101916 daily corinthian e edition

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Home & Garden Plant violas now for winter color

Prentiss County Drugs in jail bring charges

Eduction Local SCV camp awards scholarships

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Wednesday Oct. 19,

2016

75 cents

Daily Corinthian

Some sun Today

Tonight

89

67

30% chance of P.M. T-storms

Vol. 120, No. 252

• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • Two sections

Ex-senator pleads guilty to bribery BY JEFF AMY Associated Press

JACKSON — A former state senator pleaded guilty in Mississippi’s prison contract bribery scandal Tuesday, becoming the sixth person to admit to guilt in the investigation centering on former Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps.

Alcorn County native Irb Benjamin of Madison pleaded guilty to one count of bribery before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate in Jackson. Benjamin faces up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. Prosecutors also want him to forfeit money he gained. He remains free until sentenc-

ing on $10,000 bail. Indicted in August 2015, Benjamin faced one count of honest services wire fraud and two counts of bribery. If he had been convicted of all three, he could have faced up to 40 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines. Benjamin admitted in court that he gave Epps bribes and

kickbacks in exchange for the state selecting his company, Mississippi Correctional Management, to provide drug and alcohol treatment services to inmates at state work centers in Alcorn and Simpson counties. The company collected about $774,000, according to court documents.

He also admitted paying Epps to help the company obtain consulting contracts worth $862,000 overall from three counties: Alcorn, Washington and Chickasaw. All three counties built regional jails, which had to be Please see BRIBERY | 6A

Benjamin paints Epps as aggressor BY JEFF AMY Associated Press

Staff photo by Zack Steen

Corinth Fire Department Training Officer Jerry Worley is heading up the fundraiser to purchase a new “Sparky” firepup suit.

‘Sparky’ needs a new suit BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

“Sparky” has seen better days. The Corinth Fire Department is working to raise funds needed to replace the wornout “Sparky” firepup mascot costume. “The suit has about had it,” said Training Officer Jerry

Worley. Part of continuing education at the Corinth Fire Department, “Sparky” is very important to the community, said Worley. “We use the suit to help teach kids about fire safety. He goes to community events, rides in Christmas parades and gives groups tours of the

fire station,” said Worley. Developed by the National Fire Safety Council, the friendly Dalmatian character makes learning about fire and burn prevention and life safety issues, fun, entertaining and non-threatening. “‘Sparky’ is a friendly and Please see SPARKY | 2A

Oasis center will offer ultrasounds for free

JACKSON — The highestranking former politician yet snared by Mississippi’s bribesfor-prison contracts scandal said Tuesday that the longtime corrections commissioner, Christopher Epps, had pressed him for years to “put something in my hand” or “give me something to hold.” As former state Sen. Irb Benjamin of Alcorn County pleaded guilty to bribing Epps, he told U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate that he finally gave in to Epps’ demands while consulting for Alcorn, Washington and Chickasaw counties, each of which was building a regional jail to be filled with state inmates. Benjamin said Epps threatened to supply only the minimum number of inmates required under state contracts, which could have caused the counties to lose money on the projects and possibly have to raise taxes to pay for them. “He made it clear: ‘If I don’t get paid, you don’t get inmates,’” Benjamin told the judge. Benjamin became the sixth person to plead guilty in the scandal. Benjamin faces up to 10 years in prison and up

Irb Benjamin Former Alcorn County state senator to $250,000 in fines, rather than 40 years in prison and $750,000 in fines before the plea. Prosecutors also want him to forfeit money he gained. Wingate set a Jan. 24 sentencing date and Benjamin remains free on $10,000 bail. Epps faces up to 23 years after pleading guilty to money laundering and filing false tax returns related to $1.47 million in bribes prosecutors say he took. He is forfeiting $1.7 million in assets. His sentencing has been delayed; the judge set an Oct. 27 status hearing for Epps and two other defendants. Though Epps cooperated with investigators, wearing a wiretap to records meetings with Benjamin and others, those who paid bribes have Please see EPPS | 6A

People of the Crossroads A firefighter for less than Ronnie Taylor, Corinth three months, Ronnie Tay-

Staff photo by Zack Steen

lor was placed on desk duty quickly at Fire Station No. 1. “During training, I was carrying equipment out of the storage shed and stepped in a hole,” said the 28-year-old, who is currently sporting a pink cast on his foot. “I fractured my ankle during my first week on the job ... that’s my luck.” Taylor is one of seven rookies at the Corinth Fire Department. Originally from Florida, Taylor served four years in the Army and was deployed to Iraq twice during that time. He found his way to North Mississippi because of a close friend. “A buddy I was in the Army with was suffering from PTSD and I came here to help him – I love being able to help people. That’s a lot of the reason why I love being a fireman.”

BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com

Continuing their efforts to help expectant mothers, Oasis Medical Center is offering free ultrasounds to the community. Limited OB ultrasounds will be performed by the center’s new nurses as part of their training. The practice/proficiency scans will be conducted under the direction of a licensed sonographer from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11. Those who are pregnant can aid the center by signing up for a free ultrasound with no obligations.

“He (Epps) made it clear: ‘If I don’t get paid, you don’t get inmates.’”

“We at Oasis are excited that two more nurses have completed didactic (classroom) training to perform Limited OB ultrasounds. After a few weeks of practice scans, they are now ready to have their proficiency evaluated by licensed sonographers,” said Executive Director Martha Jobe. “For the purposes Please see ULTRASOUNDS | 2A

25 years ago

10 years ago

Repair work begins on five bridges in the county damaged during flooding over the prior Memorial Day weekend.

Tom Rogers is appointed to the Corinth School District Board of Trustees to fill the unexpired term of longtime board member Bruce Dillingham who stepped down after 16 years of service.

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