Circuit Judge - Mississippi Offers Reward To Find Pardoned Killer » The Commercial Appeal

Joseph Ozment

JACKSON Authorities are offering to you your prize with regard to data primary to be able to your tension of DeSoto County colossal Joseph Ozment, one of the above 200 inmates pardoned by means of an old governor Haley Barbour inside his past nights throughout office.

State Atty. Gen. Jim Hood wouldn't declare Thursday the amount of his place of work would pay, expressing this will depend upon precisely how beneficial the information similar to be able to be.

"This chap is often a murderer," Hood explained during a getting together with with reporters inside his office. "If he or she thinks about they've school ? for you to living hell with regard to life, after that he has been received absolutely nothing to help lose. We'll come across him."

Ozment will be merely missing inmate one of many all 5 prison trusties Barbour pardoned before leaving behind business sooner this calendar month when Gov. Phil Bryant ended up being sworn in.

Hood alleges the actual inmates were improperly released.

The hunt for Ozment is often a city issue as well as there's as a result not any bring about for their arrest, nonetheless Hood hopes to work him or her court docket papers that could involve your ex to measure in together with that Mississippi Department with Corrections every 1 day along with display for your hearing with Jackson Feb. 3.

Hood provides questioned for just a conclusion wisdom from Circuit Judge Tomie Green that the pardons were invalid simply because they violated a constitutional necessitie that 1 month notice receive inside neighborhood magazine just before inmates are usually pardoned.

Hood mentioned plain that there is certainly very little guarantee intended for Ozment includes managed to get tougher to locate your ex because close friends as well as relations may not be officially motivated to help cooperate along with cannot encounter fees intended for harboring him.

"I characterize them to be just like doing your manhunt with one fretting hand tied lurking behind me," this individual said.

Hood said Ozment's mother picked the pup up with the governor's mansion Jan. 8, as well as bodies haven't seen the pup since.

Ozment in 1994 had been sentenced to help lifestyle around living hell from the 1992 firing dying connected with Ricky A. Montgomery, 40, involving Hernando, your clerk at J & R's Old Road Store with 8408 U.S. 51 southwest involving Hernando.

Barbour kept a new news seminar sooner this specific month during which your dog said almost all inmates he pardoned had already dished up their content and also have been free, but their particular felony convictions saved them out of voting, receiving a decent job or maybe owning a handgun.

But Hood maintains that the majority of on the inmates were released inside breach on the condition Constitution supply this requires these individuals to buy papers ads launching his or her impending let go inside the local where their own crimes occurred.

Hood known that this provision ended up being included to Mississippi's 1890 make-up and keep governors from issuing pardons that will prisoners that decided not to are worthy of them.

"It was put in generally there to avoid upon neglect many of us find today," he / she said.