If you’re on social media, you may have seen these posts scroll by. Blue background with Convictions and Years Sentenced, and a gavel banging down. But you may not know what it all means. It’s our Weekly Tally, which we provide as an update on our work. Each week, we report how many defendants we’ve convicted, and years of prison they’ve been sentenced to. We also add it up for the year-to-date total.
Our prosecutors touch over 1000 cases every week. Just this year—since January—we have convicted well over 1000 defendants, and handed out almost 4000 years in prison sentences. This is more than any other DA's office in the state, more than the federal prosecutors in our county (all of whom do good work). We’re handling over 90% of the cases coming from the federal Memphis Safe Task Force, and we’re treating them the same as every other case we get independently from our local law enforcement partners.
So, we’re keeping busy.
Are Defendants Convicted or Years Sentenced the best metrics of a DA office performance? Not necessarily. I can think of better ones—for example, the overall crime rate, which has been going down steadily starting from my first year in office.
But in our politically polarized era, with politicians spreading false narratives that our office isn’t putting the bad guys away, it’s a useful reminder to move past the hype and look at the facts.
Guilty Verdict Secured on Rape and Aggravated Statutory Rape Charges: Assistant District Attorneys William Wetter and Annika Rush successfully prosecuted the case of Cortney Jones, who a jury found guilty as charged on two counts—Rape and Aggravated Statutory Rape. The evidence presented by the prosecution showed that the victim, who was 13 at the time, reported that Jones, a family friend, began living in the home and later started entering her room at night to commit the assaults.
During the trial, prosecutors highlighted the victim’s forensic interview from March 2023, where she provided detailed accounts of the sexual abuse she experienced from early 2022 until her 14th birthday in December 2022. The prosecution also pointed out the conflicting statements Jones made during his testimony about his living arrangements, initially denying he was living in the home, then claiming he was, and later stating he was not there during the time of the assaults.
The case stems from allegations that Jones entered the victim’s home, repeatedly raped her over a period of months, and caused trauma that led to the charges. Following deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts: Rape and Aggravated Statutory Rape. Jones now faces a sentence of 12–20 years, with the requirement to serve 100% of the sentence, and must register as a Violent Sex Offender. Sentencing is scheduled for April 27, 2026.
ADAs William Wetter & Annika Rush handled the case.
Judge Raises Bond to $1 Million After Defendant Confesses in Court: Assistant District Attorney Steven Shirley successfully handled a bond hearing for Jonathan Ransom, who faces charges of Aggravated Arson, Domestic Assault, and Vandalism ($1,000–$2,500). During the March 17 hearing, Ransom chose to testify against the advice of counsel and admitted under oath to his actions. Based on that testimony and his criminal history, General Sessions Judge Gilbert increased Ransom’s bond from $75,000 to $1,000,000.
Shirley presented the seriousness of the charges and highlighted Ransom’s prior felony convictions, including a second-degree murder, to support the request for a higher bond and to address the risk he poses to the community.
The case stems from an incident in the early hours of March 14 in which Ransom set fire to two bedrooms inside his intimate partner’s apartment and used a metal chair to break her car windows. The apartment building was occupied at the time, with neighbors in adjacent units.
ADA Steven Shirley handled the hearing.
Teen Transferred to Adult Court in Two Separate Homicide Cases: Chief Prosecutor Matthew Ian John successfully handled the transfer hearing for Maximus Tate, who was transferred to adult court on March 16 in connection with two separate 2024 homicide cases. Tate, who was 15 at the time of the offenses, now faces adult prosecution after the DA’s Office filed a motion to transfer, which the Juvenile Court judge granted based on the severity of the charges.
John presented the facts and seriousness of the offenses to support the transfer, ensuring the cases will proceed in adult criminal court.
The case stems from two separate 2024 incidents in which Tate is accused of committing fatal shootings. In one case, Jarvis Jackson was shot near the intersection of Edith Street and E. McLemore Avenue. In the second case, Devin Graham was killed during a robbery at 695 Saxon Avenue. Tate now faces charges related to both homicides.
Chief Prosecutor Matthew Ian John handled the case.
DA’s Office Attorneys Participate in Trial Advocacy Course at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
 Deputy District Attorney Chris Lareau along with DA Office staff who attended the Trial Advocacy Course, a week-long training held at the Univ of Memphis School of Law. From left: Faculty member Steven Strain; First Deputy DA Chris Lareau; ADAs Marie Ford, Brittany Neal, Dijahanua Jones, Daniel Woodford, and William Walsh.
DA Mulroy Attends Rotary Club of Memphis Monthly Meeting
 DA Mulroy recently attended the monthly meeting of the Rotary Club of Memphis as the guest of WMC TV’s Joe Birch, who interviewed DA Mulroy regarding the cooperation between our office and the federal task force. Former ADA Kevin Rardin (upper right) also attended.
The department [Tennessee Department of Revenue] pursued the criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney General Steve Mulroy’s Office. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee's revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389). |Shelby County Business Owner Pleads No Contest| via TN.GOV
The DA’s Office said that a fire was set inside an occupied apartment building, putting other residents at risk. Ransom also admitted to smashing car windows with a metal chair. He also had prior felony convictions, one of which included second-degree murder. |Arson suspect’s bond raised to $1M after confession in court| via WMC 5
A man was found guilty of rape and aggravated statutory rape of a family friend, according to a social media post from the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. Cortney Jones was found guilty of raping the victim, who was 13 at the time, multiple times. |Jury finds Memphis man guilty of raping 13-year-old girl| via WREG 3
Happy Women's History Month!
|
