Quitman County Week 2 Trial Term Update:
/One trial was held on 3 counts of Receiving/Possessing Stolen Property. Defendant was found guilty on all three counts.
Time to suit up for Chief Terry Tyler. CLF statement to media in response to Monday’s arrest on an Oct 2022 incident.
/“Chief Tyler was arrested today in Drew, MS by MBI being assisted by the US Marshals after being indicted with two other individuals by a Desoto County grand jury on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm from an alleged incident two years ago. Chief Tyler was not given the opportunity to voluntarily surrender or turn himself in with his attorney. He’s not a flight risk. He has no criminal history. The Desoto County District Attorney’s Office argued for a received the maximum bond on this charge allowable by law of $250,000. Chief Tyler was paraded across the news as if he is a danger to society.. I find this to be a complete waste of resources of both state and federal law enforcement, as well as of the court, for the political benefit of the Desoto County District Attorney’s Office. Chief Tyler looks forward to arguing the merits of the case in court where, oddly, he is charged as a codefendant and a victim in the same indictment. In 18 years of law practice, I’ve never seen a criminal indictment as convoluted as this. The District Attorney’s Office has been sitting on this case for two years, and they still can’t get it right.”
Quitman County Trial Term Week 1 Update:
/One case tried on charges of Aggravated Assault w/a Firearm and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
After a two-day jury trial, Defendant was found not guilty of all charges.
NEW OFFICE ALERT!
/Last week, we at Carr Law Firm celebrated the opening of our new Tunica branch office! Located at 851 River Road (across from Jeffcoat Market), this satellite office, staffed by attorney Meg Coker, will provide improved criminal defense services to clients in Tunica, Desoto, and Tate counties.
Thank you to Tunica Main Street, Tunica County Sheriff’s Department, city and county elected officials, and all of our friends and clients who stopped by to wish us well.
If you or a loved one have a criminal matter or need a consultation, please contact our office at the address below:
Carr Law Firm
851 River Road
Tel: 662-719-1921
mcoker@carrlawpllc.com
Coahoma County Trial Term - Week 5 update (final week) and Summary for 2024 Summer Term:
/Five cases on this week’s docket with all being crimes of violence: Manslaughter, First Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault w Firearm, Aggravated DUI, and Sexual Battery
All cases between 2 and 6 years old.
No cases ready for trial.
All cases now continued for six months.
In summary: 5 weeks of criminal court term. (July 15 to Aug 19)
Multiple guilty pleas taken.
3 cases tried.
2 hung juries.
1 not guilty.
0 convictions.
2024 Summer Intern Highlight!
/This summer CLF is working with two student interns who have helped tremendously with the firm’s mission of providing top quality defense services across the Delta.
Brady Keeton, a native of Cleveland and a graduate of Cleveland Central High School, is going into his 3rd year of law school at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Finishing his second summer working at CLF, Brady is interning through the Mississippi Bar’s Access to Justice Committee’s Rural Clerkship Program, which provides a stipend to law students who choose to work in rural areas throughout Mississippi.
Kezwick “Kez” Akon II, also a native of Cleveland and a graduate of Cleveland Central High School, is going into his senior year at Aurora University in Illinois where he majors in Political Science and public policy. A Captain on the Aurora University football team and president of the Black Student Union, Kez is looking to study law post graduation and possibly (hopefully) come back to the Delta to practice.
Brady and Kez have spent the summer assisting the lawyers at CLF in preparing motions, reviewing discovery, preparing jury instructions, going to jails, attending hearings and observing jury trials in Bolivar, Tunica, Coahoma, Tunica, Yalobusha, Leflore, Holmes, Quitman, and Washington Counties
Case Dismissed!
/After four and a half hours of preliminary hearings in Washington County today, attorneys at Carr Law Firm obtained a dismissal for their client on charges of Capital Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, and Participation in Street Gang Activity regarding a shooting on Nelson Street on July 3.
We work for justice. We get results!
Another Week Full of Client Results for the Team at Carr Law Firm!
/Attorney Mike Carr: Started his 9th felony jury trial of the year on Monday in Washington County defending a charge of Attempted Murder. After the first day, the State agreed to dismiss the Attempted Murder charge in exchange for a plea to 2 years of house arrest on a non-violent lesser charge. To add - later in the week before commencing a 3 count habitual offender Drug Trafficking trial in Coahoma County where his client was facing 178 years day for day jail time, Carr obtained a dismissal of the two counts of drug trafficking and then client plead on the third count to only Simple Possession of Cocaine.
Attorney Jessica Carr: Won a Not Guilty verdict in Southaven Municipal Court after a bench trial on the merits on a charge of simple assault. Later in the week, she obtained a dismissal of 4 counts of cyberstalking on behalf of a client in Quitman County Justice Court.
Attorney Meg Coker: working at our new Tunica Office, Meg successfully argued a bond reduction in Tunica Municipal Court on a First Degree Murder charge on a retained client which was reduced from $1M to $250k.
Brady Keeton: Last but not least, our 3rd year law student working under the Limited Practice Provisions of the Mississippi Bar, Brady obtained a dismissal of charges of Simple Assault and Simple Assault By Threat for two of our clients in
Lexington Municipal Court.
We work for justice. We get results!
Federal Civil Complaint Against Indianola Sgt. Gregory Capers Dismissed!
/Today, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Misssissippi dismissed all claims against the City of Indianola, Chief Ronald Sampson, and Sgt Gregory Capers in their official and individual capacities.
In a 29 page opinion released today, in summary the Court found that Plaintiff failed to sufficiently state claims for excessive force - and that our client, Sgt Capers, is entitled to qualified immunity (p. 22)
As attorneys for the Police Benevolent Association for the past 13 years, our firm zealously advocates for our law enforcement members across Mississippi in state and federal courts.
Attorney Michael S. Carr Appointed to Mississippi Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission
/Carr Law Firm is proud to announce that founding attorney Michael S. Carr has been appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission for 2024.
The mission of the Access to Justice Commission is to develop a unified strategy to improve access to justice in civil legal proceedings for the poor in Mississippi.
The Mississippi Access to Justice Commission is comprised of a diverse group of providers of civil legal assistance, business and community leaders, representatives of the three branches of state government, bar leaders, clergy, deans of the two Mississippi law schools, and members of the legal community.
CLF attorneys get results
/Carr Law Firm attorneys Jessica Carr and Meg Coker helped resolve matters for two clients in two counties on June 12.
In Southaven Municipal Court, Attorney Jessica Carr worked to successfully dismiss simple assault charges against her client.
In Tunica County Justice Court, Attorney Meg Coker’s client was found not guilty of simple assault and disturbing the peace at trial.
Carr Law Firm works in all levels of criminal courts to get the best results for our clients.
Felony jury trial results in conviction of lesser misdemeanor charge
/Carr Law Firm client charged with Aggravated Driving under the Influence causing Death is convicted by a Bolivar County Jury of the lesser included misdemeanor crime of Driving Under the Influence. The client was sentenced to one day in jail.
Carr Law Firm lead attorney, Mike Carr, secures another NOT GUILTY verdict!
/After a one day trial in Bolivar County Circuit Court, Carr Law Firm client, Jaqueze Marshall, was found not guilty of assault on a county jail officer.
Delta State Spring Semester Comes to a Close
/Finishing the year strong with our last lecture in week 14 teaching “Race, Civil Rights, and the Supreme Court”. For the past 5 years I have taught this class on Monday nights at Delta State University along with two other pre-law classes on Criminal Law and The Judicial Process. Time now to pass the torch to another adjunct to teach our next generation of leaders (and hopefully some future lawyers) as to how the Constitution impacts our lives every day.
Carr named Section Chair of New Criminal Defense Section of MS Bar
/Carr Law Firm is proud to announce that the Mississippi Board of Bar Commissioners has approved the creation of a new Section of the Bar: Criminal Defense. Over the past six months, our firm spearheaded the effort to get this Section created. We have reached out to our friends statewide to put together a Board of outstanding criminal defense attorneys in an effort to make this the best practice group within the Bar. You can be part of the inaugural group of members by joining the new Section when the Bar's annual enrollment opens August 1.
Two More NOT GUILTY Verdicts!
/CLF obtained TWO more Verdicts of Not Guilty last week in Tunica County. Client was charged with one count of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm; and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
All Criminal Charges Against IPD Sgt. Gregory Capers Dismissed!
/Starting in May 2023, Indianola Police Department Sgt. Gregory Capers received an incredible amount of negative media attention in state and national news regarding a shooting incident involving an 11 year old boy while in the line of duty. Sgt. Capers was placed on administrative leave from his job without pay, and criminal allegations were filed against him.
Knowing the facts were on his side, and thankfully trusting his attorneys fighting for his job and to clear his name, slowly the truth came out.
While it is awful in ANY situation for a child to get shot, we at Carr Law Firm can now announce all felony and misdemeanor criminal charges against Sgt. Capers have been dismissed.
Court of Appeals reverses Bolivar County Murder Conviction!
/
On March 5, 2024, the Mississippi Court of Appeals reversed a May 2022 first degree murder conviction of CLF client Jacqueze Marshall in Bolivar County. In a 14 page opinion with concurrences from all judges, the COA found that the trial court erred in forcing defense counsel to place certain individuals back on the jury that defense counsel challenged and stated race neutral reasons for doing so.
The new trial date will be set at a later date.
https://courts.ms.gov/images/Opinions/CO174462.pdf