Webster County Sheriff Tim Mitchell faces 12 felony counts

WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Instead of running a jail and upholding the law, tonight the Sheriff is sitting in the Lafayette County Detention Center.

There is a sense of disbelief in Webster County, as Sheriff Tim Mitchell sits behind bars Wednesday night. 

His arrest comes less than a month after turning in a letter of resignation.

Mitchell told WCBI he was quitting due to health problems.

Multiple sources told us there was more to the move.

Calls and rumors have been pouring into the newsroom for months about the sheriff, but the information could never be confirmed by an investigating agency.

Now, multiple law enforcement agencies are bringing charges against the two term sheriff.

In fact, the sheriff faces 12 felony charges.

He was arrested Wednesday morning by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.

We know very little about the accusations brought against Sheriff Tim Mitchell, just the charges.

Law enforcement aren’t saying much about the active investigation.

We do know if he’s convicted, Mitchell faces up to 152 years in prison.

The press release from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation lists a long rap sheet of charges against Webster County Sheriff Tim Mitchell.

He’s accused of 12 crimes, including attempting a sexual act with an inmate, to giving weapons to a prisoner.

There’s also embezzlement accusations and trafficking stolen firearms charges.

“It was an investigation going on by multiple agencies that led to his arrest around the seven o’clock hour,” said MHP Spokesman Master Sgt. Criss Turnipseed.  

Mitchell was arrested at his Hobby Road home on Wednesday morning.

“Just information gathered, which led to an investigation, which led to a warrant and arrest.”

District Attorney Doug Evans says Circuit Judge Joseph Loper signed the warrant.

The case will be presented to a Webster County Grand Jury, in the near future.

Until then, several state agencies will continue to collect evidence.

Law enforcement surrounded the sheriff’s department for hours on Wednesday, while taking items and reviewing records.

“It’s part of the investigation. We are here just following up at the jail, at the Webster County Jail, doing an investigation here, taking some inventory of some things, just kind of goes along with all the rest of what’s going on.”

Turnipseed says as the investigation moves forward, the work of protecting Webster County residents will continue at the sheriff’s department.

“The jail will still be functioning. There are still people that are employed with the department that will continue the duties and the services of the sheriff’s department.”

Sheriff Mitchell’s first court appearance is set for Thursday afternoon in Eupora.

The State Auditor’s Office is also involved in the investigation, focusing on the two embezzlement charges.

“Our team is experienced in looking at property that’s potentially stolen, identifying things in an evidence locker for instance, where something should be, but is missing, and so we come in and help with that facet of the investigations,” says Mississippi State Auditor, Shad White.