close
close

More prosecutions in the first half of 2024 than in the whole of 2023

The second half of the year has already begun, and Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy on Wednesday highlighted the successes of the Special Victims Unit in conducting trials.

A day earlier, a Shelby County Criminal Court judge had ruled that the upcoming trial of a man accused of murdering a Memphis pastor would have a jury from Shelby County rather than another judicial district.

And the Shelby County Fire Department sent three firefighters to the Pentagon to receive an award from the U.S. Secretary of Defense for supporting National Guard and Army Reserve personnel.

The following was on the agenda for the week of August 19th.

The Shelby County District Attorney's Special Victims Unit obtains 15 convictions in the first half of the year

In the Shelby County District Attorney's Special Victims Unit, which primarily deals with child and elder abuse as well as sexual crimes, 15 cases have been tried and convictions have been made, Mulroy said during a press conference on Wednesday morning.

The number of SVU convictions is part of a larger “milestone,” Mulroy said, as the agency has tried more cases in the first half of 2024 than in all of 2023.

“The number of jury trials alone is not necessarily the be-all and end-all when it comes to measuring,” Mulroy said. “I've told my prosecutors that I don't care if we resolve a case by a guilty plea or a trial, as long as it's a fair settlement. But I think it's indicative of the faster pace that we've been able to achieve, the faster justice efforts that we've worked to achieve, and I think it also shows that we're very vigorously pursuing violations of the law.”

In addition to the 15 convictions in the CRI cases, the team of eight prosecutors also obtained 12 guilty verdicts in other criminal cases. These convictions resulted in a total sentence of 718 years for all defendants.

Dru Carpenter, one of SVU's prosecutors, said prosecuting so many cases is a “team effort” that requires coordination with a number of agencies and working with children who are processing massive trauma at a young age.

“There are many moving parts in such cases and we interact with many different agencies, including law enforcement and [the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation] — especially when DNA is involved — and it's really a team effort,” Carpenter said. “We have wonderful victim-witness coordinators and investigators who help us bring all of our witnesses together before trial, especially our child victims. We have a room for children at the end of this hallway so we can build a relationship with these children before they stand in court in front of a group of strangers and talk about, more often than not, the worst thing that has ever happened to them.”

Man accused of murdering Memphis pastor tried before Shelby County jury

The trial of Eduard Rodriguez Tabora, who is accused in connection with the murder of Memphis Reverend Autura Eason-Williams, will be conducted by a Shelby County jury, a criminal judge decided Tuesday morning. The verdict comes less than a month before the trial is scheduled to begin.

Criminal Judge Paula Skahan, who worked as a criminal defense attorney before her election, said Tuesday she has seen many cases that were more high-profile than this one where a fair trial took place. She also said she has been involved in some cases where the jury surprised her.

Rodriguez Tabora's attorney, Robert Amann, argued that the case should be selected by a Nashville jury because of the extensive media attention the case has received. Assistant District Attorney Forrest Edwards disagreed, saying the media attention has waned in the two years since Eason-Williams' killing.

Last week: Prosecutor's office employee “accidentally” sends personnel information to the entire office | On the indictment list

More: Sheriff and top jailer dismissed from lawsuit over Shelby County Jail inmate stabbed to death in courtroom

There were two reporters in court Tuesday – one from The Commercial Appeal and one from The Daily Memphian – and no media cameras were visible in the courtroom. Both Edwards and Skahan also pointed to a lack of interest in local news as a reason for Shelby County being considered for jury duty.

Rodriguez Tabora's trial is scheduled to begin on September 30. He is the only remaining defendant still actively fighting the case. Miguel Andrade, a 16-year-old who was transferred to adult court, pleaded guilty in February, and another teenager — whom the CA is not naming because he was charged and prosecuted as a minor — also pleaded guilty.

Rodriguez Tabora's attorney requested the Department of Children Services records for Andrade and the other teen on Tuesday. The attorney had requested that the records be admitted in court. Skahan did not rule on that request, but said Amann should know what they contain before deciding whether to use them.

Shelby County firefighters receive award from U.S. Secretary of Defense

Three Shelby County firefighters were at the Pentagon on Thursday to receive the 2024 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award from U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, the county said in a press release Wednesday.

Fire Chief Alvin Benson, Battalion Chief Deverick Clayton and Firefighter Angel Fagans accepted the award, which recognizes employers for supporting National Guard and Reserve personnel.

“Congratulations to the Shelby County Fire Department, one of 15 employers nationwide to receive this honor from the Department of Defense,” Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said in an email statement. “Your efforts in supporting reservists help make Shelby County government one of the best places to work.”

Fagans, who is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, said the fire department “helped me beyond measure while working in the Army Reserve during my recent deployment. I want to thank them for their tremendous care of my family and me.”

The awards ceremony took place Thursday evening at the Pentagon and Austin said the award was recognition of the “unwavering support” from employers.

“Without the tireless support of employers like this year's honorees, the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve could not accomplish their important mission in support of our nation's defense and security,” Austin said. “It is a great honor to recognize these employers.”

Top Appellate Courts and Public Safety Stories Readers Viewed

The latest cases in Memphis

Some of the biggest cases in Memphis went to trial this week, but major developments remain scarce. The federal criminal trial of Tyre Nichols is still racing toward its Sept. 9 trial date, though several motions are still being discussed in court filings awaiting a decision.

There has been virtually no action in the civil case against Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant for punching a teenager during an impromptu basketball game, but a status conference has been scheduled for the morning of Aug. 23. The teen suing Morant retained a new attorney in June, and the second half of Morant's immunity hearing is a long way off.

Almost two years after the shooting spree that Ezekiel Kelly is alleged to have committed in September 2022, a trial date has still not been set. Kelly will appear in court again on September 30 to answer for his actions.

Just days after Kelly's next report date, Cleotha Abston – charged with kidnapping and murdering Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher – will appear in court for a report date of her own. Abston's trial is set for February 2025, just over 29 months after he was charged with kidnapping Fletcher.

Do you have a question for us?

Do you have a burning public safety question you want answered? Email [email protected] or [email protected].

You may also like...