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As I’ve said in prior newsletters, we will keep you updated on developments regarding the federal task force currently in Memphis.
There’s been a resulting significant increase in arrests. Our daily General Sessions dockets have increased by about 50%. So far, our office has managed to keep up (though there’s no guarantee that will continue if the increased caseload increases at the same level for many more months). Jail overcrowding continues to be an issue, with over 2900 detainees in a Jail with a capacity of 2400.
I’ve been meeting with a group of local officials to come up with solutions to address Jail overcrowding by speeding up resolution of cases. That includes Mayor Harris, County CAO Harold Collins, General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer, Public Defender Phyllis Aluko, and various judges. A number of these officials (though not all) jointly proposed a pilot program for Saturday court sessions which could lead to a Night Court session from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. 2-3 nights a week. Another idea seriously considered was for a “Safe Surrender” Warrants Clinic, which could clear up outstanding Misdemeanor Warrants by resolving low-level cases. (This would reduce the influx of new detainees to the Jail.) More recently, there’s been a proposal to add a certain number of cases each day to the docket in each General Sessions Division. At present, we have not achieved unanimity among all the required players.
I’m for any and all of these ideas. Given the increased caseload, we need to try innovative ideas. No one of them would necessarily fix everything, but each one of them could help. Our office staff stands ready to participate in any of these approaches—and we’re not limited to just one of them.
Meanwhile, our office has gone ahead to work on things we can do on our own. We recently sent some prosecutors to the Jail on several nights and one Saturday to see if they could screen cases more effectively at the very start of a case. That hasn’t proven to be very effective, for the simple reason that there are too few cases involved. So we’re trying something else.
Currently, we have started to look at lists of hundreds of cases of low-level offenses of people currently in jail, to see if those defendants really need to be in jail. Recall that these are people not convicted of any crime, and that the law presumes they should be out of jail unless there’s a good reason to keep them in jail. If there’s no basis to think they’re a danger to the community or a flight risk, and they’re in there just because they can’t afford their bail, we can take a second look. Or, in some cases, we may be able to settle the case quickly (but still fairly), in which case we’d rapidly move up the hearing date to resolve the case.
So far, this latest approach seems promising. We’ve already identified over a dozen such cases, and we’ve just started the process. If early success continues, we’ll continue to do this as long as needed. If the early success doesn’t continue, we’ll try something else.
Meanwhile, I’ll continue to keep you posted.
Man Found Guilty in Murder of Children’s Mother: Assistant District Attorneys Lessie Rainey and Monica Timmerman secured a guilty verdict against Leondre Clark, whom a Shelby County jury found guilty of First-Degree Murder and Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun for the 2023 killing of Toniquia Clark, the mother of his children.
The shooting occurred in broad daylight on Carnes Avenue. Officers responded to the 3000 block and found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to her upper body. First responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly identified Clark as the shooter. They reviewed surveillance footage and located a red Ford Explorer that witnesses had described fleeing the scene. Records showed that Clark owned the vehicle and that he was already a convicted felon.
Clark will receive his sentence at a later date.
Chief Prosecutors Lessie Rainey & Monica Timmerman handled the case.
Jury Convicts Felon in 2022 Firearm Case: Assistant District Attorneys J.D. Hamblen and Dijahanua Jones secured a guilty verdict against Anthony Carpenter, whom a Shelby County jury found guilty of being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Carpenter faces 8–12 years in prison at his sentencing on December 17.
The charge stems from a 2022 investigation in which detectives with the Multi-Agency Gang Unit executed a search warrant at Carpenter’s residence. At the time, Carpenter remained in custody on a Mississippi warrant for Attempted Second-Degree Murder. Detectives found multiple weapons and ammunition inside the home, including a loaded firearm.
Carpenter also faces additional pending cases in both Shelby County and DeSoto County.
ADAs J.D. Hamblen & Dijahanua Jones handled the case.
Jury Convicts Woman in Killing of Pastor; Wife Injured in Shooting: A Shelby County jury has convicted Latoshia Daniels of Second-Degree Murder and Reckless Endangerment for killing Pastor Brodes Perry and injuring his wife, Tabatha. Assistant District Attorneys Kevin McAlpin and Irris Williams prosecuted the weeklong trial.
Daniels originally faced charges of First-Degree Murder, Criminal Attempt–First-Degree Murder, and Employing a Firearm during a Dangerous Felony. The jury found her guilty of the lesser homicide charges and not guilty on the firearm count.
Daniels testified that she had a relationship with Pastor Perry and claimed he manipulated her. Prosecutors told jurors that her emotions did not justify violence and that the evidence showed she planned the attack.
Police reported that Daniels drove from Little Rock with intent to kill the couple and shouted, “You broke my heart,” as she shot Perry. Officers subdued her with a nonlethal beanbag round when she refused to drop her gun. After her hospital release, she attempted to run and fought officers before they handcuffed her.
ADAs Kevin McAlpin & Irris Williams handled the case.
Community Mural Expansion Features DA Mulroy at The Rockin’ Chair
Community members unveiled the addition of a portrait honoring DA Mulroy to the neighborhood mural at The Rocking Chair, a restaurant/event space in South Memphis. The mural contains portraits of various notables with a Memphis connection. Present were community members, DA office staff, Juvenile Court Tarik Sugarmon, Rep. Justin Pearson, and others.
The event was organized by Beverly Ingram. Speakers at the unveiling ceremony included Lottie Jones and Pastor Tim Williams, founder of the Memphis chapter of national victims’ group Parents Of Murdered Children. Pastor Williams touted DA office success in reducing crime over the past two years, including prior to the recent start of the federal task force.
 (Pictured L-R): Victim/Witness Coordinator Reid Hettinger, Extradition Clerk Marsharee Gatewood, DA Steve Mulroy, Administrative Specialist Sondra Davis, Chief Admin. Officer Jessica Indigaro. (The mural portrait of DA Mulroy is on the left between Mr. Hettinger and Ms. Gatewood)
 (Pictured L-R): Judge Tarik Sugarmon; , Pastor Tim Williams,founder of victims’ group Parents Of Murdered Children (Memphis Chapter); Lottie Jones;, event organizer Beverly Ingram; , Byron Jones .
 Princeton Williams, son of Pastor Williams, presents DA Mulroy with a portrait of DA Mulroy he painted himself.
DA Mulroy Honors Local Veterans at Annual Military Appreciation Luncheon
 This week, District Attorney Steve Mulroy attended the Mayors’ 23rd Annual Military Appreciation Luncheon, hosted by Shelby County Government and the City of Memphis. The event recognized and honored the service and sacrifice of more than 52,000 Shelby County veterans who have selflessly served both our country and our community. Entertainment included some surprisingly spry octogenarian dancers (lower right).
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
 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
“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 mother of his children to death| via ABC24
Shelby County government officials and law enforcement have launched a new online tool aimed at providing transparency and accountability for local court and justice system data. The new tool, called the Shelby County Interagency Justice Operations Workgroup (IJOW) Dashboard, was launched by Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer, in collaboration with Mayor Lee Harris, District Attorney Steve Mulroy, Sheriff Floyd Bonner and additional governmental and justice partners. |Shelby County unveils new justice operations dashboard for public transparency| via WMC5
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