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Former Jackson County deputy sentenced to 20 years for embezzlement of public funds

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www.wxxv25.com – WXXV Staff – 2024-01-19 16:33:58

SUMMARY: Johnny Ray Jefferson, age 52, pleaded guilty to embezzlement of $37,330 from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office seizure account. He was sentenced to 20 years, with 15 suspended, and 5 years on intensive supervision. Jefferson returned the stolen funds before his guilty plea and confessed to taking the money in an interview. The investigation revealed that he had taken money from seizure packages on four occasions. The District Attorney condemned Jefferson’s breach of trust and insisted on holding him accountable. Despite letters of support from the community, Judge Kathy Jackson handed down the sentence. This case was taken on as a special assignment to hold offenders accountable for breaching public trust.

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Jussie Smollett’s conviction in 2019 attack on himself is overturned

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www.wxxv25.com – WXXV Staff – 2024-11-21 14:55:00

SUMMARY: The Illinois Supreme Court overturned Jussie Smollett’s conviction for staging a 2019 racist and homophobic attack, ruling that he should not have faced charges again after an agreement with prosecutors. The case, which attracted substantial media attention and polarized public opinion, involved Smollett claiming he was assaulted by two men. Initial charges were dropped in exchange for community service and a $10,000 bond forfeiture. The Court’s opinion emphasized the importance of upholding negotiated deals in criminal law. Despite the ruling, the special prosecutor noted it did not affect the jury’s unanimous guilty verdict against Smollett for disorderly conduct.

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Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual

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www.wxxv25.com – Associated Press – 2024-11-21 14:52:00

SUMMARY: Attorneys are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Mississippi’s Jim Crow-era law that permanently disenfranchises individuals convicted of certain felonies, including nonviolent offenses like forgery. They argue such practices are unconstitutional, reflecting a harsh and outdated approach. Currently, nearly 50,000 people, disproportionately Black, are affected, with few avenues available for restoring voting rights. The recent appeal follows a series of unsuccessful attempts to challenge this law in court, emphasizing the racial biases embedded in the state’s voting rights legislation. The attorneys assert that the Supreme Court should reconsider the constitutional validity of these disenfranchisement laws.

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Man found guilty of murder in the killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley

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www.wxxv25.com – NBC NEWS – 2024-11-20 10:31:00

SUMMARY: Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was found guilty of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, whose death gained national attention in the immigration debate. Ibarra was convicted on multiple charges, including felony murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. He faces life imprisonment without parole. Prosecutors argued that Ibarra attacked Riley while she was jogging, leading to her death after she resisted his alleged attempt to rape her. Defense attorneys claimed that evidence did not definitively link Ibarra to the crime, suggesting instead that his brother might be responsible. Ibarra opted for a bench trial and did not testify.

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