Articles Posted in MS Criminal Laws

Grand Jury Indicts 22-Year-Old on Capital Murder Charges

According to Mississippi Today, a Lafayette County grand jury indicted a 22-year-old Ole Miss graduate for the alleged murder of an LGBTQ+ student, Jimmie “Jay” Lee. According to a filing from the Lafayette County Circuit Court, the jurors indicted the young man on a charge of capital murder because he allegedly killed Lee while kidnapping him. The young man was originally arrested for the alleged murder back in July of 2022. Lee’s disappearance caught national attention during this time, in part because of the fear it sparked in Oxford’s tight knit LGBTQ+ community. Because of the severity of the charge, if convicted, the young man could potentially receive the death penalty. However, the young man and his family remain optimistic, as he continues to maintain his innocence. 

How Does Mississippi Define Capital Murder?

According to WLBT-TV Channel 3, a horse ran to safety after a group of people attempted to steal it from a pasture in Clay County, Mississippi. Sheriff Eddie Scott claims that one of the offenders saw the horse and hatched a plan with two juveniles and another man to help load the horse into a trailer. Reports indicate that the group allegedly walked the horse down the road, but it broke free from and ran back to its pasture. One of the offenders has since been  charged with livestock theft.

Livestock theft is a serious crime that is unfortunately common in the state of Mississippi. With a significant portion of the state’s economy relying on agriculture and farming, livestock theft can have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers. 

How Does Mississippi Define Livestock & Livestock Theft?

Four Hawaii police officers have been charged for their involvement in a September, 2021 car crash on the island of Oahu that injured six people, two of them severely.

According to Courthouse News Service, the prosecutor overseeing the case filed felony charges against the officers.  Officials say the officers chased down a vehicle without using their squad cars’ lights or sirens, ran the vehicle off the road, causing it to crash, and then left without helping.

Based on indictment papers, the four officers responded to a noise complaint at a beach park around 3:30 a.m.  The officers followed a white sedan out form the park onto a highway, where they pursued the car at high speeds without activating their sirens or blue lights at any time as required by law.

South Carolina lawyer, Alex Murdaugh, was once a respected figure in the legal community. He came from a prominent family of lawyers, with his father and grandfather both having successful careers in the legal profession. Alex himself was known for his skill and success in the courtroom. However, in 2021, the seemingly perfect life of Alex Murdaugh began to unravel. In June of that year, he discovered the bodies of his wife and son at their family home. At the time, it was believed that they had been killed in a botched robbery attempt, and Alex himself became a key figure in the investigation.

As the investigation unfolded, the story became more complicated. It was revealed that Alex had been involved in a number of shady financial dealings. He was heavily in debt and had even misappropriated funds from a settlement for a client. It was also discovered that he had arranged for a former client to kill him in order to collect a life insurance payout, but that the hitman had botched the job.

As the evidence mounted against him, it became clear that Alex Murdaugh was not the victim he had claimed to be. In fact, he appeared to be a master manipulator who had orchestrated a web of lies and deceit in order to cover up his own crimes. The prosecution presented compelling evidence against Alex Murdaugh in his murder trial. There were inconsistencies in his story about discovering the bodies of his wife and son, and the forensic evidence did not support his version of events. The prosecution also presented evidence of his financial troubles and the failed hit on his own life, suggesting that he had a motive to kill his wife and son.

Facing criminal accusations of any kind can be scary as a conviction can result in severe penalties and affect your personal and professional lives. Hiring a criminal defense attorney is key to any sort of accusation that you may be facing in state or federal court. Working with a qualified criminal defense attorney with experience at the federal level can help you avoid a conviction or get reduced penalties.

Although certain crimes can lead to state-level investigations and trials, they may result in federal charges if you have violated any federal laws, affected interstate commerce, crossed state borders, or committed the crime on federal property. If federal agents conducted the investigation, the US Attorney can elect to prosecute you at the federal level.

Federal Prosecution Has More Resources for Investigation

Criminal charges and accusations are serious matters. Even something as simple as a traffic ticket can have a lasting impact on your business and your personal life. The Carmody Law Firm can help you by vigorously defending your case so that you can go back to living your life.

Our criminal defense lawyers have decades of combined experience, and our firm has been trusted in the state of Mississippi for well over 43 years. When it comes to criminal law, experience is everything – and our attorneys at the Carmody Law Firm have the experience necessary to protect your rights in any court room.

Why Do You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney to Help Defend Your Rights?

A couple of weeks ago, Jerrell Powe, a former standout and six (6) year NFL player, appeared in court and was charged with kidnapping and conspiring to commit a crime. The Ridgeland Police Chief disclosed that the incident began in Laurel, Mississippi and ended after the alleged victim was able to contact Ridgeland police. According to WLBT-TV, the individual stated that he was not only kidnapped “against his will,” but “forced to withdraw” money at a local bank. 

According to a spokesperson for Powe, however, the entire incident was the result of a scam. Apparently, Powe had loaned money to the alleged victim and was only trying to get his money back. Whether Powe believes he was in the wrong or not, the charges he faces are very serious and could carry severe consequences.

How Does Mississippi Define Kidnapping?

Many people do not realize the severity of Mississippi’s stalking laws. You might assume that following an ex-girlfriend around or even bugging her on social media is no big deal. Although no one is actually being “hurt” in these scenarios, you may be breaking the law. Read a few news stories about stalking in Mississippi within the past few years, and you will quickly realize that people who engage in these acts run the very real risk of going to prison. But what exactly happens when you stalk people in Mississippi, and what penalties might you face if you are caught?

Examples of Stalking in Mississippi and Across the United States

The most recent example of stalking came in November of 2022. This situation involved an individual who had allegedly used a dating app to stalk a victim. According to the Oxford Police Department, they had received a complaint from a victim who walked into the department to get help from this alleged stalking. No other information was provided about the incident, although the defendant was promptly arrested and issued a $15,000 bond. This shows that modern “stalking” may not simply involve following someone down the street. It may also involve dating apps, social media, and other digital communication tools without any actual direct contact.