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Our office has to be victim-focused. It’s what we do. And crime victims often wish to see offenders get maximum punishment. But sometimes, they can show extraordinary understanding.
That’s true in a recent case involving an elderly woman beaten savagely by a stranger during broad daylight on Highland Ave. The 79-year-old woman (whose name we are withholding) was walking her dog when a 24-year-old man she passed on the sidewalk suddenly punched her in the face several times, leaving her face severely bruised and her eyes swollen.
This was not a robbery. He never tried to get anything from her. It was just a random, unprovoked attack.
Despite her injuries, the woman is not seeking incarceration for her attacker.
“He’s sick. He can’t help himself,” she told a reporter. “And we as a community are failing our mentally ill citizens.” Not only did she say that “this was not a crime,” just “somebody who was sick”; she even said she is praying for the attacker and his family.
This shows remarkable restraint and compassion. Victims are usually—and completely understandably--very emotional in such situations, and not disposed to showing much sympathy for their attackers.
But perhaps more important, the woman shows a keen understanding of the role that mental illness plays in our criminal justice system, and the need for more mental health services. Data from state prisons shows that at least 40% of prisoners have a diagnosed behavioral health issue. At the Shelby County Jail, that percentage is probably higher, with estimates as high as two-thirds. Unless those problems are treated, defendants are likely to keep repeating their offenses when they get out of jail. Given this, emphasizing mental health treatment as an alternative to incarceration is not only more humane, it’s more cost-effective.
But you won’t be surprised to hear that the supply of affordable mental health services does not meet the need. This year’s state assessment of our jail identified numerous gaps in mental health facilities and services. The County is building a 60-bed Mental Health Safety & Justice Center which will help pretrial, but there’s still more to do. Workforce and program staffing shortages across our state yield long waitlists for services. And our state’s failure to expand Medicaid doesn’t help.
Treating criminals rather than incarcerating them is a tough sell. Paying for their treatment even more so. But if we truly want to reduce crime, we have to be open to both. And if a victim beaten and bruised can embrace that, maybe the rest of us can too.
Jury Convicts Man in Deadly Shooting of Landlord: A Shelby County jury convicted Robert Collins of murdering his landlord, Ernest Hatton, after a dispute over rent and property maintenance. The verdict followed a weeklong trial that concluded on Saturday.
Prosecutors proved that on November 16, 2021, at a property in the 600 block of East Shelby Drive, Collins opened fire on Hatton, shooting him more than a dozen times after falling months behind on rent and failing to maintain the property. Hatton was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Investigators said Collins admitted to the shooting when police arrived. A witness told detectives that before the incident, Collins had warned that if Hatton came to see him, he “had something for him.”
Collins represented himself during trial.
ADAs Carrie Bush and Susan Taylor handled the case.
Judge Upholds Increased Bond in Mayor Young Kidnapping Attempt Case: Criminal Court Judge Ray Lepone reviewed the appeal of Defendant Trenton Abston’s bond on Wednesday, October 29, following a previous increase by General Sessions Judge Taylor Bachelor. Judge Bachelor initially raised Abston’s bond after learning of a list containing the names and addresses of other elected officials and their families.
Judge Lepone heard testimony from the supervising detective and determined that the high bond amount reflected the uniquely serious and aggravating facts of the case.
Authorities arrested 25-year-old Trenton Abston after he allegedly went to Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s home to confront him about crime in the city. According to the complaint affidavit, Abston admitted to taking “substantial steps toward the commission of a kidnapping” involving the mayor. Memphis Police investigated reports of suspicious activity in Mayor Young’s neighborhood, which led to Abston’s arrest.
This case remains ongoing.
Preliminary Hearing Sends Murder Case to Grand Jury: Assistant District Attorney Brandon Wright successfully argued the preliminary hearing for Calvin Johnson, who faces a charge of First-Degree Murder. The court held the case to the State, routing it to the Grand Jury for further action.
The case stems from a September 23, 2025, incident in which Johnson shot and killed a woman during a heated argument about religion. According to investigators, Johnson left the living room during the discussion, retrieved a shotgun from a back room, returned, and shot the victim in the stomach at close range.
When officers arrived, Johnson immediately told them, “I shot her. I shot her.” Police took him into custody at the scene, where first responders pronounced the victim dead.
ADA Brandon Wright handled the hearing.
ADA Dan Buchanan and Judge Kathleen Gomes to Lead CLE on Elder Abuse Cases
 Assistant District Attorney Dan Buchanan, along with Judge Kathleen Gomes of Shelby County Probate Court Division I, will lead a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) session on Tuesday, November 18, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Memphis Bar Association Office (145 Court Ave., #301).
This session will cover how elder abuse and financial exploitation cases are addressed in Probate Court and outline the process for referring cases to the District Attorney’s Office for potential prosecution.
Lunch will be provided.
Register here: Memphis Bar Association CLE Registration
ADA Dru Carpenter to Be Honored at the Memphis Child Advocacy Center’s 2025 Honors Day
 **Correction Notice**
Earlier, our newsletter incorrectly listed the recipient of the CPIT Excellence Award for Compassion.
The correct honoree is ADA Dru Carpenter.
We apologize for the error and sincerely congratulate ADA Carpenter on this well-deserved recognition.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office is proud to share that Assistant District Attorney Dru Carpenter will be recognized at the Memphis Child Advocacy Center’s 2025 Honors Day Celebration: Powered by Purpose – Honoring Those Who Protect, Advocate, and Serve.
ADA Carpenter will receive the CPIT Excellence Award for Compassion, acknowledging her dedication to seeking justice for children and her compassionate approach to advocacy and prosecution.
The Honors Day Breakfast will take place on Friday, November 21, 2025, at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.
Learn more and register to attend: memphiscac.org/honorsday
Congratulations to Our Nominated ADAs for the 2026 YLD Board Elections!
We congratulate Assistant District Attorneys Tikehe Peoples, Tanisha Johnson, and Alfred Dexter Dyson, who have been nominated to run for positions on the 2026 Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Board.
Your nominations reflect your dedication, leadership, and commitment to service within the legal community.
Good luck to each of you, and thank you for stepping up to represent your colleagues and advance the profession!
In the latest episode of True Bill Talk, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy offers a rare inside look at how his office is managing this federal intervention and its unexpected effects. Listen now to understand how one DA is navigating the intersection of federal intervention, community concerns, and public safety. |True Bill Talk: Federal Agents in Memphis| via The Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy
“There are people in 201 Poplar who probably could be released. They’re probably there just because they can’t afford their cash bail. We need to identify those people. We’re planning on doing a jail screening program on a trial basis,” said Mulroy. “So, we’re going to be sending some prosecutors over to the jail on a trial basis just to see if there are cases that can be resolved, if there are things that can be done to screen out some of the less valid cases.” Mulroy clarified several times that right now, his office can and is handling the influx of arrests. |‘Stark highlight:’ DA Mulroy addresses issues at 201 Poplar and plans for prosecution in exclusive interview| via WMC5
According to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, a jury convicted Robert Collins of first-degree murder on Saturday. The DA's office alleges that Collins shot 50-year-old Ernest Hatton to death on November 16, 2021, at a building on East Shelby Drive. |Memphis man convicted of shooting landlord to death| via ABC24
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