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This past week, a jury found Gaudencio Lopez guilty as charged of Rape of a Child along with two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery. It was an important victory for justice for a grateful family—but perhaps one you haven’t heard about this week.
Behind every headline-making case, there are countless others where our prosecutors quietly fight for justice every single day. While only a few cases draw public attention, here in Shelby County we handle thousands of cases each year that impact victims, families, and our community.
The jury found Lopez guilty after a four-day trial where we proved our case. Lopez sexually assaulted two family members one victim between the ages of 7 and 10 and her younger sister between the ages of 6 and 7 at the time. This conviction was the result of hard work by Assistant District Attorney Robert Steele, with critical support from victim-witness coordinators Jacqueline Chacon, Shanika Stone, and paralegal Magen Houston.
Our office also recently concluded the trial of Hernandez Govan, whom the jury acquitted of helping to arrange the murder of beloved local rapper Young Dolph. While the verdict was not what we hoped for, it’s important to recognize the years of effort and hundreds of hours our prosecutors dedicated to pursuing accountability in this case. I’m pleased to note that the family of Young Dolph, while understandably upset at the verdict, made clear they did not blame the trial team, who indeed worked hard and were well-prepared. Earlier, we secured the conviction of Justin Johnson, one of the actual shooters in Dolph’s murder, who was sentenced last fall to life in prison plus 35 years. And we’ll continue to seek justice in the case of Cornelius Smith, who has admitted his role in this crime.
Justice is not measured by headlines alone. It is carried out daily—case by case—by the men and women of this office who are committed to standing with victims and protecting Shelby County. We’ll continue to do so, with or without the headlines.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to 135 Years in 2022 Fatal Shooting: After a successful argument by ADA Brittany Neal and ADA Leslie Byrd, the court sentenced Mancellous Perry on August 15, 2025, for a 2022 shooting that left one man dead and another injured. The sentencing followed his conviction after trial on May 4 of this year.
Perry received 60 years at 100% for Second Degree Murder, 30 years at 45% for Criminal Attempt Second Degree Murder, 30 years at 85% for being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun, and 15 years at 100% for Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony—totaling 135 years.
A jury previously found Perry guilty of fatally shooting Joseph Faulkner and wounding his brother, Jalen Faulkner, following an argument on Whisper Valley Drive on August 19, 2022. Perry was also convicted of firearm-related offenses due to his status as a felon.
Assistant District Attorneys Brittany Neal & Leslie Byrd handled the case.
Trial Date Set in Shelby Farms Murder Case Involving Multi-County Chase: A trial date has been set for Jackson Hopper, who is charged with First Degree Murder in the October 2024 shooting death of 22-year-old Ellie Young at Shelby Farms Park. The case, involving a man who drove through Lauderdale and Dyer counties after committing the alleged murder, had received a fair amount of media attention at the time.
The case is being prosecuted by ADA Monica Timmerman and Chief Prosecutor Lessie Rainey. The trial is scheduled to begin on February 9, 2026.
According to investigators, Young was shot in the parking lot of the Shelby Farms Visitor Center. Witnesses reported seeing Hopper arrive in a white Honda CRV before firing multiple shots at Young’s Jeep. As she exited the vehicle, Hopper allegedly fired again, striking her as she lay on the ground. Reports indicate the two had recently ended a relationship.
Hopper was later apprehended following a multi-county pursuit. He is scheduled to return to court for a status hearing on September 4.
Assistant District Attorney Monica Timmerman & Chief Prosecutor Lessie Rainey are handling the case.
Court Finds Probable Cause in Aggravated Robbery Case Following High-Speed Chase: Following a preliminary hearing successfully argued by ADA Jack Gould in General Sessions Courtroom 13, the court found probable cause against Demetrious Redd on the charge of Aggravated Robbery.
Along with two co-defendants, Redd is accused of robbing two landscapers at gunpoint, stealing their tools. Investigators obtained surveillance video of the incident, which led to a "Be On the Lookout" (BOLO) being issued with images of the suspects' vehicle and physical descriptions.
The next day, MPD Det. Brewer spotted the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The suspects fled, leading to a 14-minute, 100 mph chase through Memphis. The pursuit ended due to engine failure, and Redd—matching the appearance of the suspect on video—was taken into custody.
The case was held to state as charged. Redd remains in custody on bond and has two additional felony cases pending in Criminal Court 3, where his bonds have been revoked.
Assistant District Attorney Jack Gould handled the hearing.
DA Mulroy Joins Public Safety Forum in Hickory Hill
 Pictured (left to right): MPD Chief Davis; DA Mulroy; moderator Lori Spicer Robertson; Sheriff Bonner; Crime Commission Director Bill Gibbons; Calvin Anderson of the Tri-State Defender.
DA Steve Mulroy recently joined public safety leaders at a community forum hosted by the Tri-State Defender to discuss crime trends and answer community questions. Shelby County crime is down just over 17% in 2025 so far, according to the Crime Commission.
 We were pleased to host leaders from the Tennessee District Attorneys Conference this week for a productive meeting, followed by a tour of our office.
Shelby County Prosecutors Featured on True Crime Podcast
Prosecutor Regina Lucreziano and Chief Prosecutor Lessie Rainey were featured on the popular podcast Anatomy of Murder to discuss the case of self-proclaimed serial killer Joshua Dotson. Dotson was convicted for the June 2020 murder of his former girlfriend, Jamesha Covson, and her unborn child, along with the suspected killings of three at least three others.
Dotson was convicted in August 2024 of double first-degree murder and received two consecutive life sentences.
“You never know what a jury is gonna do. You have to respect a jury’s decision, even if we strongly disagree with it, and we will continue to do everything we can to make sure that everybody responsible for Young Dolph’s murder is held responsible,” said D.A. Steve Mulroy. “The family was obviously very distraught, did not want to speak to the media, but they did say that they didn’t blame the trial team,” D.A. Mulroy. |What’s next in finding justice for Young Dolph| via WREG3
“That means being willing to cooperate with law enforcement in a robust way, that means providing tips, it means reporting crimes, it means being able to serve as witnesses,” said Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. |Memphis public safety leaders report crime reduction progress at forum| via WREG3
The trial consisted of testimony from the girls who spoke about the assaults they endured. The girls' mother also took the stand and spoke about her frequent visits to Lopez's apartment and her belief that her children were safe in his care. “This guilty verdict means everything to these young survivors and their family. It delivers accountability and justice after years of silence,” Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said in a news release. “We appreciate the hard work of our Special Victims Unit prosecutors whose efforts secured this outcome.” |Man convicted for raping two sisters under the age of 10| via FOX13
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