Former MHP Trooper Todd Cox was sentenced to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to aggravated domestic violence and felony evasion on November 9 in Rankin County Circuit Court.
Upon arrival, I spoke with Katie Cox who advised her husband Richard Todd Cox punched her in the stomach while outside at the front door causing her to fall over the bushes. Once they got into the master bedroom Mr. Cox hit Mrs. Cox in the head, kicked her and choked her until she almost passed out. Mrs. Cox had a bruise on the right leg, redness on her neck and had bleed from the nose. The bed cover had blood in several spots on it. Mr. Cox was already gone upon arrival. Mr. Cox is driving a Silver 2020 Chevrolet Silverado bearing MS tag xxxxxx. Mr. Cox does a key to Mrs. Cox's vehicle. Mrs. Cox was able to provide a voluntary written statement. Reservoir Fire Department and Pafford was requested. Mrs. Cox went with Pafford Ambulance Services to St. Dominic's Hospital for treatment. Investigator B. Smith was notified of the situation. Photos of the injuries were taken and sent to Investigator B. Smith.
Unfortunately, trouble seemed to follow Cox. JJ reported on November 1:
Cox allegedly and hurriedly sped down Castlewoods Boulevard, flying through the stop sign at Meadowview Ridge in front of a deputy on June 2. The deputy gave chase but Cox sped up, ignoring more stop signs as he "swerved in and out of traffic." The chase continued on Lakeland Drive but ended at the Highway 471 exit when the defendant finally pulled over. He got out of the vehicle with his hands on top of his head and was compliant. The police report states Cox reeked of alcohol. Deputies obtained a search warrant and transported Cox to the hospital where a blood sample was drawn.
The poor man's version of a Smokey & The Bandit chase ended in Cox's arrest for felony fleeing, disregard for traffic device, reckless driving, and DUI.
Cox's problems continued when deputies arrested him again on Halloween and charged him with witness tampering. The victim emailed a request to drop the charges to the District Attorney. The victim's October 25 statement for the witness tampering charges alleges:
Cox kept on and on ask/telling me to go to the DA and try to get them to drop charges. He wanted me to say that nothing happened and I take back my original statement the night he was arrested for the domestic. Todd said if I did so he would settle w/me on our divorce and not tell anyone we had been in contact. So after feeling like I had no other choice, I emailed Leslie, say I did not want to have anything else with this case and I did not want him to go to jail.
Rankin County Court Judge David Morrow denied bond for Cox at his initial appearance. Whether Judge Morrow granted him bond did not matter because Circuit Judge Dewey Arthur revoked his bond for the two indictments.
Judge Morrow held a preliminary hearing for Cox on November 8 that provided more information on the witness tampering arrest. The video of the hearing is posted below (That is good ole Cheyenne Smith sitting on the front row of prisoners.).
RCSO Investigator Bradley Smith took the stand. Assistant District Attorney Gregory Miles questioned Smith. He said the victim emailed the District Attorney on October 5, stating she did not want to pursue the domestic violence charges. She appeared at the District Attorney's office a week later and said the email was not true. Cox met with the victim and allegedly told her he would agree to a divorce settlement if she dropped the charges.
Cox attorney Derek Hall didn't let the investigator leave the stand without a vigorous cross-examination. Smith admitted he did not speak to the victim. Investigator Fred Lubbock (sp?) took her statement. Hall asked Smith if he knew Cox's wife had been pursuing him for several month for continuing the marriage. Smith said he was unaware of such behavior on the part of the victim. Hall said she met with her husband "on numerous occasions voluntarily." Smith said he knew about the meetings but "they didn't look into it." He said although Cox was subject to the restraining order, it was legal for the victim to contact Cox. The District Attorney's office conceded at the bond revocation hearing the contact between the parties was mutual.
The cross-examination continued as Hall politely but tightened the screws a little more. He asked if Smith knew the couple had "marital relations" in May, June, July, and August. The investigator said it would not have a bearing on the witness tampering charge. Hall elicited an admission that the investigators never spoke to Cox or his lawyer about the charge. Smith said it was pretty tough to investigate the charge since it already occurred.
Judge Morrow said there was sufficient evidence to bind Cox over to the grand jury. He declined to address the issue of bond for Cox since his bond was already revoked on the indictments.
However, the issue of bonds and witness tampering soon became moot as Cox suddenly pleaded guilty the next day in Rankin County Circuit Court.
Judge Arthur accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Cox to serve 20 years in prison for aggravated domestic violence but suspended 17 years of the sentence. He sentenced Cox to serve 5 years in prison for felony evasion but suspended two years of the sentence. Cox will serve a five year term of probation upon release from prison.
The witness tampering charge was dismissed as part of the plea bargain.
Kingfish note: Cox will probably see freedom after serving 50% of the sentence. Law enforcement sources said the victim was not exactly cooperative, thus weakening the case.
27 comments:
Not surprised with this blessing. Police officers are the law. The judge can’t risk sending a message that suggests otherwise. Suspending 90% of his sentence, sure why not? He‘s only a violent drunk power tripping asshole, why not show him some leniency.
Like I said, uncooperative witness. Remember those softball coaches in Ridgeland only getting five years? Problem was the victim was brainwashed and wouldn't cooperate. So they had to go for a plea deal. That is the major problem in abuse cases when strong medical evidence, correspondence, and video evidence do not exist.
Isn't it amazing how fast cases move thru the court system in Rankin County as compared with Hinds County?! This POS would have waited years for his case to go to court if he had committed the crime in Hinds.
Comments stating that former cops don't do well in prison in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
I back the black and blue wives of Mississippi police officers. Never understood why they are held to a lower standard when the break the law, should be the opposite. Shameful sentencing from this joke of a judge.
Not really. He decided to plead guilty the day after the prelim. Things usually move pretty quickly, even in Hinds County, when that happens. ;-)
This is the same officer from this post, correct? http://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2019/01/dps-reversed-on-trooper-firing.html
Can he be tried for perjury as well since he obviously lied to keep his job in that case.
No wonder so many Rankin county people are moving to Jackson!!!!
If you or your partner don’t want each other please go your separate ways. If you have kids be cordial and make an exit as fast as possible.
My prayers are with the kids, this is so sad!
do you think he has questioned how he screwed his life up so bad? From a Trooper (and I think most are good) to a inmate in one short incident.
11:48. Steroids and booze
MHP still the shit. One reason to try and become one, getting off easy for crimes and misbehavior.
11:27
They don’t have kids together. The victim has the mentality of a child. Cox stole her from his best friend, another trooper. She’s a real class act.
What a joke of a sentence. Violent assault, evading, tampering and this coward will be free in a year or so! Rankin Co handing out blessin’s. Weak judge. I have a friend that got charged with felony evasion in stankin county for outrunning a deputy 10 yrs ago. They gave him 5 years with 3 to serve for that one offense with no prior felonies. They also classified him as C custody (max security) which meant no chance to go to a private facility or no trustee status and considered him a flight risk since his charge was evasion. Bet they won’t do that to this fortunate asshole. He’ll be in protective custody with a tv, cell phone etc.
11:27 She is a child! What are they 20 years apart? That’s taking advantage of a young woman. Also, there are no circumstances that call for a woman to be beat. Period! Class Act or not! We have choices in choosing our spouses and if they turn out crazy either love them for who they are or leave. Don’t try and change them by beating them!
So the victim is brainwashed if she is the one contacting him and Spent every night in September with him????? I’ve seen on many occasions where they were arguing .. and she just started hitting him and slapping him in public. He did nothing to retaliate. In her own words .. she said she can hit a man if she wants to and they should sit there and take it. That’s one of the problems with this case is she is just as guilty but he gets the punishment.
Why on earth would he choose to remain in a relationship with her then 8:25?
I will never understand why men seek out these nut jobs.
If she is hitting him and telling him that she thinks its acceptable.
Why didn't he leave her alone?
Both of them sound like ridiculous children.
@ 820 I totally agree .. sometimes the wildest craziest women are the ones we hold on to the most. It’s like an addiction in some ways I guess. I’ve certainly dated my share of crazy women but if one hit me at all … I sent her packing .. I don’t put up with it .. but I know the girl he was married too and she used to beat her ex husband up too. She needs counseling, rehab and jail time herself.
Don't. YOU. PEOPLE. DARE!!! try to place ANY blame on his wife. This is his 2nd wife, and he did the same to his 1st wife. In front of their children! He is a physical abuser and an emotional abuser. The women are in no way to blame.
I find some of your comments to be disgusting and shameful. I guess I’m talking to those of you that probably get drunk on Saturday night, beat your wives then go to church on Sunday and think all is forgiven. Maybe this young lady didn’t handle herself with grace but NONE of you know what happened behind their closed doors. As a caregiver of women who are abused, I can tell you that there are women that cower down to their abusers then there are women that fight back and most of the time they end up looking like the crazy one because their abuser is very good at manipulating every situation to come out on top. This man is an abuser. He abused both of his wives. Those are the facts. He also abused his authority and position as a law enforcement officer. Obviously he and his attorneys recognized he wasn’t going to be able to lie or manipulate his way out of this one. He pleaded guilty because he’s guilty. He’s in prison. Let it go and let this young lady try to recover and heal from the hell that she’s most likely been living.
10:48
But we DO know what happened behind closed doors because he videoed it and some of us have seen it. See the problem is some of us posting on here actually know these people and know what happened. Then there are people like you who just want to run your suckhole.
10:22 I’m guessing you’re a good friend of Todd’s so your comment is not surprising. Sounds like you too might be under his control or spell, just like his ex-wives were. There are several of us that have seen the videos as well. But we also know he is a master manipulator, con and liar and always makes himself look squeaky clean. Do you really think he’s going to video himself choking and beating the hell out of his wife?? Wow, hope you can see the light. If not, good luck to ya.
10:22 That’s really classy. What a loser.
This page is just like cnn…won’t allow things to be posted that are facts.
Guess you stop posting the messages when you get your point across and don’t allow for the truth to be told.. just wondering … prove me wrong !!!!!
So much for 3 years. Word is he will be released today.
He laughed being in prison. He said he had people on payroll doing his stuff. He is not sorry, I dated his friend. He should have got the max and his friend I dated was arrested for putting his hands on me. PSA to anyone that is affiliated with him …RUN!
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