Mississippi State is back in the postseason, and they will send their ace to the mound. Khal Stephen has been steady for State all year, holding an 8-3 record with a 3.38 ERA.

Navigating through a regional regarding pitching is difficult because the odds are State will face their stiffest competition in the second game. However, MSU must avoid the losers bracket, so they opt to go with their ace.

The best scenario for MSU would be to get a good start from the junior right-hander and save their bullpen for game two. Hunter Hines and Dakota Jordan have both been in a slump at the plate, combining for only one hit during the SEC tournament.

Regardless of pitching, MSU will only advance to the Super Regionals next week if the two Mississippi natives provide some production.

Mississippi State baseball versus St John’s at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+

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 JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced that Roger Lofton, former Support Care Professional at the Mississippi State Hospital, has pleaded guilty to fraudulent statements and representations. Rogers was arrested in January of 2024.

Lofton is guilty of falsifying timesheets while employed at the Mississippi State Hospital. Lofton was served with a $2,671.75 demand letter at the time of his arrest.

“We will continue to pursue cases, big and small, to send the message that we have zero tolerance for fraud involving taxpayer money,” said State Auditor Shad White.

Lofton was prosecuted by District Attorney John “Bubba” Bramlett’s office. Lofton’s sentencing is set for June 4^th.

No surety bond covers Lofton’s employment at the Mississippi State Hospital. Surety bonds are similar to insurance designed to protect taxpayers from corruption. Lofton will remain liable for the full amount of the demand in addition to criminal proceedings.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office online at any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during normal business hours.

MageeNews.com is the source for news and views in Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi

A woman has filed a $10 million federal lawsuit against a Mississippi police officer who she says sexually assaulted her during a traffic stop last August.

According to the suit, filed May 21 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Shanterra Jackson was riding in a vehicle driven by a man, identified by FOX13 in Memphis as Jackson’s fiance, in the town of Sardis, Miss., about 225 miles west of Huntsville, when they were stopped by a police officer.

The Sardis officer, unidentified in the lawsuit, walked up to the vehicle with gun drawn, the suit claims, ordering Jackson and her fiance to get out. The officer never informed Jackson or the man why they had been stopped, but he called for assistance from an officer from nearby Senatobia.

Senatobia officer Willis McNeil arrived at the scene and, without explanation or probable cause, handcuffed Jackson, according to the complaint. At the same time, Jackson’s fiance was ordered by the Sardis officer to get inside a police vehicle.

McNeil began driving Jackson into the woods. When Jackson repeatedly asked why, McNeil is alleged to have replied “You know for what.” Once McNeil stopped the vehicle, he took Jackson out, removed her handcuffs and bent her over his car before sexually assaulting her, according to the complaint.

The complaint says McNeil turned his body camera off prior to the assault. FOX13 obtained police records which also showed McNeil turned his body camera off after detaining Jackson.

Jackson’s attorney, Carlos Moore, told McClatchy News Jackson was never charged with a crime after she was detained and assaulted.

McNeil and Senatobia police chief Richard Chandler are named as co-defendants in the $10 million suit.

In a statement to McClatchy News, Chandler seems to suggest McNeil wasn’t on duty at the time of the incident.

“In the complaint, Attorney Moore makes allegations against Defendant Willis McNeil and says that McNeil was on duty for the Senatobia Police Department. Attorney Moore’s allegation is blatantly false. The City and Chief Richard Chandler look forward to responding to Attorney Moore’s allegations in more detail through the proper legal channels.”

Jackson’s lawsuit marks another controversy for the embattled Senatobia police department and Chandler, both listed as defendants in a $2 million lawsuit filed by the mother of a 10-year-old boy who was arrested last August for urinating in public.

In addition to Chandler and police Lt. Zachary Jenkins, four unnamed police officers are listed as defendants in that lawsuit. It’s unknown whether McNeil is one of those officers.