Rankin County Man Pleads Guilty to Statutory Rape

Rankin County - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Don Edd Woods, 51, pled guilty to Statutory Rape. Woods was sentenced to thirty (30) years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. He will serve fifteen (15) years of this sentence without the possibility of early release or parole. Upon his release, Woods will be under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for an additional five (5) years and will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. 

The case originated on November 26, 2023, when two concerned adults reported to the Rankin County Sheriff's Department that a child had disclosed to them that Woods had been sexually abusing her. The abuse began in 2022, but the child was too afraid to report it initially. Following the report, the Rankin County Sheriff's Department launched a comprehensive investigation, which included a forensic interview conducted by the Mississippi Children's Advocacy Center. This forensic interview process allows trained specialists to gather critical information from child victims in a manner that minimizes additional trauma. During the interview, the child disclosed the details of the abuse. 

“We are committed to protecting children in our community and holding perpetrators accountable,” stated District Attorney Bramlett. “We are grateful for the brave individuals who provided a safe space for this child to share her experience and for the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, which works tirelessly to guard our children from sexual predators.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Don Edd Woods 

Date of Birth: 10/4/1972 

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18-Year-Old Pearl Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery and Possession of a Stolen Firearm

Rankin County - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Dylan Josiah Fletcher, an 18-year-old resident of Pearl, MS, has been sentenced following Armed Robbery and Possession of Stolen Firearm convictions. 

On September 10, 2024, Judge Bradley Mills sentenced Fletcher to serve thirty (30) years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) with eighteen (18) years suspended, leaving twelve (12) years to serve, followed by five (5) years of supervised probation for the April 2023 Armed Robbery. Judge Mills then sentenced Fletcher to serve a concurrent sentence of five (5) years in the custody of MDOC for the September 2023 Possession of a Stolen Firearm. 

On April 7, 2023, Pearl Police responded to a report of an armed robbery at Sonic on Highway 80 in Pearl. A juvenile victim, who had just attended his school's prom, reported that two masked individuals approached his vehicle, displaying firearms and demanding all his belongings. The victim recognized Fletcher by his voice, even though a mask partially concealed his face. Surveillance footage confirmed the sequence of events, showing the masked robbers approaching the victim’s car shortly after he arrived at the restaurant. 

While out on bond for the April 2023 Armed Robbery incident, Fletcher was arrested again in September 2023 for possessing a stolen Glock 17 9 mm firearm. The firearm had been reported stolen during an automobile burglary in Rankin County. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett commended the bravery and composure of the young victim, stating, "The quick thinking and cooperation of the victim played a crucial role in identifying the assailant and ensuring justice was served. Fortunately, this armed robbery incident did not lead to further violence. As a community, we must act against gun violence. I urge our citizens to safeguard their firearms and limit access by securing them in locked vehicles." 

Defendant: 

Name: Dylan Josiah Fletcher 

Date of Birth: 05/28/2006 

22-Year-Old Brandon Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Domestic Violence

Rankin County - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that James Dylan Little, 22, of Brandon, has pled guilty to Aggravated Domestic Violence. Little was sentenced to twenty (20) years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), with ten (10) of those years to serve, and the final ten (10) years suspended. Upon his release, Little will be supervised by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for five (5) years. Little was also ordered to have no contact with the victim. 

On April 28, 2024, the Brandon Police Department responded to a 911 call made by a concerned neighbor of the victim. Upon arrival, officers observed that the victim had sustained significant injuries. Paramedics were called to the scene and transported the victim to the hospital for treatment. Based on the evidence, Little was arrested for Aggravated Domestic Violence. 

“Our office is unwavering in its commitment to addressing domestic violence in our communities,” District Attorney Bramlett stated. “It is crucial for individuals to recognize the signs of domestic violence and to report any suspicions to law enforcement. We extend our gratitude to the Brandon Police Department and concerned neighbors in this case for their dedication to protecting this victim of domestic violence.” 

Defendant: 

Name: James Dylan Little 

Date of Birth: 05/08/2001 

Memphis Man Sentenced to Twenty Years for Felony Evasion That Ends in Crash with Injuries

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Mario Flynn, 31, of Memphis, pled guilty to one count of felony evasion resulting in serious bodily injury in Madison County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to twenty years to serve in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, the maximum penalty allowed by law. 

On October 13, 2023, an officer with Madison Police Department responded to the Best Buy located on Grandview Boulevard. Per the store security officer, two males appeared to take several laptops and surveillance cameras. They were able to identify a white BMW X6 bearing Texas plates as the suspect vehicle. An MPD officer noticed the suspect vehicle entering onto Interstate 55 Southbound. The suspect car then exited onto County Line Road and reentered onto I55 then headed northbound. 

Once northbound on I55, the vehicle reached speeds up to 128 mph. Another MPD officer saw the suspects in the BMW throwing boxes of items out of the window during the pursuit. The car, driven by Mario Flynn, took the Canton Highway 22 exit and hit a civilian’s vehicle. The crash caused severe injuries to the civilian including a fractured vertebra and multiple rib fractures. 

Flynn and the other male fled on foot, but officers were able to quickly track them down. They found Flynn lying under a trailer. He was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries he sustained during the wreck. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “We continue to see individuals running from law enforcement in Madison and Rankin counties. Please, let this case speak to the inherent danger in running from police at high rates of speed. Innocent people can and do get hurt and, when that happens, those responsible will be facing lengthy prison sentences.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Mario Flynn 

DOB: 07/01/1993 

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Canton Man Sentenced to Ten Years Without Parole for 4th Offense DUI

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Calvin F. Francis, 50, pled guilty and was sentenced to ten (10) years without the possibility of parole for Felony Driving Under the Influence 4th Offense as a non-violent habitual offender in Madison County Circuit Court. 

On April 18, 2023, an officer with Madison Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle for careless driving and identified the driver as Calvin F. Francis. The officer smelled alcohol on Francis and asked him to step out of the vehicle when Francis advised that he had just been released from prison for a Felony DUI 3rd Offense in December of 2022. After conducting field sobriety tests and preliminary breath tests, Francis was taken into custody and transported to the Madison Police Department where he blew into the Intoxilyzer machine and registered a .13% which is above the legal blood alcohol content limit of .08%. 

On February 24, 2024, an officer with Ridgeland Police Department made a traffic stop on Francis for careless driving. The officer smelled alcohol on Francis and after conducting field sobriety tests, Francis refused to blow in the machine. A search warrant was obtained for his blood. His BAC was .15% which is almost twice the legal limit. 

Francis has remained in custody since his February 24, 2024 arrest. He has at least four prior DUI convictions including one for a felony DUI 3rd Offense in Madison County from 2018. He served five years for the DUI third offense. 

Francis was indicted for two counts of Felony DUI 4th offense in April of 2024. He pleaded guilty to Felony DUI 4th offense as a non-violent habitual offender on August 28, 2024, and was sentenced to serve ten (10) years without the possibility of early release or parole. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “Mr. Francis was given chance after chance to get sober. Or at least to quit driving while intoxicated. In Mississippi, if you are convicted of a third DUI within five years, it becomes a felony offense. If you are convicted of another it becomes a DUI 4th which is punishable by up to ten years imprisonment. He had already been to prison once for the third DUI offense. Within 14 months of his release from prison, he was stopped and charged with not one but two additional DUI offenses. He is a serious danger to the community, and it is a miracle he had not hurt or killed an innocent person. I want to thank both the Madison and Ridgeland Police Departments for always keeping an eye out for possibly impaired drivers and keeping the roadways of Madison County safe for all drivers.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Calvin F. Francis 

DOB: 02/25/1974 

CANTON MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO MURDERING MAN AND HIDING HIS BODY IN A DITCH

Madison and Rankin County District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Calvin Prisley, 50, and Calvin Jones, 49, both pled guilty to their parts in the December 2023 murder of Levor Taylor, 24. Prisley pled guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to serve twenty five years without the possibility of parole while Jones pled guilty to accessory after the fact to murder and was sentenced to serve ten years in prison. 

On December 24, 2023, officers with the Canton Police Department responded to a call of a black male lying in a ditch. Upon their arrival, witnesses told them two black males got out of a Ford Fusion and moved a body from the trunk into a ditch on the side of the road. Officers identified the deceased as Levor Taylor and went to speak with his roommate, Calvin Jones. Jones stated that Prisley and Taylor had gotten into a physical altercation on December 23, 2023 and Prisley had shot Taylor. Jones also admitted to helping hide Taylor’s body the next day in a nearby ditch. 

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett stated, “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family in this matter. We hope that the two guilty pleas in this matter will give the family some type of closure. We would also like to the thank the citizens of Canton who saw something that didn’t look right and immediately notified law enforcement. Our residents are able to see and hear so much more than the police, and because of that, they are an essential tool to combating violent crime. We need more civilians looking out for each other and their community and cooperating with law enforcement to see real change in our higher crime areas throughout the district.” 

Defendant: Calvin Prisley 

DOB: 05/30/1973 

Defendant: Calvin Jones 

DOB: 06/06/1974 

FORTY YEARS FOR MAN WHO SHOT AT RIDGELAND OFFICERS

Madison and Rankin County District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Keithannin Cortez Starks pled guilty in Madison County Circuit Court to two counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement officers and was sentenced to serve a total of forty years. 

On May 4, 2024, two officers with the Ridgeland Police Department responded to a call for a domestic disturbance at Ridgeland Place Apartments on William Blvd. Keithannin Starks and his girlfriend were inside the apartment when law enforcement arrived. Officers could hear screaming from inside the apartment, but they were unable to contact the occupants. As officers were attempting to get the door open, Starks fired multiple rounds through the door at the officers. Neither officer was hit. 

The female victim was able to exit the apartment as Starks fired more shots at officers through a second floor window of the apartment building. Officers returned fire and requested backup from surrounding agencies. Specialized teams from RPD, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and Madison Police Department quickly arrived on scene to provide assistance. After an almost hour-long standoff, Starks voluntarily left the apartment and surrendered to RPD Special Response Team members. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “This is a terrifying example of what our law enforcement officers can face each time they get called out. We are so thankful that no officers were hurt during the shooting or standoff. We applaud the officers of the RPD who maintained their composure and were able to resolve the situation without anyone losing their life. I hope the fact that Mr. Starks will be spending the next forty years in custody will be a message to anyone else out there who thinks that they can fire on police in Madison or Rankin Counties. Our office takes violence against our law enforcement extremely seriously.” 

Defendant: Keithannin Cortez Starks 

DOB: June 11, 1995 

TEENS PLEAD GUILTY TO RIDGELAND CARJACKING

Madison and Rankin County District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that six teenagers have pled guilty for attempting to carjack a man in Ridgeland. Ahmaud Lampkin, 14; Cortarrius Huff, 19; Pernell Moore, 16; Braylon Cooper 17; Tristan Burns, 14; Camerious Huff, 16, all pled guilty in front of Judge Dewey Arthur in Madison County Circuit Court. 

On December 31, 2023 the group of teens left a hotel on Ridgewood Road and began walking through the At Home parking lot and onto County Line Road. The group had a handgun and were planning on carjacking someone. They arrived at the Ridgeland Ranch Apartments and found a man loading items into his car. Four of the individuals approached the man and took his keys from him while threatening him with the gun. 

The teens were unable to get the car to start and ran off through the nearby Christ Covenant School and Waffle House. The Ridgeland Police Department were immediately notified and were able to quickly locate four of the juveniles in the Northpark area of Ridgeland. RPD investigators also obtained fingerprints off the victim’s car that matched one of the suspects, and surveillance from multiple businesses on County Line showing their approach and departure from the crime scene. Finally, a forensic examination of a cell phone contained a video of the teens joking about carjacking someone while waving the gun around. 

Ahmaud Lampkin was the individual holding the gun during the carjacking. He pled to Armed Carjacking & Conspiracy to Commit Armed Carjacking and was sentenced to fifteen years to serve. Cortarrius Huff was present at the carjacking and pled to Armed Carjacking and Directing a Minor to Commit a Felony and was sentenced to serve twenty years. Pernell Moore was present at the carjacking and pled to Armed Carjacking and Conspiracy and was sentenced to serve ten years. Braylon Cooper was present at the carjacking and pled to Armed Carjacking. His sentencing was set off until September 30, 2024. The remaining two juveniles were not in the immediate vicinity of the victim during the carjacking as they ran off when a firearm was displayed. Tristan Burns pled to Conspiracy to Commit Armed Carjacking and was sentenced to serve one year. Camerious Huff pled to Conspiracy to Commit Armed Carjacking and was sentenced to five years to serve. Each defendant was sentenced based on their individual involvement in the planning and execution of the crime, use or possession of the firearm, and cooperation with law enforcement’s investigation. 

Defendant: Ahmaud Lampkin 

DOB: August 20, 2009 

Defendant: Cortarrius Huff 

DOB: May 07, 2004 

Defendant: Pernell Moore 

DOB: September 11, 2007 

Defendant: Braylon Cooper 

DOB: August 3, 2006 

Defendant: Tristan Burns 

DOB: May 15, 2009 

Defendant: Camerious Huff 

DOB: March 8, 2007

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Inmate Convicted of Sexual Battery of Central Mississippi Correctional Facility Employee Will Serve Thirty Years

Rankin, MS—Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Ernest Mayfield, an inmate at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF), was sentenced to the maximum allowed, 30 years, day for day, for sexual battery by Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff. 

Mayfield, a habitual offender with two prior convictions of Methamphetamine possession, was given the maximum sentence possible by Judge Ratcliff. 

On September 17, 2021, Mayfield, who had only recently been booked into the CMCF a few days prior, broke into a female employee’s office at the correctional facility and sexually assaulted her. 

The case went to trial on April 30, 2024. During the two-day trial, the State called the victim, multiple forensic experts, and other witnesses to the stand before the jury returned a guilty verdict. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “I appreciate all the hard work from both my office and multiple law enforcement agencies to secure a guilty verdict in this matter. We are glad to put this lifelong habitual criminal in prison for the next thirty years.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Ernest Mayfield 

Date of Birth: 04/26/2001 

TEEN PLEADS TO MADISON COUNTY MURDER

Madison and Rankin County District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that on June 24, 2024, Dawton Gage Whatley, 19 of Walls, Mississippi, pled guilty to second degree murder in the death of Lemetrius Hollins. 

On February 5, 2024, officers with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to 101 Haley Creek in Madison for a welfare check. Deputies had received information out of Washington County, Mississippi that Dawton Whatley was in custody on unrelated charges in their jurisdiction and claimed he had shot Hollins a few days earlier. 

Once officers arrived at the home, they found the body of Hollins inside. It appeared he had been shot days earlier. Investigators traveled to Washington County and transported Whatley back to the Sheriff’s Department. After several conversations with the suspect, Whatley was charged with murder. It appeared the two men knew each other because Hollins had acted as a guardian and mentor to Whatley in his teen years and Whatley had been living with Hollins prior to the murder. The exact motive remains unclear although Whatley did admit to shooting Hollins one time on February 3. 

Whatley was indicted on June 7, 2024 and pled guilty June 24. Sentencing will be July 16. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “We appreciate the work that both the Madison and Washington County Sheriff’s Departments did on this case. Madison County investigators quickly appreciated the seriousness of the tip and started a full-scale investigation. They were able to track the suspect from the home in Madison County to Washington County through multiple sources. The strength of the investigation is what made such a quick case turnaround possible and what ultimately led to Mr. Whatley pleading guilty three weeks after his indictment. We hope the family of Mr. Hollins can begin to get closure now that the criminal case is over.” 

Defendant: Dawton Gage Whatley 

DOB: 11/14/2004 

Canton Man Sentenced to Twenty-Five Years for Sale of Fentanyl

Madison and Rankin County District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that on June 24, 2024, Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Denarious Evans, 24, to twenty-five years without the possibility of parole for the sale of fentanyl. 

On three separate occasions in August and November of 2023, agents with Madison Police Department and Gluckstadt Police Department conducted days of surveillance which showed several drug transactions between Evans and confidential informants in the cities of Madison and Gluckstadt. 

Evans was previously convicted in April 2024 for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Stolen Firearm from charges out of the city of Ridgeland, MS. He was sentenced to fifteen years for those offenses. Evans has three (3) other prior felony convictions from Madison, Oktibbeha and Leake counties for various crimes including possession of a stolen firearm, business burglary, and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “Let this young man’s sentence be a reminder to not sell fentanyl in Madison and Rankin Counties. We take this crime very seriously because people are dying every day from fentanyl overdoses. Additionally, Denarious Evans is only 24 years old and had already been convicted of at least four felonies before he came before Judge Arthur on these sale charges. Due to the large number of prior convictions and the amount of fentanyl pills he sold, he will have to serve everyday of this sentence. We would like to thank both MPD and GPD for their great work on this case and all they are doing trying to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl into our counties.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Denarious D. Evans 

DOB: 04/08/2000 

Madison County Assistant District Attorney Scott Rogillio Named Mississippi Prosecutor of the Year

Madison, MS —Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Scott Rogillio was named the Mississippi Prosecutor of the Year at this week's 2024 Public Safety Summit held in Flowood, MS. This recognition, presented by Governor Tate Reeves, Attorney General Lynn Fitch, and Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, is a testament to Rogillio’s exceptional service and dedication to the field of prosecution. 

ADA Rogillio, a seasoned legal professional with a career spanning over thirty years, has been with the 20th Congressional District’s Madison office since September 2019. Prior to coming to Madison, he was a prosecutor with the Hinds District Attorney’s Office, the 16th District Attorney’s Office, the 21st District Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office. 

“Scott’s unwavering dedication, tireless commitment, and relentless work ethic in ensuring that all our Madison murder cases are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law is a source of inspiration for our entire office,” expressed Bramlett. “His recognition as Mississippi Prosecutor of the Year is a well-deserved honor, and we are immensely proud and grateful to have him as a leader on our team.” 

Pictured from L-R: Attorney General Lynn Finch, ADA Scott Rogillio, and Public Safety Commissioner Tindell. 

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Ridgeland Man Pleads Guilty to Gratification of Lust

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, announced today that Ronnie Hales, 44, pled guilty to one count of gratification of lust for molesting his then-girlfriend’s ten year old daughter. He was sentenced to serve 10 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections without the possibility of early release or parole. Hales will have to register as a sex offender upon his release. 

On February 11, 2023, investigators with the Ridgeland Police Department received a complaint of sexual abuse involving a minor female. The child had reported to her biological father that her mother’s boyfriend had been molesting her since she was eight years old. Officers immediately began an investigation which included a forensic interview of the child through the Child Advocacy Center. A forensic interview is a child friendly conversation with children who are alleged victims of sexual or physical abuse. During this process, a trained specialist asks non-leading questions in a manner as to limit further trauma to the child while also getting any details of abuse. During her interview, the child disclosed multiple incidents of sexual abuse at the hands of the Defendant. The child explained that most of these incidents of abuse had occurred in her bed. 

Based on her disclosures, investigators executed a search warrant at Hales’ home, which he shared with the child’s mother. They seized several items from the home including the sheets from the child’s bed. The Mississippi Crime Lab tested the sheets and located a substance on the sheets which indicated possible seminal fluid as well as the Defendant’s DNA. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “We would like to thank the many state agencies who worked together to ensure my office could obtain a conviction in this matter. The Ridgeland Police Department, the Mississippi Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Mississippi Crime Lab were all crucial parts of the investigative process in this case. We hope the minor child in this matter can now have some closure in this matter and move forward from her abuse.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Ronnie Gene Hales 

Date of Birth: 03/09/1980 

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Repeat Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation: Will Serve Fifty Years in MDOC

Rankin, MS - Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Willard Geven Knight, 33, was sentenced to serve a total of 50 years for multiple counts of child exploitation, which must be served without the possibility of parole. 

In January 2023, deputies from the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department began working an undercover operation to identify an individual using social networks to receive, traffic, share, and distribute images and videos depicting child pornography. The investigation revealed that Knight had recently moved from his home located in Rankin County to Wesson. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), and Homeland Security assisted in the apprehension of Knight at his home in Wesson. During the search of his residence, multiple electronic devices were seized during the arrest and were processed by the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department. Those devices contained numerous photos and videos of child pornography. 

At the time of his arrest, Knight was already a registered sex offender who was on supervised probation through the Mississippi Department of Corrections for a 2015 conviction for child exploitation. In the 2015 case, which the Attorney General’s Office prosecuted, Knight was sentenced to 40 years to serve, with 35 of those years suspended. He spent five years in prison and was released onto supervised probation through MDOC. 

Upon his arrest for the new 2023 charges, Judge Dewey Arthur revoked the suspended sentence and ordered that he serve the entirety of the previously suspended sentence of 35 years. 

In April of 2024, Knight pled guilty to the new charges of child exploitation. Upon completion of the 35-year sentence imposed by Judge Arthur, he will serve an additional fifteen years for this conviction. Knight will now serve a total of 50 years, day for day, without the possibility of parole or early release. 

“We appreciate the diligent efforts of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, MDOC, and Homeland Security in ensuring this dangerous repeat child sex offender is off the streets and locked away for the next 50 years,” stated Bramlett.“ 

Defendant: 

Name: Willard Geven Knight 

Date of Birth: 04/05/1991 

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Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Possession of Cocaine in Madison County

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, announced today that Johnnie Earl Bradley pled guilty to possession with the intent to sell cocaine and was sentenced to serve 25 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. 

In late 2021, law enforcement began an investigation into an individual suspected of bringing drugs into Jackson on I55 while driving an 18-wheeler. The suspect then transported smaller quantities of the drugs into Canton via passenger vehicle. Investigators applied for and received a warrant which allowed them to place a tracker onto his passenger vehicle. 

On December 22, 2021, a Madison Count6y deputy stopped the car on I-55 heading towards Canton. When the officer approached the car, the deputy’s K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. The officer searched the vehicle and found a bookbag containing various drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. 

The Mississippi Crime Lab confirmed it was 29.89 grams of cocaine along with 2.52 grams of methamphetamine, and 47.96 grams of Tetrahydrocannabinol. Based on the findings of their investigation, Bradley was charged with possession of 10-30 grams of cocaine with the intent to sale. He admitted they were his and pled guilty in Madison County Circuit Court. Bradley was previously convicted of possession of 10-30 grams of cocaine in Rankin County Circuit Court. 

Defendant: 

Name: Johnnie Earl Bradley 

Date of Birth: 06/04/1982 

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Man Sentenced to 32 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl in Madison County

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett, announced today that Michael D. Pendelton, of Pearl, pled guilty to one counts of sale of fentanyl one count of conspiracy to sell fentanyl. He was sentenced to serve 32 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. 

On December 28, 2022, narcotics investigators with the Madison Police Department began working with a confidential informant who stated she could buy oxycodone pills from Pendelton. The CI was given $700 in official law enforcement funds and, using CashApp, sent Pendelton those funds in exchange for him bringing her the pills. He sent his girlfriend into the city of Madison to meet the CI and the pills were exchanged. 

The Mississippi Crime Lab tested the pills purchased by the confidential informant and confirmed it was fifty fentanyl pills. Oxycodone is one of the most common prescription narcotics to be purchased from illegal sources. Many times these pills are actually counterfeit pills containing fentanyl even though they look identical to legitimate oxycodone pills. Just one dose of fentanyl can be fatal. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “Fentanyl is killing people every single day. The vast majority of the people overdosing are teenagers or in their twenties. Law enforcement has prioritized tracking down fentanyl dealers. My office is sending anyone caught with fentanyl to prison. Please use this as a reminder to talk to your kids, especially your teenagers, about the dangers of buying pills off the streets and the high overdose risk of fentanyl. The only two outcomes if you are using or selling fenantyl is prison or an overdose. I would like to personally thank and recognize the Madison Police Department for their tireless efforts to identify and catch those dealing fentanyl in Madison. Because of them, countless lives have been saved.” 

Defendant: 

Name: Mitchell D. Pendelton 

Date of Birth: 06/08/1981 

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High School Student Sentenced for Threats and Possession of Firearm on School Property

Rankin County—Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Chance DePaul Smith, 19, of Brandon, MS, pled guilty to retaliation against a public servant and possession of a deadly weapon on education property, both relating to his threats against a Brandon High School teacher on September 9, 2022.

At the time of the incident, Smith was an 18-year-old high school student enrolled at Brandon High School. In addition to threatening the teacher, Smith threatened to shoot up the school in retaliation for the teacher telling him to stop yelling in the classroom. Smith was also found in possession of a fireman on campus.

Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Smith to serve ten years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with the final six years suspended.

“We hope this serious situation is a wake-up call for students and juveniles that if you choose to commit a crime, you can still be processed as an adult, in adult court, with adult sentences,” stated Bramlett. “We are thankful this incident was resolved and that the safety of everyone at the school was kept intact during this tense situation. As always, we appreciate law enforcement, school officials, and the judicial system for pulling together to ensure Smith faces the consequences for his crimes on school property.”

Defendant:

Name: Chance DePaul Smith

Date of Birth: 08/21/2004

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Juvenile Drunk Driver Receives Lengthy Prison Sentence for Death of M.A.D.D. Advocate

Rankin County—Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Circuit Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Colby James Tackett to serve 15 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the crime of Aggravated DUI resulting in Death. 

On October 7, 2022, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department responded to Highway 471 in Brandon for a head-on collision in which the victim, 62-year-old nurse Beverly Luckett, did not survive. The other driver, Tackett, a seventeen-year-old, was intoxicated and swerved his vehicle into the victim’s lane, resulting in the death of Ms. Luckett, a long-time Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) advocate. 

Tackett pled guilty to Aggravated Driving Under the Influence Resulting in Death and was sentenced to the maximum sentence of twenty-five years in prison with the last ten years of the twenty-five-year sentence suspended pending strict compliance with all terms of supervised probation. 

On September 24, 2022, only two weeks before the head-on collision, Tackett had been arrested by the Flowood Police Department for another underage drinking incident. 

“This is a heart-wrenching case,” stated District Attorney Bramlett. “The Luckett family lost the matriarch of their family in a preventable tragedy. It was not lost on anyone that Mr. Tackett should have received the proverbial wake-up call when he was arrested for underage drinking a mere 13 days before he killed Ms. Luckett. Tackett will have to live with the consequences, and I anticipate that the emotional burden will be worse than the significant prison sentence.” 

“On behalf of my office and the citizens I represent, thank you to all the law enforcement officers and first responders who have the unimaginable responsibility of working these traffic fatalities and informing the victims’ families of the senseless loss of their loved ones. Drunk driving affects all of us, and we encourage everyone to think about others before driving impaired,” urged DA Bramlett. 

Defendant:

Name: Colby James Tackett 

Date of Birth: 10/28/2004 

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Rankin County Jury Finds Father Guilty of Felonious Abuse of Child

Rankin County—Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Timothy Warren Wilson, 24, of Foxworth, MS, was found guilty by a Rankin County Circuit Court jury of one count of felonious child abuse. 

Circuit Court Judge Dewey Arthur presided over the five-day trial. After the guilty verdict was handed down, Arthur set sentencing for May 13, 2024, where Wilson faces a sentence of 5 years to life in prison. 

On December 19, 2022, Flowood Fire and Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to Lakeland East Apartments in Flowood in response to reports of an unresponsive 10-week-old child. Upon arrival at the hospital, medical personnel found the infant to have bleeding in three parts of her brain, as well as bleeding in both eyes. 

During the thorough investigation, Wilson, the father of the 10-week-old, was identified as the perpetrator. On 12/29/22, he verbally confessed to being at home alone with the infant and shaking her out of frustration. According to Wilson’s separate written confession, he “shook her for roughly 15 seconds until she was silent.” 

The Defendant’s defense throughout the trial was that the child had a seizure that resulted in her severe injuries. The state brought in witnesses and the state’s pediatric forensic medicine expert to testify that seizures would not have resulted in the severity of injuries seen in this 10-week-old infant. Instead, the baby suffered from Abusive Head Trauma, often referred to as Shaken Baby Syndrome. 

“The coordination between the Flowood Police Department, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the Children’s Safe Center at UMMC were second to none,” stated District Attorney Bramlett. “Every individual involved in this case was vital in bringing justice to this infant. Nobody, especially an innocent infant, should ever have to endure such horrendous brutality, especially at the hands of their father. We are thankful the child made a full recovery from its injuries, and we hope the victim, family members, and other loved ones can continue their healing process.” 

Defendant:

Name: Timothy Warren Wilson 

Date of Birth: 3/5/2000 

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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 

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