Hinds County DA Charged With Helping Accused Criminals

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The district attorney in Mississippi’s largest county has been arrested on charges of illegally advising people accused of crimes.

A six-count criminal charge was filed Wednesday against third-term Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith. It alleges Smith improperly consulted with two people facing criminal charges on at least six occasions since January.

The charge was filed by an investigator for Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood.

It alleges that Smith met with people held in the Hinds County Jail without their attorneys being present and that he referred to at least one of the two men as his client. State law bars such behavior.

Smith and Hood are both Democrats.

An employee in the Hinds County Justice Court clerk’s office said Smith also is charged with resisting arrest.