Former mayor, sister and alderman indicted
A three count indictment was returned in Marshall County Circuit Court by a Marshall County grand jury, according to Sheriff Kenny Dickerson.
He said Byhalia alderman Delainer Richmond was indicted on a charge of receiving stolen property, numerous home items valued at over $25,000. The indictment alleged that Richmond was in possession of stolen property feloniously taken from another.
Dickerson said Richmond remained in custody at the Marshall County jail June 17 due to revocation of bond on a prior felony charge. The offense is punishable upon conviction not to exceed 20 years and a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both. Richmond was served an arrest warrant and placed in jail Tuesday, June 17.
The grand jury returned a true bill on two counts charging Lori Wilson and Deborah Weathers with one count of commercial burglary – breaking and entering a certain building on Peach Tree Road and and taking goods, wares, chattels or merchandise with felonious intent punishable by imprisonment not exceeding seven years if convicted, Dickerson said.
In Count 2, Wilson and Weathers were charged with conspiracy with each other to commit the crime of commercial burglary, Dickerson said.
The two were arrested and made a $5,000 bond and released Tuesday, June 17, the sheriff said.
Count 2 is punishable upon conviction with conspiracy to commit burglary with five years imprisonment and a fine of $5,000 or both, Dickerson said.
The burglary of the building is alleged to have taken place on or about October 30, 2024, according to the indictment.
The State of Mississippi motioned to revoke and deny bail for Richmond due to a prior felony charge alledging manufacturing marijuana and conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. The court revoked Richmond's bail of $5,000 on the June 27, 2024, due to the June 12 felony charge in the indictment of receiving stolen property valued at over $25,000 on or about October 30, 2024.
Receiving stolen property over $25,000 carries a maximum sentence in excess of 5 years.
The sheriff said the motion to revoke Richmond's bail on the prior charge of manufacturing marijuana meant Richmond was ordered to remain in jail on the second felony charge of receiving stolen property.
The alleged victim is Wilson's son and Weathers nephew.
The victim does not reside on the property on Peach Tree Road which is currently for sale, according to a WREG news report.
WREG reported that the victim's aunt and mother removed all the furniture, appliances, photos, paintings, tools, fireplaces and electronics from the Peach Tree Road residence over a period of one to two weeks. The value of property removed was estimated at around $150,000, according to the WREG report.
Weathers resigned from office of mayor of Byhalia in December 2023, according to the WREG report. Don Hollingsworth has served as mayor since being elected mayor in April 2024.