witness stated that a white truck had driven by the park while one of the occupants fired multiple rounds at a group of young men at the basketball courts.

Through a lengthy and extensive investigation, Detectives with RPD were able to identify several individuals in connection with this shooting. Officers discovered that Lenzarius Roberts (who was 16 at the time of the shooting) was engaged in an ongoing feud with another group of boys over the rights to sell marijuana in the area. When Roberts discovered the other boys were at the basketball courts at Midway on this date, he decided to go and confront them. He gathered Coleman, McCollum, Tyler, Farmer and Guyton in a truck and they drove to the park. By all reports, Roberts was driving the van, Coleman (20 years old at the time of the murder) Farmer (22), McCollum (27), Guyton (20), and Tyler (17) were all passengers in the van. Game cameras set up in the area photographed the group in the truck as they drove past the basketball courts, and turned around in a dead end nearby. The passengers then switched around places in the truck, and Roberts drove back towards the courts. Coleman fired the shots that ultimately killed Miller.

All the Defendants ultimately gave statements and agreed that they did not have any ill will towards Miller, and, in fact, some considered him a friend. He was never the intended target and was simply at the park that day to play basketball with friends.

Each man was charged for his various parts in the murder. Roberts and Coleman were both charged with the murder due to the fact that Coleman fired the shots and Roberts both planned the shooting and drove the truck to and from the crime scene. Coleman and Roberts both pled guilty to second degree murder and were each sentenced to thirty years in the custody of MDOC, all of which will have to be served day for day without the possibility of parole. Each of the other four individuals in the truck pled to various charges for their parts in planning and trying to cover up the murder. McCollum pled to drive by shooting and received a sentence of 18 years to serve. Tyler, Farmer, and Guyton all pled to accessory after the fact to murder and received 15 years to serve each.

District Attorney Bramlett stated “It is hard to understand why an innocent bystander playing basketball had to lose his life over a ongoing feud between two groups of young men. I am proud to work with an agency such as the Ridgeland Police Department that spent countless man hours putting together a case that was strong enough that each of the six men in that truck were held accountable for their individual parts of this senseless loss of life.”

Bramlett further explained, “The laws in Mississippi hold that if you are a part of a plan to shoot someone, even if the victim is not your intended target, and even if you are not the one that actually pulled the trigger, you can be held criminally responsible. If you participate in a criminal act, even if just by helping to try to cover it up after the fact, you can be and will be treated as a part of the primary crime in Madison and Rankin Counties. You will go to prison – especially for violent crimes. Unfortunately, the decisions of each of these men led to the death of someone just trying to enjoy an afternoon at a local park. This is inexcusable and for that I am glad that each of these six men will spend a significant amount of time in prison as a result of their actions.”

Name: Christopher Coleman

Date of Birth: 09/17/1998

Pled to: Second Degree Murder; 30 years to serve

Name: Lenzarius Roberts

Date of Birth: 12/04/2002

Pled to: Second Degree Murder; 30 years to serve

Name: Darius Farmer

Date of Birth: 03/18/1997

Pled to Accessory after the Fact to Murder, 15 years to serve

Name: Kaland McCollum

Date of Birth: 07/18/1991

Pled to: Drive by Shooting; 18 years to serve

Name: Christopher Tyler

Date of Birth: 01/05/2002

Pled to Accessory after the Fact to Murder, 15 years to serve

Name: D’Antonio Guyton

Date of Birth: 06/26/1998

Pled to Accessory after the Fact to Murder, 15 years to serve

Hinds County man receives 42 years for string of Auto Burglaries

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today that 43-year-old Woodrez Tremayne Davis, of Jackson was convicted of twelve counts of automobile burglary that occurred in several neighborhoods in Rankin County.

On September 30, 2017 and October 1, 2017 residents of multiple neighborhoods in Rankin County reported that there had been numerous automobile burglaries. Through the course of the investigation deputies with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department responded to twelve total automobile burglaries. One of the victims had a video surveillance system in place that was able to capture the thief on video.

Sheriff Bryan Bailey’s deputies sent this video to other law enforcement agencies in the area. A detective with the Clinton Police was able to make a positive identification of the suspect on the video. This detective identified the suspect as Woodrez Tremayne Davis. The Clinton detective was familiar with Davis because Davis was also a suspect in several automobile burglaries in the Clinton area. The Flowood Police Department was also able to provide assistance placing Davis in Rankin County at the time of the crime. They gathered video surveillance that showed the vehicle that Davis was known to drive in Rankin County on September 30, 2017 and October 1, 2017.

The Rankin County Sheriff’s deputies learned that another agency had an outstanding arrest warrant on Woodrez Tremayne Davis. On October 2, 2017, deputies Rankin County Sheriff’s Department met with representatives of the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Madison Police Department and Clinton Police Department in an effort to coordinate their cases and make an arrest of Davis. When officers arrived at Davis’s location in Jackson, he was working on his vehicle. In plain view, were several items that had been reported stolen from Rankin County. After obtaining a search warrant, Clinton Police Department and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department worked together to search and identify other stolen property at Davis’s location. Woodrez Tremayne Davis was taken to Rankin County where, after waiving his Miranda rights, he confessed to twelve automobile burglaries in Rankin County. He was later transported to Hinds County to face charges in their jurisdiction.

On November 30, 2017, Davis was indicted by a Rankin County Grand Jury for twelve counts of automobile burglary. He has been in custody since this crime completing his previous sentences with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Davis was returned to the Rankin County Jail earlier this year to face his charges in the Rankin County Circuit Court. Davis entered an open guilty plea before Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur. Judge Arthur sentenced Davis to serve seven years on each of the twelve counts. Counts one through six are to run consecutively to each other for a total of 42 years. Counts seven through twelve are to run concurrently with each other and with counts one through six.

District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr. stated, “Davis is a career criminal whose repeated thefts have disturbed the lives and peace of the citizens of Rankin County. We want the message to be clear: Do not come to Rankin County to steal. We hope this is the end of Davis’s criminal career, and that this sentence will discourage others from going down the same path.”

Bramlett added, “We would like to thank Sheriff Bryan Bailey and the excellent work of his deputies for leading this investigation. Sheriff Bailey’s deputies are always quick in their response and thorough in their investigations. Also, because of the great working relationship they have with other agencies, Davis was able to be apprehended quickly and safely. We would also like to thank the other law enforcement agencies for their assistance in this investigation. We would specifically like to thank the Flowood Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, Clinton Police Department and the Madison Police Department for their assistance and excellent work in the investigation. The tireless work of law enforcement enabled our office to be able to secure this conviction.”

Defendant:

Name: Woodrez Tremayne Davis

Date of Birth: 7/27/1977

Ridgeland Police and FBI Bust Local Man on Human Trafficking Charges

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today that Jerrell Leashaun Jackson, 33, was sentenced to serve 40 years for one count of human trafficking and three counts of sexual battery by Circuit Court Judge John H. Emfinger. The time will have to be served day for day without the chance of early release or parole. Jackson will have to register as a sex offender after he is released from custody.

On June 26, 2019, the Ridgeland Police Department received a complaint about possible inappropriate contact between underage females and an adult male. Through a joint investigation with the Ridgeland Police Department, the FBI, and others, it was discovered that the victims were brought to Ridgeland wherein they were forced into sexual acts.

Rather than proceed to trial, Jackson pleaded guilty to his Madison County charges on September 1, 2020. He is still currently awaiting trial through the US District Court for related charges.

District Attorney John K. Bramlett stated, “This case is an example that human trafficking is a real problem that affects real families in our communities. Thankfully, the Ridgeland Police Department, the FBI, and other agencies were able to identify these victims and build a solid case against the man who was abusing them for his own gain.”

Defendant:

Name: Jerrell Leashaun Jackson

Date of Birth: 04/21/1987

Sex Offender Receives Twenty Five Years for Sexual Battery Involving Minor

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today that Leonard Prevost Foster was sentenced to 25 years for Sexual Battery by Circuit Court Judge John H. Emfinger.

Foster, 64, will serve 20 years of his sentence in prison and then be placed on supervised probation for 5 years. He must register as a sex offender and will have no contact with his victim.

The abuse by Foster occurred in Rankin County between March 2007 and July 2008. At the time, his victim was between the ages of 5 and 6. The abuse continued in Lincoln and Lamar Counties until the victim was 14. The victim did not report the abuse initially, because Foster threatened her.

The victim’s sibling was also abused by Foster in another county. This abuse was disclosed to a counselor. Because that victim was brave enough to speak out, the victim in this case also had the courage to speak out against their abuser.

The crime was initially reported to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. The victim disclosed during a forensic interview in McComb, Mississippi that Foster would engage in sexual acts with her when he would visit her family in Rankin, Lincoln and Lamar Counties. Since the allegations contained abuse that occurred in Rankin County, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department worked this case.

Foster is currently facing similar charges in both Lincoln and Lamar Counties for further abuse to this victim and her sibling.

At sentencing the victim made a powerful statement to Foster and the Court detailing how she has overcome his abuse and is a survivor.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “By making physical threats, Foster was able to prey on vulnerable young children for years. I am thankful this brave victim spoke out about the abuse she endured as a very young child. Foster will now serve the rest of his foreseeable life in prison for what he has done.”

Defendant:

Name: Leonard Prevost Foster

Date of Birth: 10/19/1955

Man Previously Convicted of Kidnapping and Armed Robbery Receives Maximum for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today that Parviz Deangelo King, of Yazoo City, was sentenced to the maximum punishment allowed by law for the crime of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon by Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff. King was a habitual offender which means he had two or more prior felony convictions. Due to this, King will be required to serve all prison time day for day without the chance or early release or parole.

On May 20, 2019, a patrol officer working for the Ridgeland Police Department observed a car make an illegal U-turn in the middle of West Jackson Street. After making a traffic stop on the vehicle, the officer confirmed that King, the driver, did not have a driver’s license.

Due to the strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle, the officer asked King, his wife who was in the front passenger seat, and an unrelated fifteen year old boy located in the back seat to step out of the car. This is when the officer saw in plain view a 9mm handgun sticking out of the back pocket of the front passenger seat. Officers also located a “Halloween”- movie type mask and box of 9mm ammunition in a bag by the gun. King admitted to the officer that he had recently been released from prison for armed robbery and was currently on probation.

King claimed ownership of the gun and was sentenced to serve ten years without early release which is the maximum sentence allowed by law. In addition to his 2000 armed robbery conviction, King has also been previously convicted of kidnapping in 2007.

District Attorney John K. Bramlett stated, “In our State, it is illegal for a convicted felon to be in possession of a firearm for obvious reasons. This man had been previously convicted of both armed robbery and kidnapping and was carrying around a gun, bullets, and a mask while he was still on probation for these offenses. He is a dangerous man who refuses to learn his lesson. Thanks to a patrol officer with the Ridgeland Police Department, who went above and beyond during a routine traffic stop, a serious and habitual criminal will spend the next decade in prison.”

Defendant:

Name: Parviz Deangelo King

Date of Birth: 06/01/1979

Pearl Man Receives Twenty Year Sentence for Sexual Battery Involving 11 Year Old Girl

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today that Anthony Wayne Atkinson was sentenced to serve 20 years for Sexual Battery by Circuit Court Judge John H. Emfinger. The time will have to be served day for day without the chance or early release or parole. Atkinson will have to register as a sex offender after he is released from custody. Atkinson is 66 years old.

On April 5, 2018, the Pearl Police Department received a complaint from a local school regarding potential sexual abuse. A minor child reported to a classmate inappropriate behavior with her adult neighbor. Then, that classmate notified the school counselor. During an interview of the child at the Children’s Advocacy Center, the 11 year old child disclosed that Atkinson forced her to perform sexual acts on him over a period of four months and sometimes recorded these acts. She also disclosed that she waited to tell anyone because Atkinson threatened her.

The Pearl Police Department secured a search warrant for Atkinson’s residence and was able to retrieve electronic storage devices. These devices were sent off to the Regional Organized Crime Information Center for forensic processing. Ultimately, multiple videos were recovered of the sexual acts involving Atkinson and 11 year old girl.

Rather than proceed to trial, Atkinson pleaded guilty on October 19, 2019.

District Attorney John K. Bramlett stated, “This case is a prime example of why it is so important to talk to your kids about sexual abuse. Even if your child is not the one being abused, they need to know what to do if a friend confides in them. The classmate of this young girl unknowingly saved her from future abuse by talking to her school counselor. This started a full scale, multi-agency investigation which ultimately led to a sick predator most likely spending the rest of his life in prison where he belongs.”

Tyrone Body Found Guilty of House Burglary After Breaking into Canton Home

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today that Tyrone Body was found guilty after a trial for the crime of burglary of a dwelling.  He will be sentenced November 4, 2019. He is an habitual offender and faces up to twenty-five years without eligibility for parole or early release.

During the early morning hours on November 10, 2018, Body barged through the locked door of his girlfriend’s apartment in Canton.  Body then assaulted her, breaking her nose in the process.  The home was occupied by the victim, her four small children, and another man.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched by a third party who called 911 to report the disturbance.  When they arrived on scene, they found Body still in the home.  The case was tried in front of a Madison County jury who found Body guilty on the charge of burglary of a dwelling.  The Defendant had previously pled guilty to the charge of domestic violence in Madison Justice Court.  

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “This is yet another example of domestic violence in our community.  I appreciate the quick response of the Sheriff’s Department who were able to catch this guy before he was able to get away with his crime.”

Byron McBride Pleads Guilty to Capital Murder in Killing of Kingston Frazier

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today Byron McBride pled guilty this afternoon to capital murder in the 2017 shooting death of Kingston Frazier.  He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

During the early morning hours of May 18, 2017, McBride, along with the two other individuals, went to the Kroger located on the Frontage Road in Jackson to make a drug deal.  While there, McBride decided to steal a car that was left running in the parking lot.  Kingston Frazier, age 6, was sleeping in the backseat of the car.  McBride drove the vehicle to an industrial area of Gluckstadt in Madison County.  There, he shot and killed Frazier and abandoned the vehicle.   

Through a joint investigation of JPD, MBI, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, MHP, and several other state and local agencies, McBride was identified through surveillance cameras, cell phone location services, forensic evidence, and statements of co-defendants as the shooter in this case. He was charged with capital murder by a Madison County grand jury.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “Byron McBride entered a guilty plea this afternoon to the capital murder of Kingston Frazier.  McBride was sentenced to serve the remainder of his life in prison, with no possibility for parole, no possibility for the eligibility for parole, no eligibility of early release.  He will die in prison.”

Bramlett continued, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. With this conviction and sentence of life without parole, there will be no appeals.  McBride admitted to shooting Kingston Frazier, causing his death.  We don’t know why he took the life of this beautiful and precious child, but he did.  We know today, with finality and closure, that he will spend the remainder of his life in prison and will never get out.”

Thomas Ball, Jr. Receives Twenty-Five Years for Armed Robbery of Canton Woman

 Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today Thomas Ray Ball, Jr., of Clinton, was sentenced to twenty-five years without the chance of early release or parole for the armed robbery of a Canton woman.

On September 18, 2017, a woman went to a Vicksburg Casino where she won a large jackpot of about $5,000. Without her knowledge, Thomas Ball Jr. and Sean Johnson, had been canvassing the casino for individuals that won large that night.  When they saw her win the jackpot, Ball followed her to her car and followed her all the way back to Ridgeland.  The woman stopped at a bank in Ridgeland to deposit some of her winnings.  Ball approached Thomas while she was at the ATM, pulled a gun on her, and took her winnings. 

The woman was able to drive away and saw a law enforcement officer at a nearby gas station where she stopped and asked for help.  The Ridgeland Police Department began an investigation into the incident and were able to pull surveillance footage from both the casino and the bank that showed Ball watching the woman and confronting her at the bank.  The Mississippi Analysis and Information Center, a division of the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, assisted Ridgeland investigators by tracking the suspect’s cell phone tower location from the night in question .  These records showed him at the casino, and then showed him following the woman all the way from Vicksburg to the bank in Ridgeland.

On August 19, 2019, Thomas Ball pled guilty to armed robbery and was sentenced to 25 years without the possibility of parole.  His co-defendant, Sean Johnson pled guilty in May 2019 to conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “This is a stark reminder for people to constantly be aware of their surroundings and those who might be watching them to commit crimes of opportunity.  Mr. Ball thought he saw an easy target when he saw a single woman leaving the casino late at night and followed her for over an hour with the sole purpose of robbing her a gunpoint. Thanks to the Ridgeland Police Department, the Mississippi Gaming Commission, and the Mississippi Analysis and Information Center for all of their hard work on bringing this man to justice.”

THOMAS RAY BALL, JR.

DOB: 08/24/1975

Man Charged with Killing Three in Pawnshop in Jackson Sentenced to Life in Prison

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced that Joshua Garcia pled guilty, July 30, 2019, mid-trial, to attempted escape as a violent habitual offender.  Yesterday, August 5, 2019, Garcia was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of early release or parole.

Garcia is also currently charged with the homicide of three employees of a Jackson pawnshop that occurred in December 2016. He fled the Jackson area after the murders and was located by US Marshals in Kansas and placed in the Leavenworth Correctional Facility.  There, guards found a handcuff key located in Garcia’s rectum. 

He was then returned back to the Jackson Metro area where he was housed as a federal inmate at the Madison County Detention Center.  On July 1, 2017, a detention officer at the Madison County Detention Center observed Garcia attempting to climb through the razor wire at the top of the recreation yard inside the jail.  Garcia was unable to get through the wire and quickly taken back into custody by officers.  Garcia had torn the sheets from his bed and tied his jail issued flip flops to his feet.  He had also padded his socks with strips of his jumpsuit and placed them on his hands in his attempt to get through the razor wire.  He was indicted by a Madison County grand jury for attempted escape as a violent habitual offender.

July 30, 2019, after the State rested their case-in-chief, Garcia opted to plead guilty as a violent habitual offender.  A violent habitual offender is someone who has been convicted at least two times previously to a felony offense, served more than one year on each offense, and one of those prior felonies is a crime of violence.  The Court sentenced Garcia Monday, August 5, 2019, to life in prison without the possibility of early release or parole.

He still has to face the three murder charges through the U.S. Attorney’s Office where there is a possibility he will face the death penalty.

Bramlett stated “Joshua Garcia is a very dangerous person.  He is accused of killing three innocent people in Jackson, evaded law enforcement after the murders, attempted to escape in Leavenworth, and then tried to escape from the Madison County Detention Center.  Thankfully our detention officers are well trained and were able to stop him from escaping. He will now spend the rest of his life in prison.”

Defendant:

Name: Joshua Garcia                                     

Date of Birth: 4/19/1979

Canton Mother Receives 30 Year Sentence for Felony Child Abuse

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today Latasha Leonard was sentenced to serve 30 years for Felonious Abuse of a Child by Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff.  The case was a combined investigation of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Canton Police Department, and Child Protective Services.

In 2017, Madison County Child Protective Services received a complaint about possible neglect on Latasha Leonard.  Through a joint investigation of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Canton Police Department and Child Protective Services, it was discovered that Leonard had a ten-year-old son that had been severely abused and neglected.   He was only 3’4” and weighed 41 pounds – the size of an average 3 to four-year-old child – upon admittance to the hospital.  He also had an untreated broken femur bone that had healed with no apparent medical intervention.

Additional investigation revealed that the child had never been enrolled in school, had not received any medical care or immunizations since he was eighteen months old, and was made to stay in a small space between a dresser and the wall in the family’s home almost twenty-four hours a day.  He was frequently tied up, beaten, and denied food by Leonard. He was not allowed to go outside and play or eat dinner with the rest of the family.  Leonard even attempted to deny his existence to law enforcement at the beginning of the investigation.

The child was placed in a therapeutic foster home and has received care from various practices at UMC including getting eyeglasses, hearing aids, growth stimulants, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.  He also started pre-K after coming into CPS custody, at the age of 11, and has since learned to read and write and is now getting ready to enter the seventh grade.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “This was one of the most horrible cases of child abuse I have ever seen in all my years as a prosecutor.  Thanks to the hours of work by MBI, CPS, CPD, numerous UMC pediatric units, and the devotion and love of his foster mother, this child has been able to attend school, receive medical care, and receive the food, love, and attention that every child deserves from their parents. As a father, I cannot imagine doing something like this to my own flesh and blood and am glad that Ms. Leonard will spend her foreseeable future in prison.  She basically forced this child to live in a cell his entire life and now it is her turn to live like that.”

Defendant:

Name: Latasha Leonard                                                                               

Date of Birth: September 18, 1984