In 2025, the Office of the Hinds County District Attorney demonstrated responsibility and a commitment to justice, holding offenders accountable while protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of Hinds County residents. Dedicated prosecutors, investigators, and support staff addressed violent crime with discipline and professionalism, advancing serious cases to trial and pursuing outcomes that reflected the gravity of each offense and the needs of victims and their families. Working closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, our team strengthened public safety while upholding fairness and integrity. We approached every prosecution with a singular purpose: to deliver justice in a way that restores faith in our institutions and security to our neighborhoods.
Violent crime in Hinds County has continued to decline, reflecting both collective efforts across the justice system and the consistent, disciplined prosecution by our office. Our accountability-driven approach to violent offenses was essential in deterring crime and making communities safer. Prosecutors resolved hundreds of felony cases through jury trials, plea agreements, and diversion programs. Smart Justice initiatives such as Pre-trial programs, Drug court, and expungements offered alternatives for eligible non-violent offenders, conserving prosecutorial resources and maintaining public safety. This balanced strategy, firm where accountability is necessary, flexible where rehabilitation is possible, allowed us to deliver fair outcomes while focusing our efforts where they matter most.
Several cases illustrate the scope of our work. We convicted Chancery Reed for murder and attempted murder following a shootout with the Jackson Police Department after a traffic stop. Reed was sentenced to life in addition to twenty years. We prosecuted Daniel Wayne Callihan for capital murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery in a multi-jurisdictional case involving Louisiana federal and state charges; Callihan received three life sentences in Hinds County, reflecting our commitment to protecting innocent kids and pursuing justice across jurisdictions. Likewise, Chief Deputy Gwen Agho was lead prosecutor in convicting Timothy Herrington in Oxford, Mississippi, a nationally followed case involving the disappearance and murder of a University of Mississippi student, demonstrating our willingness to provide expertise throughout the state of Mississippi. Overall, our prosecutions resulted in 26 life sentences, ensuring violent offenders will not be repeat offenders. Jurors confronted difficult evidence and were tasked with weighty decisions, and their verdicts reflect the care and gravity with which they honored that responsibility. Each of these cases represented not only a guilty verdict, but a reaffirmation of the principle that no life lost to violence goes unanswered in Hinds County.
Much of our capacity to prosecute serious and violent crime was made possible by attorney and investigator positions funded by the Mississippi legislature. The appointment of Circuit Court Judge Damon Stevenson expanded judicial capacity but did not increase prosecutorial staff, leaving our office to manage Mississippi’s highest felony caseloads. Continued investment in public safety and prosecutorial resources is essential to ensure justice is delivered consistently and without delay. Our ability to meet the demands of a growing docket, and to do so with care and credibility, depends on sustained support for the people doing this work every day.
We also saw significant personnel transitions. Chief Assistant District Attorney Jamie McBride retired after twenty years of dedicated service, leaving a lasting impact on the office. Senior Assistant District Attorney Sue M. Perry also retired and was awarded as Mississippi’s 2025 Prosecutor of the Year by the Mississippi Prosecutors Association, reflecting her contributions and our office’s standards. Together, they strengthened our office’s capacity to deliver justice and left a legacy of service that continues to guide our team. We also welcomed four experienced attorneys whose addition has expanded our courtroom strength and deepened our collective experience in the practice of law.
This annual report provides an overview of our office’s work covering prosecution trends, trial outcomes, and grand jury activity. It offers transparency into resource use and the impact of prosecutorial decisions on public safety in our community. As we move forward, our responsibility remains clear: the pursuit of justice does not pause, and our work demands discipline, accountability, and sound judgment. The Office of the Hinds County District Attorney will continue to lead with integrity, protect our communities, and uphold the rule of law on behalf of the people we serve.
The Annual Report is available below.
