Daily Journal

CORINTH – An Alcorn County nurse practitioner turned herself into authorities Friday.

Tami Bivens-Johnson, 55, of Corinth, was recently indicted by an Alcorn County Grand Jury on three counts of felonious Medicaid fraud. According to the charges, Bivens-Johnson presented fraudulent claims for more than $3,200 in Medicaid benefits.

The first count alleges consultations done over the phone but billed as office visits. The other two counts are for claims filed for services while she was out of state.

She faces 15 years in prison and $150,000 in fines if convicted. Her bond was set at $10,000 and she waived her arraignment.

E. STANFORD

W. STANFORD

By Ray Van Dusen

Monroe Journal

Authorities are still searching for two subjects wanted in connection to a grand larceny case in Smithville earlier this week.

According to Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell, Tiffany Chyanne Swartz, 24, was arrested and charged with grand larceny and breaking and entering of a building.

Authorities are still searching for Willie and Ethan Stanford as persons of interest in the case.

The incident occurred at 60032 McKenzie Road in Smithville. Smithville Hardware owner Allen Duncan was the victim of the robbery.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of the two subjects is asked to contact the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office at 369-2468.

BAIN

By William Moore

Daily Journal

TUPELO – Former pharmacist and ex-Lee County school board member Jim Bain has petitioned a federal court to end his probation almost a year early.

Bain, 62, pleaded guilty in December 2013 to selling the painkiller hydrocodone without a prescription. He faced up to 10 years in prison. Instead, he was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock to six months in prison, two years probation and fines and restitution of more than $10,000.

Bain entered the federal correctional institution in Forrest City, Arkansas, in June 2014. The Federal Bureau of Prisons says he was released on Dec. 19, 2014.

After serving about 54 weeks of two years supervised release, Bain filed a motion in federal court in Aberdeen on Jan. 4 asking that his probation end early. Two days later, the case was shifted from Aycock’s court to U.S. District Court Judge Glen Davidson.

There is no time frame for the court to take action on the motion.

Bain owned an independent pharmacy on North Gloster across from Milam school. He sold the pharmacy in 2011, but continued to work for the new owners. Bain was elected to the Lee County School Board in November 2010. He resigned from the school board abruptly and without explanation in March 2012.

It was later learned that Bain was recorded on video in January 2012 selling hydrocodone to undercover federal agents on the pharmacy premises after hours. He surrendered his pharmacist’s license the following month.

william.moore@journalinc.com

ABBOTT

JOSHLIN

LONG

By Ray Van Dusen

Monroe County Journal

ABERDEEN – Monroe County narcotics agents arrested an Alabama couple and a Monroe County man over the weekend on drug charges.

Christina Ann Abbott, 40, and Clinton Matthew Joshlin, 35, both of Carbon Hill, Alabama, and Dustin A. Long, 29, Aberdeen, were arrested by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office as the result of traffic stops and each charged with possession of controlled substance.

Long was arrested Friday on Highway 278, and Abbott and Joshlin were arrested on Lake Lilly Road in Prairie.

Long was bonded on a $15,000 bond. Abbott and Joshlin, who were arrested Saturday, are currently in the Monroe County Detention Center awaiting arraignment.

By Joyce Brock

Southern Sentinel

RIPLEY – The Tippah County Sheriff’s Department has been working to get crystal methamphetamine off the streets in the county, making 23 arrests since October.

According to Investigator Chris McCallister, deputies have seized approximately 130 grams of the drug during those 23 arrests. Most individuals arrested had amounts that suggested personal use. Some suspects had more, up to 30 or 50 grams in some cases.

The drug sells for around $100 a gram, according to McCallister, making the amount seized worth approximately $13,000 at street value. In addition, deputies have seized aproximately $3,500 in cash and seven vehicles in methamphetamine-related arrests since October.

McCallister said arrests related to labs and locally produced crystal methamphetamine were once more frequent. Now, law enforcement are seeing more arrests related to an imported variety of the drug, known colloquially as “Ice.” Officers don’t see as much use of once-popular drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, with “meth” being the high-use drug in the area.

The crystal methamphetamine problem isn’t just limited to Tippah County, he says. Arrests related to the drug are numerous around the region. Drugs seem to vary in popularity from region to region. In counties where this drug isn’t as much of a problem, other drugs such as heroine or cocaine are more prevalent. Despite a number of reports citing increased use of heroine in the state, that doesn’t seem to be a problem here. McCallister says the sheriff’s department hasn’t had any heroine related arrests.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have released a number of reports on methamphetamine as a drug of abuse.

“The consequences of methamphetamine abuse are terrible for the individual – psychologically, medically, and socially,” said Nora D.Volkow, M.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse in a letter published on their website. “Abusing the drug can cause memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior, damage to the cardiovascular system, malnutrition and severe dental problems. Methamphetamine abuse has also been shown to contribute to increased transmission of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.

“Beyond its devastating effects on individual health, methamphetamine abuse threatens whole communities, causing new waves of crime, unemployment, child neglect or abuse and other social ills.”

According to the website, “the most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction at this point are behavioral therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral and contingency-management interventions.”

That may be good news for those who are arrested for methamphetamine who are addicted to the substance. There are a number of sentencing options given to those arrested for possession of the drug. Long-term alcohol and drug treatment, though, is often a part of the sentence.

The individuals arrested in Tippah County since October have not yet been tried. Those cases are scheduled to go to a grand jury for indictment in April.

joyce.brock@journalinc.com

By Ray Van Dusen

Monroe Journal

Four men have been arrested and charged in two separate burglaries in Monroe County.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested Steven Hughes, of Aberdeen, and Michael Harrington. The two were charged with burglary of a dwelling on Little Coontail Road in Aberdeen.

Stolen items included guns and two televisions.

The MCSO also arrested Jonathan McCollum and George McCollum, both of Amory. The two were charged with burglary of a residence on Pearce Chapel road in Smithville. The crime happened last week, and the two are accused of stealing an iPod docking station and a dorm room refrigerator.

Both men are on probation with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

CONWILL

Monroe Journal

A Facebook post has landed a Hamilton man in jail.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Robert Skylar Conwill of Hamilton was arrested Jan. 8 and charged with posting an injurious message to the Internet.

This is a felony with a punishment of up to 5 years in prison.

Conwill allegedly posted harmful pictures and messages of another person without their permission onto Facebook, according to the MCSO.

ADAMS

Daily Journal

TUPELO – A Tupelo man has been charged with child molestation.

Zachary T. Adams, 18, was arrested on Jan. 7 and is charged with molesting or touching a child for lustful purposes. The arrest came after an investigation of the allegations.

His bond was set at $25,000 by Lee County Justice Court Judge Sadie Holland.

STARKVILLE (AP) – Starkville aldermen have unanimously decided to fire a Starkville Police Department officer.

The Commercial Dispatch reports the aldermen made the decision to fire Jeremy Akins during a Monday meeting with Police Chief Frank Nichols. Akins and attorney Lydia Quarles weren’t present.

Disciplinary reports state Nichols recommended the termination because of how Akins reacted to being placed on administrative leave. According to a Dec. 1 report, Akins became angry and used abusive language after learning of the suspension.

A Nov. 24 report states Akins was suspended because he confronted people at gunpoint, used disruptive language and his body camera was not activated during a Nov. 23 detention.

Akins said Nichols told him he followed proper procedure during the detention. He also challenged some of the report’s accusations.

BAIN

Daily Journal

TUPELO – Former pharmacist and ex-Lee County school board member Jim Bain is free after serving about half of his court-ordered two-year probation.

Citing no objection by the U.S. Probation Services or the U.S. Attorney, District Judge Glen Davidson terminated Bain’s supervised release Tuesday afternoon.

Bain, 62, pleaded guilty in December 2013 to selling the painkiller hydrocodone without a prescription. He faced up to 10 years in prison. Instead, he was sentenced to six months in prison, two years probation and fines and restitution of more than $10,000.

Bain served his time in the federal correctional institution in Forrest City, Arkansas. He was released on Dec. 19, 2014. After serving about 54 weeks of two years supervised release, Bain filed a motion in federal court in Aberdeen on Jan. 4 asking that his probation end early.

By Ray Van Dusen

Monroe Journal

ABERDEEN – A man has been arrested in connection to a deadly shooting at an apartment complex on Wednesday.

Charles Courtney Thompson, 41, was found at a residence in Aberdeen. He is accused of fatally shooting Troy Weaver, 50, of Aberdeen, according to Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Randle. Weaver’s oldest son, Everett Morgan, was also shot and was airlifted to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.

Randle says Morgan is awake and talking and expected to make a full recovery.

Thompson is expected to be charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon by a felon. He has a previous record with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

The shooting occurred Wednesday morning at the Cullum Apartments on Commerce Street, and authorities were soon in search of Thompson. According to Buzzy Cullum, who owns the apartment complex, Weaver was a longtime tenant of the apartment and never had any troubles with the law.

Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley said that Weaver appears to have died from a single gunshot wound. The body is being transported to the State Crime Lab in Pearl, and an autopsy is expected to be performed Thursday morning.

By William Moore

Daily Journal

TUPELO – With the new year and people contemplating tax season, law enforcement officials are seeing a new wave of calls about an old phone scam.

“We have been bombarded recently by people getting calls from people claiming they are with the Internal Revenue Service saying they owe back taxes,” said Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson. “I think it is because it is tax season, but people need to remember, the IRS doesn’t work that way.”

The scammer calls people saying they owe back taxes in an attempt to extort money or gain personal banking information. The scam artists can have some personal information and can be either persuasive or demanding.

“They have been targeting people with multiple properties, saying they haven’t paid the back taxes on a certain parcel and they won’t get their refund unless they pay up,” Johnson said. “That information can be looked up on the Internet.”

In most cases, the calls do not originate from this area or even this country. Some scams have electronic equipment that make the call appear to come from the state or even a governmental office. It is difficult for law enforcement to prosecute these cases.

“If you can get a phone number from them, we can pass that information along to the FBI,” Johnson said. “The best advice I can give is that if someone calls and says they are with the IRS, don’t send them any money.”

To report a scam, call the sheriff’s office at (662) 841-9040.

According to the IRS, there are five easy ways to spot suspicious calls.

The IRS will never:

• Call and demand immediate payment, nor will they call about back taxes without first having mailed a bill.

• Demand payment without giving you a chance to appeal the amount.

• Require a specific payment method, such as a prepaid debit card.

• Ask for credit card, debit card or bank account numbers over the phone.

• Threaten to bring in local police to have you arrested for non-payment.

william.moore@journalinc.com

VASSER

By Ray Van Dusen

Monroe Journal

AMORY – An Aberdeen man is in jail after allegedly trying to run from police.

On Tuesday, officers with the Amory Police Department were at Walmart following up on a previous case. While there, Jatarvis Vasser, 24, of Aberdeen, pulled up in a vehicle where the officer was standing and exited the vehicle, according to the APD.

There was a strong smell of marijuana, so officers made contact. When the controlled substance was located, officers attempted to make an arrest. Vasser resisted, broke free and ran on foot around the building.

Officers gave chase through the parking lot, and Vasser was caught behind AT&T.

Vasser is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute enhanced. There was 6.5 grams of ICE (meth), marijuana, an assault rifle and more than $1,000 seized.

His bond was set at $50,000 by Monroe County Justice Court Judge Kevin Crook.

THOMPSON

By Ray Van Dusen

Monroe Journal

Bond was set Thursday at $1 million for Charles Thompson, 40, of Aberdeen, who was arrested on Wednesday and charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of weapon by a felony.

The charges are in relation to a shooting at Cullum Apartments that left one man dead and sent another to the hospital.

Thompson is currently being held in the Monroe County Detention Center.

On Wednesday, Troy Weaver, 50, was fatally shot at the apartment complex, and his son, Everett Morgan, was also shot but is expected to make a full recovery.

Daily Journal

JACKSON – The Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled that a woman has the right to sue Corinth after her house was twice flooded with sewage in 2012.

Alesa Crum’s house was filled a foot deep with sewage in late March 2012. Root growth in the sewer line was determined to be the cause. About five weeks later, the sewage overflowed again into the house.

She sued in Alcorn Circuit Court in October 2012, saying her house was irreparably damaged as a result of Corinth’s negligence. In November 2013, the court ruled that maintenance of the sewer system was a discretionary function and the city was immune from the lawsuit.

Crum appealed to the state supreme court in November 2013. On Thursday, the high court reversed that decision and remanded the case back to circuit court. No date has been set for the trial.

STANFORD

STAFFORD

By Ray Van Dusen

Monroe Journal

Two suspects wanted in connection to a burglary in Smithville last week have been located and arrested in West Virginia, according to Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell.

“We had them on NCIC (a national crime database) and found them in West Virginia,” Cantrell said. “It alerts all police agencies throughout the United States. We pick up people like that, too. Any time you have a fleeing felon, it goes to other agencies. It’s a good thing to let agencies know these people could be dangerous.”

Willie Stafford and Ethan Stanford have been sought by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office since last week in connection to a robbery at 60032 McKenzie Road in Smithville. Tiffany Swartz has already been charged with burglary and a dwelling and grand larceny in the case.

Cantrell didn’t have details surrounding the capture of Stafford and Stanford, but suspects it was due to a traffic stop. He expects the two to be charged with burglary of a dwelling and grand larceny and possibly face additional charges.

Deputies will drive to West Virginia today or Saturday to pick up the pair and transport them back to Monroe County to formally be charged.

ARMSTRONG

Daily Journal

OXFORD – A Calhoun County man was arrested in Oxford on Thursday on felony domestic violence charges.

According to the Oxford Police Department, officers responded to a call Thursday where a female said she had been assaulted and strangled. Investigators arrested Eric Armstrong, 26, of Bruce and charged him with domestic violence-aggravated assault.

He was arraigned and bond was set at $5,000.

HENRY

Daily Journal

STARKVILLE – A man already in the Oktibbeha County Jail now faces additional charges.

Starkville Police on Thursday charged Dennis Henry, 57, with burglary of a residence and possession of stolen property. Officials say the burglary occurred on Hogan Street.

Henry was arrested on Dec. 18 by SPD and charged with possession of a stolen firearm, auto burglary and two outstanding warrant.

Bond has not been set on the new charges.

HOLLY SPRINGS (AP) – One of two Marshall County men found shot on a rural road has died, while the other remains in critical condition.

Marshall County Coroner James Anderson said 34-year-old Jamon Moton and 31-year-old Will A. Phillips were found on a road northwest of Holly Springs Friday night by a passing motorist.

Marshall County Sheriff Kenny Dickerson said Phillips died where he was found late Friday night. Moton was taken by helicopter to Regional Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Dickerson said it’s doubtful that Moton will survive his injuries.

Each man was shot once in the head. Anderson said it’s unclear if the men were shot on the road. He said a considerable amount of blood was found on Moore Road.

Phillips is from a rural area of the county between Holly Springs and Red Banks. Dickerson said Moton splits his time between Holly Springs and Corinth.

Dickerson said one of the men borrowed a black Dodge Charger found burned about three miles from where the men were found on another rural road. Dickerson said sheriff’s deputies believe at least one additional man was in the car, and is looking for him. He said the shootings may be related to prior investigations of crimes in the county.

Anderson said Phillips’ body will be taken to the Mississippi State Crime Lab in Pearl for an autopsy.

Oxford Citizen

OXFORD – The Oxford Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that took place Saturday at approximately 5:12 a.m. at the Regions Bank ATM.

The victim was approached by a black male who came from behind the bank. He was wearing dark clothing and had a red bandana over his face. As he approached he pointed a weapon at the victim and demanded money. He was given money and then he fled the scene.

Oxford police are working with the bank to gather photos of the incident.

If you have any information, contact them at (662)232-2400 or CrimeStoppers at (662) 234-8477.