There is a new sheriff in town, and a familiar judge returns on a temporary basis.
By a vote of 4-1, Jimmy Fly of Charleston is now sheriff of Tallahatchie County.
The 33-year-old former Tallahatchie County deputy sheriff, who served the last two years and seven-and-a-half months as justice court judge in the county’s District 1, was administered the sheriff’s oath of office by Circuit Judge Jimmy McClure shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, during a ceremony at the Panola County Courthouse in Batesville. Fly becomes the youngest sheriff in modern Tallahatchie County history.
About four hours earlier, the Tallahatchie County Board of Supervisors had appointed Fly to serve out the remaining 16-plus months of the unexpired term of ex-sheriff William Brewer, who resigned Aug. 13 under a cloud of federal criminal charges including narcotics trafficking, extortion and bribery. Brewer, 58, was arrested by the FBI Aug. 10.
Fly worked under Brewer for about five years before leaving the sheriff’s department in 2015 to launch his successful campaign for the post being vacated by justice judge Steve Ross, then 64, who was retiring after 43 years on the bench.
When supervisors gathered in special session Aug. 16 at the Charleston courthouse, they unanimously accepted Brewer’s letter of resignation.
District 3 Supervisor Larry Cole then made a motion, seconded by District 2 Supervisor Johnny Goodwin, to appoint Fly sheriff. District 1 Supervisor Kenneth “Buck” Havens and District 4 Supervisor Marcus Echols supported the motion. District 5 Supervisor Eddie Meeks cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he expected discussion, and possibly interviews, of other potential candidates.
Dianne Taylor, president of the Tallahatchie County NAACP, requested permission to address the board.
“I vehemently oppose the appointment of Jimmy Fly,” Taylor said. “Over several terms over 20 years, Sheriff Brewer has held this county hostage, and to appoint Jimmy Fly is just continuing that. ... It’s going to be business as usual with Jimmy Fly because he came up under William Brewer. You need to ... not let this county still be tainted by the aura of Brewer, and that’s what you’re doing.”
Taylor said former Charleston police chief and part-time county deputy sheriff John Page, or former highway patrolman Randy Cook, who ran against Brewer for sheriff in the 2015 election, should have been considered instead.
Meeks said he, too, had been prepared to recommend Cook for the appointment.
“I felt he would make a good sheriff for this county,” noted Meeks. “He ran against Sheriff Brewer. I figured that you would be distancing yourself from that administration if [Cook] was given an opportunity to come before this board. I don’t think it’s fair that no one else is given the opportunity.”
Defending his motion, Cole lauded Fly’s education — he has a bachelor’s degree in social justice and criminology — and said Fly “will have a better education background than any sheriff we’ve ever had. ... I believe he’ll make the best one.”
Goodwin agreed that Fly “has the education, he has experience with the sheriff’s department and he knows the law,” adding, “I have known the kid since he came into this world. He’s a good Christian boy and he’ll bring integrity to the sheriff’s department and Tallahatchie County.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the board met again in special session in Charleston to appoint someone to fill Fly’s vacant justice judge position until the end of the term.
After discussion, Meeks made a motion, seconded by Echols, to appoint Charleston attorney and municipal court judge Tara Lang. Cole, Goodwin and Havens dissented and the motion failed 3-2.
Cole then made a motion, seconded by Havens, to appoint Steve Ross. Goodwin voted yes. Echols and Meeks voted no, but Ross won 3-2.
All countywide and county district offices, including those of sheriff and justice judge, will be on the ballot in next year’s elections. A new four-year term starts in 2020.
IN THE PHOTO: Mary Fly holds the family Bible while Circuit Judge Jimmy McClure administers the oath of office to her husband, Jimmy Fly, as sheriff of Tallahatchie County Thursday afternoon, Aug. 16, at the Panola County Courthouse in Batesville. Also looking on (from left) are Tallahatchie County deputies Benji McKinney and Taranetta Harris, Jimmy Fly’s mother Ann Reynolds, and Jimmy Fly's brother Will Reynolds. (Photo special to The Sun-Sentinel)
