Handcuffed inmate tries to swim to freedom

Jeremy Blake Bowlin

News Briefs From Across The State

By Monica Land

Inmate rescued by officers

A handcuffed inmate escaped from a probation officer and was fished from the Yazoo Diversion Canal.

Jeremy Blake Bowlin

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said 21-year-old Jeremy Blake Bowlin got away from a Mississippi Department of Corrections probation officer outside the Warren County jail on Aug. 6.

Bowlin is on probation for two counts of auto burglary, according to court records.

He was spotted by Vicksburg police near City Front – about four blocks from the jail – at about 5 p.m.

When officers arrived, Bowlin was in the canal swimming toward Louisiana.

Warren County Deputy Jeff Harrell and Vicksburg investigators DeWayne Sims and Daniel Thomas boarded a towboat and, with the help of deckhands Jason Page and Donnie Kirkley, hoisted the still-handcuffed Bowlin from the water.

Suspect pleads guilty in gun shop slaying

A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following his guilty plea to manslaughter.

The Hattiesburg American reports Drakkar Fleming pleaded guilty. He was under indictment for capital murder in connection with the May 28, 2011, fatal shooting of Edward Leo Cameron at his Hattiesburg gun and coin shop.

Forrest-Perry County District Attorney Patricia Burchell said Fleming accepted the manslaughter charge on a waiver of the right to indictment, and prosecution was terminated on the capital murder charge.

She said she allowed Fleming to plead on the lesser charge and receive the maximum sentence after consulting with the victim's family.

Booster club official accused of embezzling $12K

Police say the treasurer of the Bay High Tiger Band Booster Club is accused of embezzling about $12,000, including money band members had earned for a trip to Disney World.

Bay St. Louis police Detective Don Gray tells The Sun Herald 41-year-old Kimberly Ann Baudoin-Luxich was arrested on Aug. 6.

Gray says a band booster official had told police earlier in the week a large amount of money was missing from the club's account.

Baudoin-Luxich was booked at the Hancock County jail. Her bond was set at $10,000.

Clinton mayor wants to freeze hiring

Clinton's mayor has ordered a hiring freeze and a hold on all major expenditures except for emergencies as the city tries to whittle down a predicted $259,000 budget deficit.

The Clarion-Ledger reports Clinton officials recently learned of the looming deficit, which could grow or shrink depending on incoming revenues to the city between now and the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

The city was projected to begin the current fiscal year with a $318,000 fund balance, with an overall budget of $14.1 million. But spending, according to the city's latest figures, looks to be $14.7 million.

City Clerk Russell Wall says income was projected too high for auto tag fees, court fines, franchise fees and the collection of prior-year taxes that were past due.