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Lazarron Davis was set for preliminary hearing in General Sessions Division 10. Defendant Davis was charged with one count of robbery and one count of evading arrest. In this case, the defendant pushed the victim and stole her phone during a domestic dispute at a hotel. The victim came to court and advised that she was not interested in prosecuting defendant Davis because she did not want him to go to prison. After discussing the facts of the case and possible outcomes, the victim stated that she wanted defendant Davis to receive mental health treatment. Working with defendant Davis' attorney, a plan was developed to have him interviewed and assessed for possible treatment plans through Alliance Health Care. This case was continued to June 1st for status on this treatment. If defendant Davis follows through with the treatment program, the charges will be dropped. This case is being handled by ADA Mark Bowman.
In Criminal Court Division 5, defendant Julion Saunders was charged with Criminal Attempt Murder 1 for shooting her boyfriend in the face. However, on the anniversary of the shooting, the victim posted a Tic Tok video professing his love for the defendant, saying he has asked her to marry him and she said yes. The defendant plead guilty to Aggravated Assault, and will serve 13.5 years at 35%. This case was handled by ADA Cavett Ostner.
In Criminal Court Division 7, ADA Kevin McAlpin and Chief Prosecutor Paul Hagerman won guilty as charged verdicts on charges of: First Degree Murder, Criminal Attempt: First Degree Murder, and Employing a Firearm During Felony. In this case defendant Jonathan Hamilton pulled up to a vehicle at a McDonald's drive-thru and began shooting, killing victim Tamika Coleman and injuring her boyfriend, the driver.
In Criminal Court Division 1, Mark Lyons plead guilty to 20 years for Aggravated Rape and Aggravated Burglary in a 2020 home invasion and sexual assault. In this case, defendant Lyons entered the victim's home through a window while the victim was sleeping. The defendant was unknown to the victim. Defendant Lyons forcibly raped the victim, and stayed for over an hour until she managed to convince him to leave. He removed a book from a box in the victim's front room, and fled. He subsequently returned to the victim's home and left an envelope at her front door. The victim notified police, and the defendant was apprehended. This case was handled by ADA Lessie Rainey.
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 Last weekend, DA Mulroy joined reform prosecutors from around the country in marching across Selma, Alabama’s famous Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” civil rights march in which Alabama state troopers beat peaceful protesters (including future congressman John Lewis), facilitating passage of the Voting Rights Act. This was part of a Montgomery, Alabama conference organized for reform-minded prosecutors by the national organization Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP). FJP "brings together elected local prosecutors as part of a network of leaders committed to promoting a justice system grounded in fairness, equity, compassion, and fiscal responsibility."
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 On Tuesday, April 25th, the Mighty Lights glowed blue, green, and purple after sunset to commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, observed April 23rd to 29th. DA Mulroy held a press conference prior to the bridge lighting at 7:15PM at the Memphis Suffrage Monument. “We strive to ensure that victims have access to all of the resources available to them, and we’re adding new resources,” said Mulroy. “Recently, we partnered with West TN Therapy Dogs, and with the Shelby County Crime Victims and Rape Crisis Center to house an advocate in 201 Poplar, to more directly connect victims to the services they need both inside and outside of the courtroom.”
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 Pictured above, DA Mulroy addressed members of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section last Friday, during the national organization’s annual meeting which took place this year in Memphis. Serving his first term as District Attorney for Shelby County during a pivotal year, DA Mulroy discussed lessons learned serving as the chief prosecutor during the Tyre Nichols case, while also issuing a call for police reform measures. “The ABA Criminal Section is one of the most influential groups of legal voices on criminal reform matters. I’m pleased that they chose Memphis for their annual meeting, and honored to have been chosen as keynote speaker,” said DA Mulroy. “I hope Memphis can continue to lead the way as an example for enlightened approaches to justice reform.” See DA Mulroy Sums Up the Lessons of the Nichols Case from Memphis Flyer for more.
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Caroline Gordon, Assistant District Attorney, started work last week with Vertical Team 2. ADA Gordon received her J.D from The University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, and has more than six years' experience. Previously, She was an Associate Attorney with Stotler Hayes Group, LLC.
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From WREG: Shelby County DA shines light on crime victims and their needs
“I’ve had my newly hired grant coordinated work on getting grant money so that we can create a victim restitution fund because the sad reality is victim restitution is often ordered but rarely paid precisely because the defendants in our criminal justice system don’t have money,” said Mulroy.
From Daily Memphian: Mulroy announces partnership to help prosecute economic crimes
“This is something that I talked about during the campaign, and I promised during the campaign, because I considered it a significant issue that really hadn’t been given enough attention...Today’s partnership with this labor organization is a significant step forward and fulfilling that campaign promise.”
From Memphis Flyer: DA Mulroy Sums Up the Lessons of the Nichols Case
Referring to the recent actions of our state legislature, Mulroy said, “Admittedly, these are not boon times in the Volunteer State for the cause of civil rights and justice. But let me suggest that Memphis is the ideal place for your meeting, because it illustrates that even out of stark challenges, we can learn valuable lessons of reform. “
 Stay safe and thanks for reading,
Steve Mulroy
District Attorney
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