Former interim Hinds County Sheriff Marshand Crisler will stand trial beginning Wednesday for allegedly abusing his position in law enforcement by accepting bribes and aiding a convicted felon.
Crisler will appear in court for a three-day stint. He was spotted walking into the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in downtown Jackson earlier Wednesday morning.
According to court documents, Crisler, who served as interim Hinds County Sheriff following the death of Lee Vance, is charged with having accepted thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for agreeing to pass information concerning criminal investigations to the person who paid the bribes.
The former Jackson city councilman also reportedly agreed to protect a jailed family member of the person who supposedly gave out the bribe and agreed to award employment with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office to said individual. These actions are said to have taken place during Crisler’s previous unsuccessful campaign for Hinds County Sheriff in 2021 when he was defeated by current Sheriff Tyree Jones.
In addition, Crisler is accused of supplying ammunition to a person he knew to be a convicted felon — a direct violation of federal law.
Crisler tossed his hat in the ring at an opportunity to become Hinds County’s top cop in 2023, but was ousted once again by Jones.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges levied against him. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
