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MOBILE – Former Jackson County, Miss., Sheriff Mike Byrd was sentenced Tuesday to six months of home confinement followed by six months of probation during an appearance in federal court in Mobile.
Last December, Byrd pleaded guilty to misleading conduct toward another person with intent to prevent communication to a federal law enforcement officer.
The plea came in a deal with prosecutors stemming from the June 19, 2012, arrest of John Mark Stahl after a chase from Jackson County into Mobile County.
Byrd admitted to kicking Stahl while he was restrained and to subsequently misleading an officer about the incident, court records show. Byrd also admitted to having one of his deputies erase dashboard camera video of the arrest and ordering a department employee to “wipe” Byrd’s office computer to destroy emails.
Byrd resigned as sheriff when he pleaded guilty to the state charge on Dec. 12.
The state charges portrayed Byrd as a sheriff who used his office to retaliate against perceived enemies; order deputies and office staff to raise money for private causes; conceal a shooting at a county narcotics task force office; pressure witnesses to testify falsely before a grand jury; demand free lawn mower repair; and punish a female deputy who rebuffed his sexual advances.
