Message from the DA

    Any death is a tragedy, any murder even more so. It’s especially tragic when the killer is underage. Science tells us, and the law recognizes, that underage people have less impulse control, less appreciation for the consequence of their actions, and more potential to be reformed. That’s why we keep underage defendants in Juvenile Court, which has more emphasis on rehabilitation than punishment. And it’s why for most purposes juvenile records are kept confidential, lest they follow a defendant around for the rest of his life based on mistakes made when they are less responsible.  

   Two cases this week illustrate valid limits on these principles.

   For the above reasons, transfers to adult court should be the exception, not the rule. A last resort, not a first instinct. In years past, Shelby County departed from that rule of thumb, consistently transferring more underage defendants to adult court than the rest of the state’s counties combined, with about 95% of them Black. A U.S. Justice Department study documented problems with the way we handled adult transfer in Shelby, including racial disparities that could not be explained by the seriousness of the offense or the defendant’s criminal record. Reform was definitely needed.

   But there are times when adult transfer is appropriate. This is never more true than in the case of First Degree Murder, committed by the juvenile defendant himself by pulling the trigger. That’s why we successfully sought transfer this week of a then-17-year-old defendant charged with killing a 22-year-old during an attempted aggravated robbery. 

   And while juvenile records should be kept confidential, there are valid exceptions to that rule too. One is when that same defendant later stands as an adult before a judge setting bail. We certainly don’t want the juvenile defendant’s underage mistakes to follow him around like a Scarlett Letter when he seeks a job, an apartment, or a loan. But when a 19-year-old is charged with, say, auto theft, we want the judge setting bail to know that he had 3 prior auto theft convictions when he was 17. 

   That’s why I advocated for a change in state law to allow juvenile records to be used in this way. Last year, the Legislature made that change. Importantly, the court can look back only five years. We don’t want the Scarlett Letter to still be pinned on, say, a 30-year-old who’s record’s been clean his entire adult life.

   We used that law this week in the case of a defendant charged in connection with a fatal attack in broad daylight that left one man dead.  We used his prior juvenile history to convince the judge to raise the bond to an unaffordable amount, to ensure he stays in custody pending final resolution of his case.

   Justice means knowing when to treat kids as kids. But it also means knowing when to provide adult accountability in adult court.

Happening in Court

Bonds Set for Two Defendants in Fatal Daylight Attack: Chief Prosecutor Atina Stavropoulos successfully argued for high, unaffordable bonds for two defendants charged in connection with a fatal attack that left one man dead. Both defendants, Jordan Luckett and Alvino Johnson, face charges of First-Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony.

   During bond hearings on March 9 and March 10, Stavropoulos presented evidence and arguments highlighting the danger both defendants pose to the community. On March 9, prosecutors argued that Luckett should receive a $750,000 bond because the alleged crime occurred in front of an eyewitness and because he was already out on bond in an unrelated domestic violence case. General Sessions Court Judge Taylor Bachelor set Luckett’s bond at $750,000.

   On March 10, prosecutors presented evidence of Johnson’s prior juvenile criminal history, including two alleged murder charges within the last five years, and noted that he was already out on bond in another weapons-related case. Judge Taylor Bachelor set Johnson’s bond at $1,000,000. Recent changes in Tennessee law allow courts to consider recent juvenile adjudications when determining whether a defendant poses a danger to the community, ensuring the court had the full picture before setting bond. DA Mulroy successfully pressed for this change in the law.

   The case stems from a February 28, 2026 attack in which prosecutors allege the defendants confronted victim Paul Wrushen during a personal dispute. Prosecutors say the men waited for Wrushen to leave a residence, struck him in the head with pistols, and then shot him before fleeing on foot. Prosecutors say the attack occurred because Wrushen was dating Alvino Johnson’s ex-girlfriend, who witnessed the incident.

Chief Prosecutor Atina Stavropoulos handled the hearings.

DA's Office in the Community

DA Mulroy Welcomes Prosecutors to Trial Advocacy Course

DA Mulroy delivered welcoming remarks at the District Attorneys Conference Trial Advocacy Course held at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The weeklong program is designed to strengthen the trial advocacy skills of prosecutors from across Tennessee.

Several Shelby County prosecutors participated in the course as both faculty and students, helping train and support the next generation of courtroom advocates.

DA's Office in the News

A man who shot and killed a 35-year-old in his driveway in North Memphis in 2023 was sentenced to 26 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said as part of the plea agreement, Steffon Boatwright will have to serve 100% of his time. |Man who shot victim over 40 times gets 26-year sentence in deal| via WREG 3

Happy Women's History Month!