JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The federal trial for the former interim Hinds County sheriff is underway.

Marshand Crisler arrived at the federal courthouse in downtown Jackson on Wednesday, November 6 with his wife by his side. A jury was selected around noon.

In April 2023, Crisler was charged with soliciting a bribe and providing ammunition to a convicted felon.

Court documents stated that Crisler was charged with having solicited and accepted thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for agreeing to pass information concerning criminal investigations to the person who paid the bribes. 

Crisler also allegedly agreed to protect a jailed family member of that person and agreed to award employment with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office to that person.

According to prosecutors, these actions are alleged to have taken place during Crisler’s previous unsuccessful campaign for Hinds County sheriff in 2021.

The indictment also alleged that Crisler gave ammunition to a person he knew to be a convicted felon. It is against federal law for a public official to solicit or accept bribes.

Crisler pled not guilty to the charges against him. His federal trial is expected to last three days.

If convicted, Crisler faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison as to each of the two counts in the indictment.