On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, a Simpson County jury found 59 year old James Carroll of Braxton, guilty of two counts of Exploitation of a Child. This case was investigated by the Simpson County Sheriff's Department. The investigation began when Carroll turned in his Town of Braxton cell phone after he was terminated from employment with the town. The city clerk noticed text messages on the phone that appeared to be related to potential criminal activity and alerted the mayor. The mayor then contacted the Simpson County Sheriff's Department and consented to a forensic review of the cell phone which had been issued to Carroll by the Cyber Crimes Unit of the Mississippi Attorney General's Office. During the course of the forensic review, numerous photographs were discovered depicting child pornography. A warrant was issued for Carroll and when he was arrested his personal cell phone was taken into evidence. A search warrant was obtained for Carroll's personal phone and again multiple photographs depicting child pornography were discovered.

After a full day of trial, the jury ultimately did not believe Carroll's defense that someone else had downloaded and looked at the child pornography on his phones and found him guilty of both counts. Circuit Judge Matthew Sullivan sentenced Carroll to the maximum sentence of 80 years to serve in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The sentence is a day for day sentence. The trial team of Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Wood, Special Assistant Attorney General Brandon Ogburn, former Cyber Crimes Investigator Ashley Boldig, and Simpson County Investigator Adam Scarborough worked many hours investigating this case and preparing the case for trial. Wood, Ogburn and Boldig did an excellent job presenting the very technical digital forensic evidence to the jury in a manner that was easy to understand.

"I want to sincerely thank Attorney General Lynn Fitch and her team for the outstanding support given in the investigation and prosecution of this case. The technical assistance offered by the Cyber Crimes Unit makes it possible to investigate and prosecute those involved in this type of crime. Contrary to what some may believe, looking at and possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime. These images are not Al generated. These images document the sexual battery and exploitation of the most vulnerable members of our society."

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