Lindsey Whiteside’s sentence is illegal, DeSoto County DA says
In addition to challenging Lindsey Whiteside’s sentence within Mississippi, DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton confirmed he is still actively looking at prosecution in other jurisdictions since some church trips took place across state lines. (Brandon LaGrone II/The Daily Memphian)
The controversy surrounding the lenient sentence of convicted former youth pastor Lindsey Whiteside escalated with DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton revealing the three-year house arrest term is likely illegal.
Barton announced Tuesday, Oct. 14, his office is challenging the sentence, arguing sexual battery committed by a person in a position of trust is classified as a violent crime and is specifically ineligible for the house arrest program under Mississippi law. Whiteside, also a former high school basketball coach, was sentenced to three years of house arrest and seven years of probation.
Barton wanted Whiteside to serve the maximum 30-year sentence.
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Brandon LaGrone II
Brandon LaGrone Jr. is a Bluff City native who has earned an undergraduate degree in journalism from LSU’s Manship School. He’s written for publications including The (Baton Rouge) Advocate and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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