Deputies innocent

[MommyG3]

Deputies innocent in death of man accused of killing Lee County sheriff


By Clay Harden
[email protected]

GREENVILLE — A federal jury today acquitted two Lee County deputies in the death of the man who gunned down Sheriff Harold Ray Presley.

Jason Stanford and Danny Dillard were charged with violating the civil rights of Billy Ray Stone of Baldwyn, who was beaten after deputies shot and handcuffed him following the shootout with Presley. Stone died on the scene from multiple blows to the head and without medical care for a gunshot wound.

Following the verdict, Stanford and Dillard said they wanted to return to law enforcement. And Lee County Sheriff Larry Presley, Harold Ray Presley's brother, said as soon as the men had had some time to recover from the trial he would put them back to work.

Stone's daughter, Shelly Shupe of Ogden, Utah, wore a tee-shirt with "in memory of Billy Ray Stone" on the front and "Stop Police Brutality" on the back. Her attorney, Christy McCoy, promised the family would file a civil suit to recover damages.

Defense attorneys said the key to the acquittal was getting FBI agent Alfred Spiers on the stand. Spiers testified that Lee County Deputy Jack Tate admitted striking Stone fives or more times in the head with a flashlight. The testimony cast doubt on prosecutors' assertions that Stanford and Dillard helped cause Stone's death, the defense said.

Defense attorneys also said showing a photo of Charlene Wright of Tupelo, whom Stone had kidnapped and threw naked and bound from his truck before the fatal shootout with law enforcement, also helped the jury see what kind of a man Stone was.

Charlene Presley, wife of the late sheriff, said, if Stone's family sues, she is going to sue or countersue to make sure Stone doesn't get any money out of killing a law enforcement officer.

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