News Briefs From Across The State
By Monica Land
Suspect used pump spray to spray gas inside building
A federal court judge has ordered house arrest for a man charged with arson in a fire at a Yalobusha County business.
James Flemons was sentenced during a hearing in U. S. District Court in Oxford.
A federal indictment accused Flemons and another man of using pump sprayers to spay gas and kerosene inside Lindley’s Antique Mall in Oakland and then setting fire to the business on March 1, 2011.
Flemons will spend three years on house arrest and will only be allowed to leave home to go to work and attend church services.
He was also ordered to pay over $520,375 in restitution.
Police officer arrested for hitting inmate
A former Meridian police officer was arrested and charged with assault after he allegedly hit an inmate during transport.
Jacob Mathis, 22, reportedly hit the inmate, Derrick Collins, in the face during a police transport on Dec. 16, 2012.
Collins made the allegations against Mathis, who resigned in January, while under scrutiny. He was released on a recognizance bond.
Mathis had been working for the police department for about five months.
School cafeteria worker charged with sexual battery
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department said 24-year old Dex Hunter Stone has been charged with three counts of sexual battery and one count of lustful touching of a child.
Sheriff Billy Sollie said Stone was taken into police custody without
incident on Friday, Feb. 22. His bond has been set at $65,000.
Stone was a cafeteria worker at Southeast Lauderdale Middle School until he was terminated by Superintendent Randy Hodges on Feb. 22. The sheriff said authorities have been investigating Stone for about two weeks.
The alleged victims in the case are 6 and 10-years-old.
Family members told authorities the children alleged that Stone touched them in an inappropriate way. The children do not attend Southeast Lauderdale and the alleged assaults did not occur on school property.
Seventh Biloxi resident arrested for insurance fraud
A seventh Biloxi resident has been arrested to face insurance fraud charges, Attorney General Jim Hood said.
Rosemary Henderson, 46, turned herself in to face charges of insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and wire fraud. She faces charges along with six other individuals who were recently arrested by investigators with the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Unit, following indictment by a Harrison County Grand Jury.
The charges against the defendants stem from two separate automobile accidents alleged to have occurred in Biloxi. The indictment alleges that the defendants submitted fraudulent medical and injury claims amounting to approximately $40,000 with Victoria Fire & Casualty (via Nationwide Insurance Company).
Henderson was booked into the Harrison County Detention Center before being released on a $5,000 bond.
Be the first to comment