The DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office has handed down two indictments for separate incidents that involved a felony courthouse escape and the assault of a county jailer.
Stephen Russell, Jr., 27, was given a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to trafficking fentanyl. While he was still handcuffed and chained, Russell feigned a medical emergency, allowing him to get into his car and flee the area. But he was quickly captured less than a mile from the courthouse.
Russell’s indictment on the charge of felony escape is the result of the office’s task force established to expedite indictments in cases deemed to pose a significant threat to the public. The indictment was secured in less than four days and Russell now faces a lengthier sentence in addition to the decade behind bars received for the trafficking conviction.
“Our office worked at lightning speed to bring this dangerous individual to justice,” District Attorney Matthew Barton said. “Thanks to the swift efforts of my staff and law enforcement, we were able to hold Russell accountable for his dangerous actions without delay. This is a clear example of the effectiveness of my staff’s commitment to public safety.”
The other indictment was of John Riles, an inmate at the DeSoto County Adult Detention Center, for assaulting a jailer in November.
Riles and the officer reportedly got into an altercation on November 14, resulting in the jailer being tased by Riles, resulting in minor injuries.
“Attacking law enforcement officers or first responders in DeSoto County will not be tolerated,” Barton said. “My office will continue to be tough on anyone who attempts to harm those who risk their lives to protect and serve our community.”
Russell and Riles now both face lengthier prison sentences after the recent indictments.