JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A federal judge has denied a motion for a new trial for former interim Hinds County Sheriff Marshand Crisler.
U.S. District Judge Tom Lee denied the motion for a new trial on December 17.
Crisler was convicted by a federal jury in November 2024 on the charges of soliciting a bribe and providing ammunition to a convicted felon. He was convicted one day after indictments in the Jackson bribery scandal were unsealed.
The indictments revealed that Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks had been charged in the Jackson bribery scandal. According to the motion, Owens is Crisler’s cousin.
“The decision to unseal these indictments at this specific time can only be seen as a direct, unfair, and improper attempt to gain a tactical advantage over the defense and taint the jury, thereby denying the defendant of his due process rights resulting in a total miscarriage of justice,” Crisler’s attorney, John Collette, wrote in the motion for a new trial.
Federal prosecutors asked the court to deny Crisler’s motion for a new trial.
Previous court documents stated that Crisler 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.
The documents also stated that Crisler 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 court documents also stated 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 sentencing has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on February 6, 2025. He will be out on bond until his sentencing date.
Crisler faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison as to each of the two counts in the indictment.