News Flash

On August 28, 2023, Allan Todd Pisarich, 54, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi was convicted of Six (6) Counts of Sexual Battery and Three (3) Counts of Touching a Child for Lustful Purposes, in the Circuit Court of Jackson County.

On August 28, 2023, Allan Todd Pisarich, 54, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi was convicted of Six (6) Counts of Sexual Battery and Three (3) Counts of Touching a Child for Lustful Purposes, in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Mississippi, before Judge Calvin Taylor.

Pisarich pled guilty to the sexual battery and touching of a child for lustful purposes of two child victims, and to the touching for lustful purposes of both of whom were between the ages of ten (10) and fourteen (14) at the time of the crimes. Judge Taylor sentenced Pisarich to Forty Years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections with Twenty Years to serve day for day.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated, “Todd Allan Pisarich lived two lives- a public life of a trusted community member and coach and a private life where he used young girls for his depraved sexual satisfaction. Pisarich’s victims have been through hell: they endured the sexual abuse, faced hurdle after hurdle in the community and court system, and now live with the aftermath of the sexual abuse. This sentence delivers justice to his victims and ensures he will never hurt another child again.

Assistant District Attorney Nikki Huffman stated, “We teach our kids to tell us if someone hurts them. Then, so often when they tell, the victim is not believed. Pisarich admitted in open court to his sexual abuse of these victims. There can be no doubt in the community that these girls told the truth. Judge Taylor put it best when he recognized the victims’ courage and the Defendant’s cowardice.”

Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Lewis stated, “I want to thank Captain Kristen Johnson and her team at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department who did an incredible job investigating this case and giving a voice to the victims. We could not have held Pisarich accountable for sexually abusing these girls without the tireless work and dedication of these investigators and their team.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Nikki Huffman and Carolyn Lewis.

On October 20, 2023, Raymond Scott Tracy, 45, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi was convicted of Five (5) Counts of Exploitation of a Child, in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Mississippi, before Judge Kathy King Jackson.

On October 20, 2023, Raymond Scott Tracy, 45, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi was convicted of Five (5) Counts of Exploitation of a Child, in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Mississippi, before Judge Kathy King Jackson. Tracy was sentenced to forty (40) years with eighteen (18) years to serve without the possibility of parole or early release, and he must also register as a sex offender upon release from incarceration.

The Mississippi Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force forwarded tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), related to child pornography. JCSO and the FBI then interviewed the tipster, who disclosed that Tracy had child pornography in his possession. Multiple devices containing 5,606 unique videos and images of child sexual abuse material were seized as the result of a search warrant executed at Tracy’s home.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated, “Possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime. These videos and pictures portray crime scenes where real children are actually being abused. This Defendant possessed 5,606 separate and unique files which depicted real children being sexually abused and exploited so that he and others could satisfy their depraved sexual desires. Possession of child pornography is a dangerous crime because as long as there is a demand for this material, there will be others perpetrating, recording and documenting these evil acts on children. I hope this 18-year day-for-day sentence will send a message that we will continue to seek substantial prison sentences for those that abuse our children.”

Assistant District Attorney Justin Lovorn stated, “I appreciate the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Mississippi Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for keeping a watchful eye over our children, and I further commend the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for acting on their tips so that this Defendant could be brought to justice.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Justin Lovorn

On October 30, 2023, Vinet Williams Moore, 43, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, appeared in Jackson County Circuit Court for sentencing for the crimes of Kidnapping,

On October 30, 2023, Vinet Williams Moore, 43, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, appeared in Jackson County Circuit Court for sentencing for the crimes of Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault and Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling. After a lengthy hearing, Judge Calvin Taylor rejected the Defendant’s victim blaming and sentenced him to seventy-five (75) years with fifty (50) years to serve in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

On September 9, 2021, two children called 911 requesting for law enforcement to respond to their home where the Defendant had broken in with a sledgehammer and was assaulting their mother. The children were evacuated from the home through a bedroom window. The neighboring houses were evacuated as well. Armed with two handguns, Mr. Moore held the victim hostage, eventually shooting her as she tried to escape. She survived her injuries. After an over 5 hour stand-off, Mr. Moore relinquished his guns and surrendered to law enforcement.

District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated, “Vinet Moore not only terrorized the victim and her daughters, but he also put the lives of the neighbors and the responding officers at risk. Mr. Moore has still shown no remorse for his actions. He is the classic narcissistic, victim-blaming, gas-lighting abuser who abused the victim for years. Mr. Moore went to the victim’s home armed with two handguns with the intent to shoot her and he did just that. It is a miracle the victim survived her injuries. The children exhibited amazing bravery in getting their mom help and escaping from the home. The trauma and terror experienced by the victim and her daughters at the hands of Mr. Moore is unimaginable. The Court’s lengthy sentence will protect not only the victim and her family, but the community at large.

Domestic violence is among the most dangerous and deadly calls to which our law enforcement officers respond. As Judge Taylor pointed out, our law enforcement run to the danger and should be commended. I want to thank the Jackson County Sheriff Deputies and ESU members who responded to this scene and brought it to a non-deadly end.” Assistant District Attorney Bill Barrett stated, “Thanks goes out to the first responders who ran towards the sound of gunfire during this tragic incident. They put their safety in jeopardy in order to save the victim and her children, as well as others in the neighborhood. The law enforcement officers with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, the Sheriff's Emergency Services Unit, and all the other law enforcement agencies who immediately responded to the scene should be commended. Our community will not tolerate this type of violence.” 

This case was prosecuted by District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath and Assistant District Attorney Bill Barrett.

Jackson County, Mississippi is proposing to complete the connection between two existing blueways including the George County Blueway and the Pascagoula River Jackson County Blueway. The Pascagoula River extends approximately 46 miles through Jackson County, and when combined with other branches, creates approximately 80 miles of navigable waterway. The proposed Pascagoula River – Jackson County Blueway Connection project would establish 65-miles of mapped and signed navigable waters by connecting the established Pascagoula River George County Blueway and Pascagoula River Jackson County Blueway and connecting paddlers to businesses and other  recreational opportunities throughout the County. 

The proposed Pascagoula River - Jackson County Blueway Connection Project includes:

• 65 miles of fully mapped and signed Blueway
• 22 Points of Interest
• Kayak Launches/Landings
• Interpretive signage
• Restrooms
• Parking
• Picnic areas
• Camping grounds
• Mile Markers

Allen Engineering and Science, Inc. (AllenES) was retained to assist the County in developing a conceptual design for the project and an opinion of probable cost that can be utilized to assist the county in applying for project funding. 

To view the documents: 

• Pascagoula River - Jackson County Blueway Connection - Concept Development Report (17KB PDF, 157 pages)
• Concept Rendering - Hickory Hills (4.2KB PDF)
• Concept Rendering - North Deep Slough (7.4KB PDF)
• Concept Rendering - Roy Cumbest Bridge (3.9KB PDF)