"the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:5-6 (NIV)
Running off at the mouth could get mighty expensive for Steve Gaines after Goon Squad victim Michael Cory Jenkins sued the Rankin County Supervisor for defamation in Rankin County Circuit Court Monday.
The story begins on May 1, 2025 when Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey announced the county settled the lawsuit filed by Goon Squad victims Jenkins and Eddie Parker for $2.5 million.
The Sheriff and Rankin County power broker Irl Dean Rhodes held their "Good Ole Boy" breakfast at Cypress Pointe Lodge on May 3, 2025. The breakfast is a regular gathering of Rankin County politicos open to the public. Approximately 100 people attended the breakfast, including a reporter from Barksdale Today.
Politicians are allowed to address the crowd if they do desire and in this case, Gaines indeed desired to do so. Congratulating the Sheriff on the settlement, the Rankin County Supervisor said the Sheriff and his lawyer, Jason Dare:
This is the greatest attorney I've ever had any association with. He outperformed everything that I... he beat the pants off those guys - the dopers, the people that raped and doped your daughters. He beat their pants off. We came out of last week with the best settlement. We could have never even expected to come out of here like that.
It was all recorded and published by Barksdale Today. JJ opined at the time:
He made some other rather colorful comments as reported in the story. Hope Mr. Gaines has a nice homeowners insurance policy because he is definitely getting sued for defamation.
Gaines tried to walk back his comments a few days later with a statement issued to WAPT:
I’ve recently been accused of singling out two individuals during a speech where I spoke about a wide range of issues facing Rankin County. The speech was over 22 minutes long and touched on many topics, including law enforcement and citizen safety. I want to be clear that my comments were not aimed at anyone personally, and I did not name any individuals," Gaines said in the statement. "Law enforcement and safety in Rankin County are topics of deep concern to me because much of my career has been dedicated to protecting the safety and wellbeing of our community. I take my role as supervisor very seriously, and I strive to serve each and every Rankin County citizen in my district. If there was any confusion, I want to clarify that my focus — then and now — is supporting the ongoing efforts by law enforcement in Rankin County to keep our community safe and strong.
JJ's little prediction proved to be true this week when Jenkins sued Gaines. The complaint states:
13. On May 3, 2025, Defendant Gaines spoke at a sheriff-associated public breakfast attended by approximately 100 individuals, including news media, who reported his comments widely. 14. During this event, Defendant Gaines, referencing the attorney who litigated the County's defense, and the Plaintiffs [Jenkins and Parker] in that case, stated: "He beat the pants off of those guys - the dopers, the people that raped and doped your daughters." 15. Defendant made this statement in reference to Plaintiffs of the civil suit and their recent settlement. 16. The statement accused Plaintiff Jenkins of committing rape and other serious crimes. 17. At the time Gaines' statement was made, Plaintiff Jenkins had never been charged with or convicted of any criminal offense. 18. Defendant knew the statements were false or acted recklessly without regard for their truth.
The news media, including WAPT and this website, reported the comments.
The complaint charges Gaines with defamation and false light invasion of privacy. Jenkins seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Jenkins probably suffered the worst injuries among the Goon Squad victims. One deputy shot him in the mouth while another raped him with a dildo after beating and tasing Jenkins. For his trouble, the deputies planted drugs on the plaintiff and charged him.
The case is assigned to Rankin County Circuit Judge Bradley Mills. Attorney Trent Walker represents Jenkins.
11 comments:
You can’t fix stupid!
Good ole boys win in court if not dismissed . Plaintiffs' lawyers need to get it far away from Rankin to have a chance.
Seems a few anal sphincter muscles may be a tad bit tight within some Rankin County circles today.
Gaines should have just gone old school and called him a thespian.
Poor rankin just can’t help themselves
Momma always said,” Stupid is as stupid does.” Still angers me that Sheriff Bryan Bailey walked away from all the “Goon Squad” evil unscathed.
"The Mississippi Court of Appeals has reversed a judge’s ruling that Rankin County deputies bore no blame for the 2021 death of Damien Cameron after witnesses said one deputy sat on Cameron’s back while another kneeled on his neck.
In a ruling Tuesday, the appeals court revived the civil lawsuit and sent it back to Rankin County Circuit Court."
https://mississippitoday.org/2026/05/05/appeals-court-rankin-county-damien-cameron-death/
6:34 Thank you for that update. They should be held accountable, as should Sheriff Bryan Bailey, for all the wrong he helped cover up, and the wrong he did. From what I could find, the Department of Justice is still investigating The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department.
'walk it back' i find that to be real chicken#@&.........translation .....he said it but he didn't say it.
As I posted at the time, Bryan Bailey and Steve Gaines both should have done the right thing and resigned. What have their collective mouths/actions cost other Rankin County taxpayers and me in dollars?
If they collect, Phil Bryant wins in a walk.
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