Itawamba Man Pleads Guilty To Prison Murder

PEARL, Miss. (AP) – A man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing a fellow inmate inside the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.

Tyler James Smith pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the slaying of Clifton Majors.

Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest announced the plea and sentencing Monday.

Guest says Smith got into Majors’ cell on Sept. 1, 2013, and struck, stomped, choked and beat Majors until the 35-year-old inmate stopped breathing.

At the time of the attack, Smith was 20 years old and serving a two-year sentence on two counts of grand larceny from Itawamba County. Majors was serving an 18-year sentence for convictions on charges that included burglary and armed robbery.

Guest says Smith was a member of the Simon City Royals prison and street gang.