RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. — A Rankin County man was arrested Monday on a sexual battery charge following an investigation by the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, authorities said.
Investigators said David Martin Chandler Jr. was arrested April 6 on one count of sexual battery. The charge stems from allegations that he sexually assaulted a female in the Reservoir area of Rankin County, investigators said.
Chandler made his initial appearance Tuesday morning in Rankin County Court before Judge David Morrow Jr. He is being held at the Rankin County Adult Detention Center on a $250,000 bond, according to jail records.
The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency for Rankin County, responsible for investigations, patrol and operation of the county detention center. Sexual battery is a serious criminal charge under Mississippi law and cases of this type typically proceed through further investigation, charging decisions and court hearings.
The arrest underscores local law enforcement’s response to reported sexual assaults and the ongoing role of the county court system in adjudicating such allegations. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
