Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced therecent sentencings of Bruce Cherry, Jr. of Taylorsville, Mississippi; JamesWilder, of Carthage, Mississippi; and John Dunn, of Biloxi, Mississippi.
The Attorney General's Office investigated and prosecuted all three cases.
"Predators who seek to exploit others in Mississippi will not go unpunished,"said Attorney General Lynn Fitch.
"I commend our talented team ofinvestigators and prosecutors at the Attorney General's Office for their work tokeep predators out of our communities. If you suspect someone is beingtrafficked or exploited, please contact my office. Your tip could be the key toserving justice for victims."On August 30, Forrest County Circuit Court Judge Robert Helfrichsentenced Cherry, age 34, to 10 years in the custody of the MississippiDepartment of Corrections (MDOC), with three years to serve day for daywithout the possibility of parole and five years of post-release supervision. Thisarrest was a result of a May 2021 human trafficking operation in Hattiesburgconducted by the Attorney General's Office.
On September 3, Leake County Circuit Court JudgeCaleb May sentencedWilder, age 38, to 10 years in the custody of the MDOC, with three years toserve day for day on one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence. Wilderwas also sentenced to a term of 15 years in the custody of the MDOC with sevenyears to serve day for day on one count of Intimidating a Witness. This caseoriginated as a report by the Leake County Sheriff’s Office and the MississippiDepartment of Child Protection Services to the Attorney General’s OfficeHuman Trafficking Unit.On August 19, Harrison County Circuit Court Judge Randi Muellersentenced Dunn, age 60, to 40 years in the custody of MDOC, with six years toserve day for day without the possibility for parole on one count of ChildExploitation.
He will also have to register as a Sex Offender. Dunn was arrested as a result of a CyberTip reported to the Mississippi Attorney General's Office.
Original source can be found here.