HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (AP) — Three people involved in an on-campus fight at the University of Southern Mississippi last November involving a handgun and former Southern Miss quarterback Anthony Alford have been indicted by a Forrest County grand jury on felony charges.
USM campus police arrested six, including Alford, following the Nov. 28, 2012, fight near the school’s Walker Science Building. No one was hurt. Police say no shots were fired although a gun was found at the scene.
The indictments were handed down in September and made public this last week. Those indicted were:
— Lemanuel C. Carson, 23, of Petal, on one count of conspiring to possess a weapon on school property.
— Bradford A. Drummond, 20, of Sumrall, on hindering prosecution. He allegedly suppressed physical evidence that would aid in Alford’s conviction, according to his indictment.
— Jasper Jarrell Brown, 22, of Petal, for possession of a weapon on campus, hindering prosecution and receiving stolen property. The indictment charges him with receiving, possessing or retaining the .40-caliber handgun involved in the altercation.
The Hattiesburg American reports Alford, 18, and Curtis Rashad Williams, 20, of Moss Point, have each a pretrial diversion program. Upon completion of the program, the charges will be dismissed against each.
Alford was initially charged with aggravated assault. During a justice court hearing, his charge was changed to one count of conspiracy and one count of hindering prosecution.
Alford waived his right to indictment and entered into a criminal information Jan. 22, charging him with hindering prosecution and concealing the whereabouts of Brown by providing false information while knowing Brown was wanted by university police.
In lieu of prosecution, Alford was to be placed under the supervision of the District Attorney’s Office for three years, during which time he will complete up to 300 hours of community service. The charge will be passed to the inactive files subject to reinstatement upon motion of the district attorney.
Williams was charged with hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and possession of a weapon on school property. He also waived his right to indictment and entered into a criminal information charging him with hindering prosecution. He was entered the diversion program Aug. 5 under terms similar to Alford’s.
A criminal information involves a charge that is usually filed when a defendant intends to plead guilty.
The case against a sixth person arrested is pending.
