HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – Denzer Guzman made himself right at home with a solo Home Run in his debut for the Rocket City Trash Pandas in their win over the Mississippi Braves 4-2.

Following a 45-minute rain delay prior to the game, Mississippi wasted no time finding the scoreboard as infielder Nacho Alavrez Jr. doubled to drive in the opening run in the first inning.

Rocket City responded in the next half inning as outfielder Eric Wagaman ripped one over the leftfield wall for a two-run homer off Braves starting pitcher Drew Parrish (L, 2-3), giving the Trash Pandas a 2-1 lead.

Mississippi evened the score in the second as infielder Bryson Horne singled in the tying run for the team’s third hit of the inning. The Braves took the lead later in the frame with a sacrifice fly from outfielder Justin Dean.

The Trash Pandas tied the game again in the next half inning as infielder Denzer Guzman hit a solo homer in his first AA at-bat to knot the game at three.

Rocket City grabbed the lead in the fourth as on a hit-and-run, infielder Kyren Paris scored from second off an infield single to short from outfielder Gustavo Campero.

The Trash Pandas bullpen, led by two hitless innings from Ivan Armstrong (W, 3-0) and a 1-2-3 ninth from Michael Darrell-Hicks (S, 3), held the Braves scoreless over the final seven innings to secure the series-opening win.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. — Anthony Johnson commits to Mississippi State and is the fourth defensive lineman signed out of the transfer portal for first-year head coach Jeff Lebby. One of the biggest areas of concern for the Bulldogs is their lack of experience on the defensive line, particularly in the interior.  

Johnson is a college football veteran, and this will be his fourth different program of his career. He started out at Bowling Green before transferring to Youngstown State in 2021. 

The Cleveland, Ohio native played well in his time at Youngstown. He made six starts as a junior, made 13 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and had a sack. 

Last season, the 6-3 300-pounder had a career year with 25 tackles, 6.5 for loss, and four sacks. After his breakthrough season, he entered the transfer portal again and ended up in the Big 10. 

However, Johnson would not stay in Illinois for long as it was announced on April 13th that he was no longer with the program. MSU needed some help on the defensive line in both portal cycles, and this is the most productive defensive lineman they have signed, albeit at a lower level. 

Mississippi State defensive line coach David Turner is notorious for his development of players, so the Bulldogs hope the veteran coach can work some magic on Johnson. 

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A former Mississippi sheriff has pleaded guilty to making false statements to agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding his relationship with an inmate in the Noxubee County jail.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Terry Grassaree, 61, of Macon, made a false statement to the FBI in July 2020, when he was questioned about requesting and receiving nude photos or videos from an inmate in the jail that he oversaw as the sheriff of Noxubee County.

Grassaree solicited and accepted nude photos and videos from the female inmate in exchange for favorable treatment.

He provided her with benefits at the jail that other inmates did not receive, or did not receive as often, including allowing the use of a contraband cell phone, tobacco, and other items.

She was also made a trustee and given a job cooking in the jail.

On March 5, 2019, Grassaree used a social media platform to request a video from the inmate.

On the same date, Grassaree received multiple nude images from the inmate via the social media platform and responded in “a flirtatious and complimentary manner.”

During an interview with the FBI, Grassaree lied about receiving the photographs, and these statements were intended to influence the FBI’s investigation.

Grassaree was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 5, 2022.

One of Grassaree’s former deputies, Vance Phillips, has also pleaded guilty to using facilities in interstate commerce, namely, the internet and a cellular phone, for the purpose of committing the offense of bribery.

Phillips is awaiting sentencing and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Grassaree is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Purdie and Dave Fulcher are prosecuting the case.

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