For Immediate Release
February 6, 2009
For more information, please contact
Michael Guest
at (601) 825-1472
DA Guest Newsletter #2
A MESSAGE FROM MICHAEL GUEST
Serving as your District Attorney for the past year has been both an honor and privilege. Just more than a year ago, you entrusted me to prosecute criminals who have broken our laws. This is a responsibility that I take seriously. Working with one of the most talented staffs assembled throughout the state and with outstanding law enforcement, we have accomplished a great deal in 2008. I strongly believe that we, as public servants, should be held accountable for our job performance. So, with that in mind, I believe it is important to provide you with a summary of our fi rst year in office. Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your District Attorney. I wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2009. I also invite you to visit our website, www.daguest.com, which is updated regularly.
CASES CLOSED SINCE JANUARY 2008
Madison County: 1,373
Rankin County: 1,316
Total: 2,689
The exceptionally high number of cases closed in Madison and Rankin Counties sends a strong message to criminals that we, as a society, enforce our laws and criminals will pay the consequences for the laws they break. My staff, along with local law enforcement officials, has worked diligently to increase the number of convictions through both pleas of guilty and jury trials. In 2008, we were able to send a record number of criminals to jail and in doing so we have made our neighborhoods safer by removing one criminal at a time.
MAJOR CASES CLOSED SINCE JANUARY
* Wilbert Caldwell, sexual battery, 20-years to serve.
* Woodrow Johnson, sexual battery, 20-years to serve.
* John Willie Bell, Jr., house burglary, 25-years to serve.
* Jeremiah Payton, manslaughter, 20-years to serve.
* Jason Walker, sale of cocaine, 20-years to serve.
* Kevin Eldridge, house burglary, 25-years to serve.
* Nathan Sellers, aggravated assault, 20-years to serve.
* Patrick Hite, sexual battery, 20-years to serve.
* Dexter Patrick, armed robbery, 20-years to serve.
* Titus Williams, aggravated assault, 20-years to serve.
* Percy Bridgeman, statutory rape, 25-years to serve.
* Alan Henderson, manslaughter, 20-years to serve.
* Robert Hilliard, sale of cocaine, 30-years to serve.
* Tommy McCrory, sexual battery, 30-years to serve.
* Edward Myers, armed robbery, 30-years to serve.
* Peter Grossley, armed robbery, 30-years to serve.
* Marcus Ollie, manslaughter and possession of a fi rearm, 35-years to serve.
* David Trejo, possession of cocaine, 60-years to serve.
* Kirby Shavers, kidnapping and rape, 65-years to serve.
* Kirk Mayers, aggravated assault on law enforcement, 88-years to serve.
* Jason Flores, murder, life in prison.
* Tyrone Vaughan, murder, life in prison.
* Anthony Perez, murder, life in prison.
* Chandle Hobson, murder, life in prison.
* William Tackett, murder, two consecutive life sentences.
* Jermaine Stephenson, capital murder, life without parole.
DA'S MOST WANTED
An irresponsible action that we simply cannot tolerate is to allow criminals to fall through the cracks and escape the criminal justice system. When I became your District Attorney, I began working with the media and others to launch the DA's Most Wanted. I am proud to announce that we have captured more than 50% of the suspects highlighted through this program. These individuals have now been returned to the criminal justice system and will have to face the consequences of their crimes. You can view the DA's Most Wanted at www.daguest.com.
OVERCROWDING- MOVING CRIMINALS FROM OUR LOCAL JAILS TO PARCHMAN
When I became District Attorney, we had a significant backlog of cases involving inmates housed in our county jail. Some of these cases had been pending for years and these defendants had never been brought to trial. This caused overcrowding in our local jails and placed our law enforcement in a position of possibly not having adequate space to house criminals. Jail overcrowding was especially a concern in Rankin County where an expansion of the current jail is underway. I am pleased to let you know, that out of the 145 inmates who had been in the Rankin County jail the longest, all but three have been moved through the criminal justice system and are no longer housed in our local jails. The remaining three are scheduled for trial in the next few weeks.
USING CRIMINAL MONEY AND CARS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER
One of the best weapons we have in our war on drugs is the ability to use a criminal's money and property against those who sell or transport illegal drugs. In 2008, the District Attorney's Asset Forfeiture Unit worked with law enforcement to assist them in the area of civil forfeitures. I am proud to announce that we have forfeited 68 vehicles and $2,850,000.00 to local agencies to help in their continuing battle against illegal drugs.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S BAD CHECK UNIT
Our Bad Check Unit began years ago to help merchants retrieve funds from those who had written them bad checks. Thanks to the experience and hard work of this group we were able to successfully recover almost $745,000 in bad checks and fees in
2008. Writing a bad check is stealing and we will continue to work to protect our local merchants. For more information on our Bad Check Unit, please visit www.daguest.com. Thank you again for allowing me this opportunity to serve as your District Attorney. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can ever be of any assistance.
