Former Philly coach, others indicted

A former Philadelphia High School coach charged with sexual battery of a student in 2022 was among those indicted during the latest Neshoba County grand jury.

A grand jury convened on April 28 and April 29, Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark said. The coach was one of three men indicted for alleged sexual misconduct against a minor.

The former Philadelphia High School coach, Joshua Griffin, 38, of 279 Laurel Hill Road, Carthage, was re-indicted for one count of sexual battery of a mentally incapacitated person and knowingly possessing or accessing with intent to view a visual depiction, Philadelphia Police Investigator Shea Elliott said.

Elliott said these are the same charges for which Griffin was indicted in December 2023. Griffin was re-indicted for procedural reasons.

Griffin was arrested by Neshoba County Sheriff's deputies on Monday, December 21, 2023, at Wingfield High School in Jackson, where he was coaching.

Elliott said they first became aware of Griffin in April 2022 when he was working as a multi-sport coach at Philadelphia High School. He was arrested on April 11, 2022.

The victim was a student at PHS, and Griffin was terminated from his position there shortly after the arrest, Elliott said.

Elliott said the investigation has evidence from Griffin’s cell phone as well as victim testimony.

“It has been a long case,” Elliott said.

Elliott said she believes Griffin is also being investigated for similar offenses in another jurisdiction.

According to a civil lawsuit filed earlier this year in federal court, Griffin and the PHS principal at the time of the incident, Steve Eiland, are accused of being complicit in the sexual assault and exploitation of a minor.

The complaint claims that a 14-year-old female special education student was sexually assaulted by her teacher, Joshua Griffin, during the spring semester of 2022.

The lawsuit further alleges that the former high school principal, Steve Eiland, was informed of Griffin’s inappropriate behavior towards other students as early as the fall of 2021.

The second man indicted was William Long.

Long, 44, 10411 Road 852, was indicted for gratification of lust during the April grand jury, Clark said.

Clark said investigators believe the incident occurred on Nov. 1, 2024. Clark said the victim, a 16-year-old female who was a friend of one of Long’s kids, told her parents about alleged inappropriate behavior on Nov. 4, and the family reported the incident to the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office the following day.

Due to the lengthy and complex nature of the investigation, Clark said Long was not arrested until after he was indicted.

Clark said Long was arrested at his workplace on Friday, May 2. Clark said he preferred not to identify where Long worked due to their cooperation in the investigation.

The third man was Dylan Brackeen. Clark said Brackeen, 32, 10130 Rd 2208, was indicted for sexual battery of a minor.

Clark said Brackeen allegedly had inappropriate sexual relations with a female victim who was 15 years old at the time of the assault.

Investigators determined the incident happened during a New Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31, 2022, at Brackeen’s residence. Clark said Brackeen reportedly let the victim use his THC vape pen and engaged in sexual conduct with the victim.

Clark said Brackeen was also arrested at the time he was served his indictment on May 1 at the Neshoba County Courthouse for bond call following the April grand jury.

The following were also indicted during the April grand jury:

• Jessica Tonielle Andre, 42, 11271 Road 397, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Deborah Lynn Dooley-Withers, 31, 421 W Oxford St, Pontotoc, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Patrick Tip Ellis, 32, 3747 Popes Road, Carthage, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Shaniya Finley, 27, 605 W Walnut St., was indicted for malicious mischief.

• John Alan Gilbert, 48, 10360 Road 347, Union, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

• Christopher Hall, 40, 2001 S.O. William Road, Carthage, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Melvin Holesome, 62, 6618 North Hill St., was indicted for grand larceny.

• Christopher Hughes, 33, of 1834 Bethel Road, Louisville, was indicted for trafficking of a controlled substance.

• William Jones, 58, 10351 Road 573, was indicted for trafficking of a controlled substance.

• Destiny Elizabeth Landrum, 20, 107 Live Oak Road, Carthage, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• William Ray McKinney, 30, 10190 Road 428, Union, was indicted for manslaughter.

• Joshua Lamar Moore, 41, 12901 Highway 482, was indicted for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

• Norman Moore, 63, 10050 Road 551, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Joey Defay Morgan, 39, 10440 Highway 19 N Apt 9, Meridian, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

• Medgal Garcia Peebles, 31, 7522 Weiser Ave., San Diego, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Michael Shoemaker, 27, 406 Montgomery Ave., was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Stanley Ray Ward, 58, 10660 Road 432, Ward, was indicted for trafficking of a controlled substance.

• Melissa Renee Comans, 52, 83 Springfield Road, Carthage, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Randall Arthur Edmonson, 57, 289 Bent Oak Road, Columbus was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Cordarrel Jones, 36, 22 Sciples Mill Road, DeKalb was indicted for malicious mischief.

• Samuel Chase Keely, 42, 9469 W Lauderdale Road, Collinsville, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Jeremy Charles Libenstein, 29, 12424 Appleton Way, Los Angeles, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Maurice McMillan, 40, 144 Rolling Hills Circle,  was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Kristy Michelle Odom, 45, 7729 Attala Road Highway 440, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Bennie Joe Stevens Jr, 43, 1905 Rose Bud School Road, Walnut Grove, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Matthew Jerome Sullivan, 31, 580 Sullivan Road, Collinsville, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance.

• Troy Wilson Jr, 55, of 660 Turkey Creek Road, was indicted for DUI, fourth offense.

Clark said that more offenders are yet to be served with their indictments, but noted that his office has entered all outstanding offenders into a national database.