Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued the following statement.
Attorney
General Lynn Fitch released the following statement following the
sentencing of the Rankin Six (6) in Rankin County Circuit Court this
morning:
“The
actions of these six men did grave harm to these two victims, Michael
Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker, and violated the trust of all the
citizens they swore to protect. These former officers also violated the
trust of the other men and women who honorably wear the uniform - every
one of whom will feel the repercussions of the mistrust they sowed
between law enforcement and the people. These criminal acts make a
difficult job even harder and far more dangerous. And it is left to us
all to commit ourselves to repairing that damage.
“Today’s
sentencing marks the culmination of fifteen months of model cooperation
between our Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Together we worked to ensure
justice for these victims in a horrific case of abuse. I am grateful to
all the dedicated investigators and prosecutors who worked with us to
get to this point where we can begin healing as a community in earnest. I
would also like to thank Rankin County Circuit Court Judge Steven
Ratliff for his professionalism from the bench in this very high-profile
case.”
The
Attorney General’s Office worked closely with the U.S. Attorney’s
Office on the global plea deal in this matter. Mississippi Deputy
Attorney General Mary Helen Wall was deputized last year as a Special
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the federal case and led the prosecution of
the state case, which was investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of
Investigation.
The
state charges, filed last August, and sentences, ordered today, which
will run concurrently with the federal sentences as part of our global
plea agreement, are as follows:
Former
Rankin County Sheriff Deputy Hunter Elward was charged with Aggravated
Assault, Home Invasion, and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of
Justice/Hinder Prosecution and received 20 years to serve.
Former
Rankin County Sheriff Narcotics Investigator Christian Dedmon was
charged with Home Invasion and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of
Justice/Hinder Prosecution and received 20 years to serve.
Former
Rankin County Sheriff Chief Investigator Brett McAlpin was charged with
Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and
Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution and
received 15 years to serve.
Former
Rankin County Sheriff Lieutenant Jeffrey Middleton was charged with
Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and
Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution and
received 15 years to serve.
Former
Rankin County Sheriff Deputy Daniel Opdyke was charged with Obstruction
of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree and Conspiracy to
Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder Prosecution and received 15 years
to serve.
Former
Richland Police Department Narcotics Investigator Joshua Hartfield was
charged with Obstruction of Justice/Hindering Prosecution in the First
Degree and Conspiracy to Commit Obstruction of Justice/Hinder
Prosecution and received 10 years to serve.
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