Judge: No probable cause to charge deputy in trespassing case

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Circuit Court judge rules there is not enough probable cause to charge a sheriff’s deputy from Monroe County with Trespassing in a case involving jurisdiction across county lines.

Earlier this month, Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Jermandy Jackson pulled into the drive way of a residence in Lee County, but close to the Monroe County line.

Jackson said he smelled the odor of marijuana, and after questioning several people at the residence, the suspects admitted they had marijuana and turned it over to the officer.

One of the suspects allegedly told Deputy Jackson he was in Lee County, and did not have a right to be on their property, because he was in his Monroe County car and deputy’s uniform.

After the incident was investigated, the probable cause hearing was scheduled, to see if Deputy Jackson would be charged with Trespassing.

However, Judge Jim Pounds said there was not enough probable cause to charge Deputy Jackson.

“Nobody wants marijuana out there on the streets, and in the community but when you have officers of an improper jurisdiction making searches and seizures, the first thing that’s going to happen in any trial for prosecution for Possession of Marijuana is evidence is going to be suppressed because officer didn’t have any authority in the first place to seize it if he wasn’t an officer of the proper county,” said Prosecuting Attorney James Moore.

“What have we gotten to in this country when an officer, removes marijuana from young adults, possibly juveniles, does that in what he believes in a good faith basis, in accordance with applicable law and he finds himself as a defendant in a courtroom and person who had possession of marijuana are not, they are ones making complaints about a trespass,” said Jackson’s attorney, Jason Herring.

Deputy Jackson is also the Assistant Police Chief in Okolona. Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell says Jackson is a hard worker and a great law enforcement officer. The marijuana was destroyed by Deputy Jackson.