Two Mississippi males will spend several years behind bars for separate sex crimes committed on opposite sides of the state.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the sentencings of John Rouse and Edward Ewing, who were identified, investigated, and prosecuted by state authorities. Rouse was locked up for possessing child pornography while Ewing was incarcerated for promoting prostitution.
In mid-January, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Calvin Taylor sentenced Rouse to 30 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) with five years to serve followed by 25 years of post-release supervision for two counts of child exploitation. Rouse is now legally required to register as a sex offender.
Later in January, DeSoto County Circuit Court Judge Celeste Wilson sentenced Ewing to nine years in the custody of the MDOC with one year to serve and eight years of post-release supervision for one count of promoting prostitution. Ewing’s arrest and prosecution are the result of an undercover operation conducted by Mississippi’s Human Trafficking Task Force in Southaven
“Predators who seek to exploit the people of Mississippi will not go unpunished,” Attorney General Lynn Fitch said.
“Every day, our team works with law enforcement from across the state to uncover those hiding in the shadows and to seek justice for those who have been robbed of their power and self-worth. It is my hope and prayer that on their journey to find healing, these victims know and understand their dignity and value.”
In the past two years, the human trafficking multi-jurisdictional operations have led to the recovery of 328 victims and 85 arrests, the AG’s Office reports.
