News Briefs From Across The State
Victim was 14-years-old
A 21-year-old Long Beach man has been sentenced to serve eight years in prison for the tire-iron beating of a then-14-year-old girl on a dimly lit Hancock County road in 2009.
The Sea Coast Echo reports that Dustin James Sterling pleaded guilty last week to aggravated assault.
Circuit Judge Larry Bourgeois sentenced Sterling to 15 years in jail, with seven years suspended.
Prosecutors say the victim had apparently gotten a ride with Sterling on the morning of Nov. 29, 2009. Prosecutors say the two were neighbors.
Prosecutors say Sterling attacked the girl with a tire iron during an argument.
Residents wanted change in Halloween celebration
The city of Corinth will observe Halloween on the traditional date of Oct. 31. Halloween falls on a Monday this year. Some residents had asked if the city would designate a different day for trick or treating.
City officials tell the Daily Corinthian that they were not inclined to make any changes this Halloween.
Police Chief David Lancaster says he recommended sticking with the actual date.
Last year, with Halloween falling on a Sunday, it was moved to another day. It has only been changed one other time since the late 1990s.
Drowning of 4-year-old boy at birthday party ruled accidental
The death of a 4-year-old Jackson County boy has been ruled accidental after he was found in a swimming pool this August. Authorities said the child was with his parents in St. Martin for a Sunday birthday party when he snuck back into the pool when the other children were called inside to eat.
The boy was found about 3 p.m., and a doctor who was reportedly at the party performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
The 4-year-old was transported to Ocean Springs Hospital and pronounced dead about 90 minutes later.
FEMA fraud conviction appeal denied
A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Randall T. Thirsk for FEMA fraud. Thirsk was convicted in 2010 in federal court in Gulfport on four counts. Prosecutors say Thirsk received more than $1,000 from FEMA by making false claims and statements.
Thirsk was sentenced to eight months in prison and two consecutive two-year terms of supervised release.
In his appeal, Thirsk claimed he was denied a speedy trial. He said he was indicted in December 2006 and was arraigned in August 2010 and tried two months later. A 5th Circuit three-judge panel said Friday that Thirsk failed to prove how a delay of three years and eight months deprived him of presenting a defense to the charges.
IHop manger accuses fired employee of gun threat
Jackson police were called in to investigate after a manager accused a terminated employee of threatening him with a gun. Jackson police officers were initially called to the IHop located on Briarwood Drive just off I-55. The restaurant manager fired an employee and alleges that the employee went to the parking lot to get a gun.
According to Officer Colendula Green, the manager says the disgruntled employee made verbal threats to him, but he never saw a weapon. Investigators did speak to all parties involved. No arrests were made.
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