TUPELO, Miss. — Circuit Judge Michael P. Mills Jr. this week sentenced three people convicted in separate fentanyl cases in Lee County Circuit Court to lengthy prison terms, the First Circuit District Attorney’s Office said in a press release posted on its Facebook page Friday.
Theodis Barron, 60, pleaded guilty Aug. 11 to trafficking fentanyl and received a 40-year sentence with 25 years suspended, leaving 15 years to serve, the release said. Barron was ordered to serve five years of post-release supervision and, because of the trafficking conviction, must serve the full 15 years without the possibility of parole or early release.
Robert Simmons, 44, pleaded guilty Aug. 12 to trafficking fentanyl and was sentenced to 40 years with 28 years suspended, leaving 12 years to serve, the release said. Simmons also was ordered to complete five years of post-release supervision and must serve the 12-year term on a day-for-day basis, the release said.
Samardre Braxton, 25, pleaded guilty Aug. 10 to one count of sale of fentanyl and one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to sell, transfer or distribute, the release said. Judge Mills sentenced Braxton to 50 years with 30 years suspended, leaving 20 years to serve, and ordered five years of post-release supervision.
The release said the cases were investigated by the North Mississippi Narcotics Unit, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Pontotoc Police Department. Assistant District Attorneys Megan French and Sidra Winter prosecuted the cases on behalf of the state, the release said, which was signed by First Circuit District Attorney Jason D. Herring.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that has been linked to a rise in overdose deaths nationwide, and trafficking convictions often carry enhanced penalties in many jurisdictions. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
