News Briefs From Across The State
Suspect worked as treasurer
A Diamondhead man has been arrested on charges he embezzled more than $40,000 from a Harrison County nonprofit group while serving as its treasurer. Harrison County sheriff’s deputies said Derek Christopher Flores, 39, was arrested on Friday.
The Sun Herald reported that Flores was released Saturday on $25,000 bond set by Harrison County Justice Court Judge Melvin Ray. Detectives said the investigation is continuing.
It was unclear whether Flores has an attorney.
Sailor to serve 6 years for molesting teen
A Navy sailor assigned to the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport will serve six years in prison for molesting a 14-year-old girl who lived in his apartment complex in Bay St. Louis.
Assistant District Attorney Crosby Parker told The Sun Herald that Circuit Judge Roger Clark sentenced 26-year-old Preston Jarrel Landry in Hancock County Circuit Court on a guilty plea to unlawful touching of a child for lustful purposes. The judge gave him the maximum penalty of 15 years and suspended nine years, leaving six to serve.
Parker said Landry must serve the entire six years because of the nature of the crime. Landry also must register as a sex offender after his release.
Authorities speculated that Landry, who has been in the military for eight years with a spotless record, may be discharged from the Navy.
School board member resigns
The Lamar County School Board has voted in a new member, after longtime member Chris Ryals resigned.
The Hattiesburg American reports Ryals, an 11-year board member, stepped down because of increasing job and family demands.
He said he would continue to attend board meetings as a citizen advocate for schools.
Board president Mike Pruitt said Ryals will be missed.
Following Ryals’ resignation, the remaining four board members voted in Purvis native Chris Taylor as his replacement. Pruitt said the board considered three applicants.
Taylor’s first board meeting will be Jan. 5.
2 workers accused of merchandise theft
Two employees at separate stores at The Promenade shopping mall in D’Iberville have been arrested on embezzlement charges involving a combined loss of more than $4,500 in merchandise.
Police Chief Wayne Payne said officers arrested 32-year-old Darien Lamar Brown of D’Iberville and 22-year-old Nicholas Gene Fox Gulfport last Thursday following investigations of thefts at Rue 21 and Target.
Payne says Brown is accused of embezzling more than $3,000 in merchandise by giving unauthorized discounts to friends and voiding the transactions so he could keep the money.
Fox is accused of leaving Target with more than $1,500 in merchandise.
Man indicted in Jackson bank heist
A federal grand jury has indicted a man previously convicted of bank robbery in the Oct. 19 heist of a BankPlus branch in Jackson.
Court records show that 57-year-old Bernard Lowell Johnson was indicted last week in a robbery that netted $4,284. A law enforcement affidavit in court records said Lowell was recognized in videos by his probation officer from a previous bank robbery charge.
Johnson allegedly walked into the bank and asked for $5 in quarters, then slipped the teller a note that demanded “100s, 50s, 20s fast.” He then reached for something in his pocket.
Picayune council holds hearing on water rates
The debate over whether the newly implemented utility rate ordinance creates excessive fees continued during a public hearing at the Picayune City Council meeting.
The Picayune Items reports the council held the hearing, ordered by Chancery Court, to hear arguments from business owners who are part of a suit against the city by Citizens for Fair Utility Rates LLC.
Some of the business owners at the meeting asked that council members reconsider the ordinance mandating any structure with multiple units served by one water meter be charged for minimum usage for each unit and charge only for the meter installed.
The council took the information in to an executive session, but did not immediately rule on the issue.
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