A former Jackson police officer will be compensated by the state of Mississippi following a court’s decision to overturn his conviction.
After the Mississippi Court of Appeals’ narrow vote to absolve Anthony Fox of criminal actions in connection with the 2019 death of 62-year-old George Robinson, the state will now pay the former policeman just over $75,000.
The money from the state is made available by a bill passed by the legislature in 2009 and signed into law by then-Gov. Haley Barbour allowing those who have been wrongfully convicted of a crime to acquire reimbursement for time they could have spent earning an income.
Back in August 2022, Fox was handed a five-year sentence for culpable-negligence manslaughter as he was argued to have been responsible for Robinson’s death.
Fox, alongside officers Lincoln Lampley and Desmond Barney, were staking out an area on Jones Avenue in Jackson in search of a man accused of killing a local pastor when things went awry.
A barbecue was taking place at a nearby residence and the officers were planning to interview individuals at the location to gather information about the suspected killer. Robinson, who allegedly was hosting the barbecue, was returning home from the store when he was approached by Fox.
Fox is said to have yanked Robinson out of his vehicle, slammed him to the ground, stomped on him, and used excessive force to the victim’s head and chest area. Robinson was cited by Fox for resisting arrest and was told to leave the scene.
Soon after, Robinson reportedly went to a local hotel to visit his girlfriend who was living at the location. She had allegedly left to go to the store while Robinson was in stable condition, but returned to him in an unconscious state.
Paramedics rushed Robinson to the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he was reported to have a subdural hematoma, or collection of blood, on his brain. An emergency craniotomy was performed to relieve the pressure. Nonetheless, Robinson passed away at the hospital two days later.
While the other two officers were cleared of any wrongdoing, Fox was convicted of Robinson’s death after being hired by the Clinton Police Department. The injuries the 62-year-old sustained from the law enforcement officer were believed to be directly related to his passing, but Fox’s legal counsel maintained that the officer was operating within the scope of his duties.
The appeals court, in a 5-4 vote, found that there was insufficient evidence presented during Fox’s trial and that the jury was not properly instructed ahead of arguments being presented, thus overturning the initial decision to convict the officer.
“The State concedes error on this issue. After review, we likewise conclude that the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict. The conviction is reversed, and a judgment of acquittal is rendered in Fox’s favor,” the appeals court’s ruling states.
Fox has since been rehired by the Clinton Police Department where he serves as a K-9 narcotics officer. The case against him cannot be retried unless Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, a vocal supporter of the law enforcement officer, decides to pursue it.
