Claimed she could make evidence against suspect “disappear”
JACKSON – A Marshall County woman is going to jail after a jury found her guilty of attempted false pretense, Attorney General Jim Hood said. Sweetie B. Wooten, 38, of Holly Springs, was convicted by a jury in DeSoto County Circuit Court before Judge Robert Chamberlin.
Judge Chamberlin sentenced Wooten to 10 years, eight years suspended and two years to serve followed by five years of post-release supervision.
Wooten must also pay $500 in court costs and she was ordered to report to the Desoto County jail on Jan. 21 at 8 a.m.
Wooten was initially arrested in August 2010 by investigators with the Public Integrity Division of the Attorney General’s Office. At the time of the crime, Wooten was employed at the Marshall County Public Defender’s office.
She is also a licensed bonding agent.
According to court records, Wooten lied to the victim, a Memphis resident, telling him that for $10,000 she could make evidence and paperwork in the case against him disappear, thus causing the case against him to be dismissed.
Wooten also stated that she had settled the matter with the Marshall County Sheriff’s office when actually the victim had already been cleared of the crime, and the case was in the process of being dismissed.
“Two years behind bars should make this defendant think twice about her actions,” said Attorney General Hood. “She’ll have time looming over her head when she is released and will either walk a straight line or return to jail.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Stan Alexander and Special Assistant Attorney General Marvin Sanders with the Public Integrity Division of the Attorney General’s Office.
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