Parents face new charges in county

Parents face new charges in county

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The parents of an infant child who died suspiciously in a New Orleans hotel over New Year’s have been arrested in Neshoba County on drug-related charges and other violations since, according to Sheriff Eric Clark.

The mother, Shelbie Lynn Pinson, 22, of 10061 Road 420, was charged here on Jan. 17 with possession of a controlled substance, Clark said. 

Pinson was booked on a Sunday morning just after midnight, Clark said. She was arrested during a routine traffic stop. She faces a bond of $800 for the misdemeanor controlled substance charge. Pinson also faces a hold from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

The father, Billy Withers, 27, of 10061 Road 1120, was booked into the Neshoba County Jail Jan. 7 on a drug court violation. 

Clark said that Withers turned himself in after talking to his drug court officer who advised that he do so. Clark said he had already had deputies check several residents when his warrant came in, though they did not play a role in his arrest.

Withers is in MDOC custody and his drug court status is likely in peril if not already terminated, Clark said.

The arrests came just days after they were arrested in New Orleans 

On Jan. 3, the two, along with a third adult, James D. Watkins, where charged in connection but not with the death of their 18-month-old son found unresponsive in a 12th-floor Harrah’s hotel room around 7:30 a.m. that morning. 

His three-year-old brother was also found to have injuries reported to be scratches and bruises.

Withers and Watkins were charged with cruelty to a juvenile and Pinson faces the same charge and a charge of possession of paraphernalia.

The three adults said they were not aware of any bruises on the three-year-old, but Pinson and Watkins did confess to smoking methamphetamines in the bathroom. 

Pinson posted a bond of $32,500. Her next court date in Orleans Parish Magistrate Court is for March 5. 

Withers has a scheduled court date in Louisiana for Feb. 18 in Orleans Parish Magistrate Court. 

He bonded out of Orleans Parish jail on a $7,500 bond. 

Watkins, 20, posted a $5,000 bond. His next court date is Feb. 18 in Louisiana as well.

Clark said that he had been contacted by Child Protective Services in connection to the matter. Clark said he provided them with background information on the accused. 

He has said the cause of death is believed to be drowning. Louisiana arrest records do not show any arrests for the child's death as of Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Cruelty to a juvenile in Louisiana is defined as any “intentional or criminally negligent mistreatment or neglect” inflicted upon a minor by an adult.

There is no mandatory minimum punishment but, if convicted, adult offenders can face up to 20 years in prison if the child is younger than 8 years old.

Records show all have had local run-ins with the law. Pinson was brought in on burglary charges in August of 2018 and January of 2019. 

Withers was charged in June of 2018 when he was 24 with five counts of burglary and misdemeanor false pretense in what then-Sheriff Tommy Waddell reported as a string of burglaries throughout the county. 

Withers has appeared in other crime reports and jail record appearances going back at least as far as 2011.

Watkins was brought in last April when he was 19 years old for making threatening or harassing phone calls.






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