Story
Cover
DA Files: What the Heck is ‘Ex Parte’?
A common denominator in the myriad of charges Attorney General Jim Hood has leveled against Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith is his alleged use of “ex parte communications.”
Story
[FLY] Guys: How to Be ‘Indy'
The Indiana Jones theme has become nearly as iconic as the film's protagonist himself. At the sound of the lively Raider's March cadence, one can't help but conjure images of …
Story
Crime
Hinds DA Seeks to Block Abuse, Drug Testimony As Trial Moves Forward
The Mississippi Supreme Court denied Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith's appeal this morning.
Story
Crime
In DA Case, Former Mayor Danks Challenges AG's Right to Empanel Grand Jury
Former Jackson Mayor Dale Danks Jr., the attorney for Assistant District Attorney Jamie McBride, is challenging the attorney general's authority to ask a Hinds County grand jury to indict him …
Story
Crime
Attorney General: DA Smith Is 'Mistaken' In Appeal to State Supreme Court
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's office says Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith is "mistaken" about claims that the attorney general "exceeded the scope of his authority" by prosecuting …
Story
[Jacktown] Money Talks, Money Walks
I've been traveling a bit, but I'm back to give you guys the latest goings-on of hip-hop throughout our fine nation. To begin with, lawyers for civil rights legend Rosa …
Story
Person of the Day
Da Chief
At a crowded house party in 1994, full of teenagers and loud, blistering music, two things were happening: dancing and a rap battle. That was the first opportunity for Alex …
Story
City & County
The District Attorney's Mistrial: What Just Happened? A Day-by-Day Primer
The Mississippi attorney general's prosecution of Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith for conspiracy to hinder prosecution in order to aid or assist a defendant ended in a mistrial …
Story
Crime
UPDATED: Darnell Turner Gets 45 Years, Judge Brings Up DA Smith
The young woman who accused Darnell Turner of beating her, dragging her, strangling her, shooting at her car, and dangling her off a bridge in the Washington Addition when she …
Story
Food
Down Home at Da Shak Grill
Frederick Terry, who is the owner and chef at Da Shak Grill in Bryam, started learning how to cook around the age of 16.
Story
Crime
DOSSIER: Incoming DA Faces Accusations, NBC's Tentacles in Mississippi
Multiple women are accusing Jody Owens, who won the Democratic primary and faces no challenger in November, of inappropriate and sexual behavior and comments from his time as the managing …
Entry
Why Did Johnny Lee Butts Die?
By R.L. NaveJohnny Lee Butts went out for his regular morning walk on July 22, 2012 and never came home. That morning, a car struck and killed Butts; later police arrested a couple of teenagers for the crime.
In a recent report, CNN shed new light on what happened that morning . According to statements by two of the passengers-- a teenager and a man named Tony Hopper Jr.-- the passengers and unnamed driver of the car spotted a man walking. Here's an exchange from the grand jury indictment, according to CNN:
We see a walker on the side of the road. The complete left side of the road while we are on the complete right side of the road," the unidentified teen told a police lieutenant. "And I pointed out to say, 'watch out there is a walker there...'" The unnamed teen continued his story: "Whit slightly turns the steering wheel and I saw him. 'Watch out, don't do nothing stupid' and then he just keep turning the steering wheel and eventually before we knew it he ran him straight over." "He didn't slow down," Hopper said in a statement to a deputy sheriff. The deputy asked: "He never hit his brakes?" Hopper replied: "No sir." "Do you think he hit him on purpose?" asked the deputy. "Yes, sir, I do," said Hopper.
The driver is white; Butts was African American. However, the Panola County District Attorney John Champion (he is also the DA for DeSoto County) opted to not seek hate crime charges in the case.
Donny Butts, the victims brother wants to know why. He told CNN "That's the only reason they ran him over because he was black. Point blank."
The Butts family is considering filing a wrongful death suit, which may be the only way for the full truth to come out.
Story
City & County
DA Smith Wins on One Count, But Passes on 'Whistleblower' Bad Check Claims
The trial against Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen wound up on Feb. 7, even as the woman who landed him there remained conspicuously absent from the courtroom.
Story
Cover
The 2009 JFP Interview With Faye Peterson
Faye Peterson dropped out of the Jackson mayoral race last week, though some joke she more likely dived out the window just to get away from the crowd.
Story
Cover
2015 Artist to Watch: Tlo da Champ
Growing up, music was a constant for Jackson-based hip-hop artist Tony Lofton, known to fans as Tlo da Champ.
Document
McDonald Letter to DA Smith
McDonald letter to DA Smith
Story
DA Alleges Racism; Former DA Weighs In
Even as Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith is alleging racism in the Hinds County Justice system, his African American predecessor says that it was her job to find a …
Document
DA Smith Motion to Stay
DA Smith's Motion to Stay Trial Proceedings.
Document
DA Robert Smith Appeal to Supreme Court
DA Robert Smith's appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Story
Why Peterson Needs to Stay DA
I didn't know Faye Peterson from Eve when she ran for re-election four years ago. I knew much was being made about the criminal "backlog" (that she inherited). I knew …
