Exclusive: Rankin Co. sheriff denounces Mississippi Today investigation, calling it ‘poorly-researched work of fiction’

RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) - The Rankin County sheriff is fiercely criticizing a Mississippi Today investigation alleging that he used county resources and tax dollars for his own personal gain, but deferred to his attorney for specifics on the claims raised Thursday.

The sheriff takes issue with the six-month investigation, telling 3 On Your Side exclusively that the reporting is not true, even as the sheriff’s own attorney admits some of what was reported did happen.

The bulk of these allegations against the sheriff come from one of his own, a deputy convicted and sentenced for his role in the torture and beating of two Black men.

Former Goon Squad member Christian Dedmon told Mississippi Today that Sheriff Bailey has been using county resources for his personal benefit.

Dedmon and former inmates at the Rankin County jail told the news organization that they worked on a poultry farm belonging to Bailey’s mother.

The report alleges that the sheriff’s department bought a skid steer with accessories valued at $150,000, and Dedmon said it was used on the family farm.

Dedmon also claimed he and Bailey stole gravel from a county facility and used it on the farm, too.

“The article is a poorly researched work of fiction,” Bailey said, referencing his attorney for further comment.

Sheriff Bailey has been under fire since news of the Goon Squad’s torture and beating of two Black men surfaced two years ago, with many in the county calling for his resignation.

Bailey claimed he had no knowledge of the Goon Squad’s actions.

The attorney for the sheriff’s office, Jason Dare, released a lengthy statement refuting many of the claims in the report, but also confirmed one of them.

Dare said Sheriff Bailey purchased dozens of loads of gravel from a local business to be used at his family farm.

He said the sheriff owns a skid steer that’s often confused for the county equipment.

Dare also said equipment purchased for chicken farms was used at the Rankin County Jail’s chicken coop.

He did, however, admit that trustees worked at Bailey’s family farm, but maintains they are paid according to state law.

No Rankin County supervisor answered our request for comment on these allegations.

Below is the response in its entirety:

To keep the public informed about programs at the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department and due to recent misconceptions about the Trusty Inmate and Work Release Programs, Sheriff Bailey has added a section to his website dedicated to both, including several success stories relayed by former Trustees and businesses that employ them.

Further, a recent attack on Sheriff Bailey and his family has maliciously used unreliable sources and/or false allegations in an attempt to tarnish his reputation and/or shut down the Trusty Programs (Rankin County has the only Work Release Program in Mississippi). The truth not disclosed by the article is as follows:

· Regardless of which governmental or private entity a Trustee works for, they are paid pursuant to statute and keep wages earned by them according to statute.

· Despite being authorized by statute to keep 15% of all wages earned by Trustees as an administrative fee, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department keeps none of their money and allows them to use or save that additional money in their own private bank accounts.

· Sheriff Bailey purchased ~ 25 loads of gravel from a local business and was given recycled, crushed concrete from a private demolition company that was used to cover roads at McLain Farms.

· Sheriff Bailey owns a skid steer that is all-but identical to and commonly confused for the one owned by Rankin County.

· The Rankin County Jail has its own chickens and chicken coop used for Trustees to have fresh eggs. The four brooder lamps, five heat lamp bulbs, one brooder house, chicken feed, and netting at issue in the article were purchased with seized drug funds for use at the Jail’s chicken coop and for the benefit of Trustees.

· The corn and other vegetables picked by Trustees at McLain Farms are given to the Trustees and brought back to the Jail for their use.

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