Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Judge Wooten Frees Another Criminal

Hinds County Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten freed another violent criminal yesterday.  Darnell Turner is serving 45 years for strangling the mother of his child, shooting at her, and hanging her from a bridge. Of course, the thug appealed his sentence. He asked Judge Wooten to grant him a bond while he appeals his sentence.   The ever-so-gracious Circuit Court Judge ignored the Attorney General's objections and said yes, he could go home if he posted bond.  Turner made the $250,000 bond and is no longer in prison.

JJ posted the Attorney General's press release announcing Turner's conviction on September 21, 2017:

Also known as Darnell “Slick” Turner, he was sentenced to 45 years out of the maximum of 55 in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Turner was sentenced on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm (10 years), aggravated domestic violence (20 years), and shooting into an occupied vehicle (five years). He also received five years for using a gun during the aggravated assault and another five years for using a gun when he shot into the victim’s car. Additionally, a protective order by Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Weill, Sr. requires Turner to stay away from the victim, who is his child’s mother whom he beat up, hung over a bridge while strangling her, then returned to assault her more.

“I’m glad to see a person who has no respect for his own child’s mother put away not only from her, but others who could be in his path of violence,” said General Hood. “Domestic violence is a very serious offense, and to have Judge Weill recognize that through this sentencing should let other offenders know this violence will absolutely not be tolerated, and our office will prosecute it to the largest extent.”

Turner was found guilty by a Hinds County trial jury earlier this month on one count of each charge. He was arrested in April 2016 after being indicted for beating the then-22-year-old mother of one of his children, shooting into the car she was in, and dragging her to a bridge where he strangled her before suspending her over the railing. After Turner left the scene in the Washington Addition neighborhood in Jackson, he returned and assaulted a person who was trying to assist the initial victim. He then drove the mother of his child home while continuing to beat her.

The Attorney General’s Office received this case after Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith recused himself due to an admission in open court that he previously represented Turner and that Turner visited him in his home.

This case was investigated by the Jackson Police Department with assistance from Attorney General Investigators Larry Ware, Christopher Watkins and Jerry Spell. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Stan Alexander and Special Assistant Attorney General Patrick Beasley.


Gruesome details.  However, such details meant nothing to Judge Wooten.  She set his bond at $250,000.  If he posted bond, he is placed under house arrest and must wear ankle jewelry.  However, he can go to court, work, or church between 6 AM and 9 PM.

Turner is the second criminal Judge Wooten set free in a month.  She issued an appeal bond of $150,000 to  D'Angelo Morment.  He was convicted of aggravated assault in 2018.  Earlier post.

Attorney Dennis Sweet, III represented Turner.

Kingfish note: Dear Sista Rukiah, here is a volunteer for your Community Messenger program.








27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is there a constitutional provision in MS that allows the voters to impeach or remove a judge from office? That's where we are headed in Hinds County.

Anonymous said...

I was in court when this was heard. The victim was there and supported the request. There are set factors for making these decisions. Rules of procedure, case law, etc. Which factor did she err on? Or are you just looking for a Hinds County justice system headline?

Anonymous said...

I see the MS Bail Agents Assoc contributed to her campaign....

Anonymous said...

This is why the bail bondsmen's opposition to bail reform is disingenuous. They claim that bail protects public safety, but that's not necesarily the case. We should change the law to either 1 - allow people to be released pre-trial if there's no threat to public safety, 2 - impose conditions on release if there might be some threat to public safety, 3 - detain people pretrial if there's a clear threat to public safety. There should be no other option.

Anonymous said...

Does this surprise anyone? This is what the Jackson voter wants... remember that.

Anonymous said...

Is it the judge or Mississippi law that is in question?

Anonymous said...

Where did she get the bail money?

Anonymous said...

she woke-

Anonymous said...

@11:03 a.m. You really think the voters in Hinds County care to impeach her? She's already met the qualification of the majority of voters there - the amount of melatonin in her skin.

Anonymous said...

This is the justice the majority wants. Remember the "justice" handed out years ago by the old majority? Look, if you Chalkies don't like it you should move to Rankin or Madison.

Kingfish said...

So what? There is a reason Judges and prosecutors shouldn't listen to women begging for leniency for the guys who beat them up. Brian Clark's wife begged for leniency and supported his parole after he literally split her head wide open. Then there is of course, Heather Spencer. She paid for her mercy literally with her life.

People such as you are one of the main reasons why Mississippi is not a safe state for women.

Anonymous said...

Man Kingfish- I can't believe you approved the "chalkies" comment.

Anonymous said...

KF, I understand your point and believe that argument was made. But again...what factors under procedural rules or case law did the judge err on? The law allows for appeal bonds. So, the judge didn’t just make this up. Also, from what I know of this case Judge Weill messes it up so bad it will likely be reversed anyway.

Anonymous said...

12:34 The people in Hinds County are majority Democrats. That's their overwhelming preference. Yours is probably a different party. The amount of
"melatonin" in the skin would only affect the amount of sleep the judge might get. In your world that is probably not so important.

The amount of Melanin in a persons skin is far more important to you.

Anonymous said...

1234 you are part of the problem. The majority huh? How's that working out for yall in Jackson? Crime is rampant, no business prospects and population loss.... And you want to be racist with the "Chalkie" comment. Keep voting these people in, it will make the city a really cheap buy for some investor in the future.

Anonymous said...

You really think the voters in Hinds County care to impeach her? She's already met the qualification of the majority of voters there - the amount of melatonin in her skin.

She is doing exactly the will of the people who voted her in. They want all black criminals roaming free.

Anonymous said...

Turner was not only represented by Smith, he was rumored to be one of his henchmen. There will be a path of destruction once he is released.

Anonymous said...

Why can't one of these criminals kill a judge while on bond? Sounds severe, but would provide them with a graphic lesson as to how it hurts when they screw up. They will never learn anything as long as the criminals kill others while out on bond.

cholly said...

JJ's audience is growing. I see Chuck Schummer posted at 3:59.

Anonymous said...

Judge Wooten is a very capable and intelligent Judge, this post is reaching and seems to lack understanding about the judicial process.

If you want to do some real blogging about the law, you should pick apart some of these barbaric laws on the books, or shed a little light on the disproportionate sentencing in the Rankin/Madison district.

Anonymous said...

@7:47
NE Jackson resident here and I have known her since law school. She was an idiot even at that time. I'm sure now you will claim I'm a NE Jackson private school country club going white racist but I call them like I seee them. She's a total idiot and it's nothing to do with skin color. I can name 50 black female lawyers smarter and more qualified than her. It's just a fact. Your obviously related to her. Your certainly no lawyer.

Anonymous said...

747... that’s sarcasm right? You can’t be serious... can you? Judicial Process is lawyer speak for “I know more about the law than you” and “We can do what we want, peasants”

Kingfish said...

Because it's a good idea to let violent video games convicted criminals stay free on bond while they appeal.

Anonymous said...

The really sad part is she will get voted back in office

Anonymous said...

What deals are being made under the table as this makes no sense to release violent criminals after they post bond!

Anonymous said...

The Hinds County Judiciary is laughable. Literally the butt of all jokes at any gathering of lawmakers, lawyers and law enforcement.

Anonymous said...

Evidently the old wag about Judges that the majority are law school grads who couldn’t make it in private practice has a ring of truth.


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