In what has to be one of the most bizarre stories of 2025 (of many, I know) is the Rankin County Road Rage incident.
The allegations include that an incident that began as a road rage episode on Grants Ferry Road ended with Walter Ainsworth shooting into the occupied vehicle of another.
The victim-driver stated she ducked down behind her door when the suspect fired a single shot into her vehicle. She stated she then sped off to the Reservoir Police Department where she then dialed 911.
Ainsworth was later arrested. Upon law enforcement obtaining search warrants, the following items were reportedly found;
a bulletproof vest,
two gas masks,
a pair of brass knuckles,
a baton,
handcuffs, and
a flamethrower.
A search of Ainsworth’s home also revealed,
a human skull and
a lower jawbone of a human skull.
Bond was denied!
As it turns out it is legal in most states to buy and possess human bones!
The BoneRoom has quite the assortment for sale now. They appear to be For Sale but NOT On $ale…!
(a) A person commits an offense if the person takes or retains a child younger than 18 years of age:
(1) when the person knows that the person’s taking or retention violates the express terms of a judgment or order, including a temporary order, of a court disposing of the child’s custody;
(2) when the person has not been awarded custody of the child by a court of competent jurisdiction, knows that a suit for divorce or a civil suit or application for habeas corpus to dispose of the child’s custody has been filed, and takes the child out of the geographic area…without the permission of the court and with the intent to deprive the court of authority over the child; or
(3) outside of the United States with the intent to deprive a person entitled to possession of or access to the child of that possession or access and without the permission of that person.
(b) A noncustodial parent commits an offense if, with the intent to interfere with the lawful custody of a child younger than 18 years, the noncustodial parent knowingly entices or persuades the child to leave the custody of the custodial parent, guardian, or person standing in the stead of the custodial parent or guardian of the child.
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(2) that the actor returned the child to the geographic area…within three days after the date of the commission of the offense.
(c-1) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(3) that:
(1) the taking or retention of the child was pursuant to a valid order providing for possession of or access to the child; or
(2) notwithstanding any violation of a valid order providing for possession of or access to the child, the actor’s retention of the child was due only to circumstances beyond the actor’s control and the actor promptly provided notice or made reasonable attempts to provide notice of those circumstances to the other person entitled to possession of or access to the child.
(c-2) Subsection (a)(3) does not apply if, at the time of the offense, the person taking or retaining the child:
(1) was entitled to possession of or access to the child; and
(2) was fleeing the commission or attempted commission of family violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code, against the child or the person.
(d) An offense under this section is a state jail felony…
What are the penalties for interference with child custody? Up to two years in jail, A fine of up to $10,000, and Loss of custody.
There’s scuttlebutt that MS may consider a parental interference law as a crime in future sessions.
Right now the only real recourse is a contempt action in Chancery court in Mississippi. contempt doesn’t have the same “teeth” that a criminal offense would.
Matthew Thompson is a child custody lawyer in Mississippi and supports custody law changes that protect parents rights and common sense.
Sometimes divorcing parties act like criminals, but Divorce Court is NOT Criminal Court (typically).
Divorce court, a.k.a. Chancery Court, is a civil court. The Court’s function is to legally divorce parties that are entitled to be divorced and divide property. The Court has the authority to deal with and punish conduct that is violative of its Orders or disruptive conduct that occurs directly in its presence. Other than those instances it is not a punitive Court. You typically are not punished for marital fault…
Criminal court, which can be Circuit, County, Municipal, or Justice, among others, can punish. These Courts have prosecutors whose job is to prove the accused committed a crime/violated a law. The Judge or a jury determines if the matter was proven and a punishment, including; incarceration, fines, and other remedies.
However, sometimes these can relate or overlap. Conduct that could serve as grounds for divorce, such as domestic violence, is also a crime. The Court’s are independent of one another and you can be punished in Criminal Court and divorced in Chancery Court over the same facts.
Interestingly, your right to plead the fifth, invoking the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution can be done in both Courts. While it cannot be used against you in Criminal Court, it can be used to make an adverse inference in Chancery Court. So, if you are accused of adultery/habitual fornication in Criminal Court, which IS a crime in Mississippi, you may invoke the fifth and the prosecutor must prove a violation of the law by beyond a reasonable doubt, however in Divorce Court, while you may invoke the fifth, the Court can treat that as an adverse inference/admission and could find such to be enough to rise to clear and convincing evidence of adultery. Confused yet?
Divorce Court and Criminal Court are different animals, with different standards and different outcomes. However, all are serious and your rights may be infringed if the Court determines they should be.
Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Court lawyer and encourages those charged with a crime to confer with an experienced Criminal Defense attorney.
There’s an old joke…”You have the Right to remain silent, but do you have the Ability?”
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While my primary practice area is Family Law, there is some spillover into other areas. Through the years, I have learned there are just some things you do not say to law enforcement.
5. I did it!
4. I only had a couple.
3. Trying to meet your quota?
2. Oink, oink.
1. I called you because he stole my marijuana pipe.
Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney in Mississippi and advises you to be respectful of law enforcement a nd not say these things.
Lie Detector Tests and their application in Mississippi Law is limited. The tests themselves are deemed generally unreliable by a legal standard and are not admissible in Court, absent mutual agreement or stipulation otherwise. However, law enforcement relies on them when administered properly. Personally, I have seen testing and the results impact several cases.
First off, What is a Polygraph Test? A test which measures and records physiological indicators such as; blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity, while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions. Wikipedia.
During the actual test only the test taker and examiner are present. The questions asked are typically only a few and they are asked a number of times, the exact same way. There are no surprise questions, no questions that are not rehearsed, and no Lamp Shades.
The test is measuring your involuntary responses and during the pre-test phase you are instructed to lie about an answer for comparison to involuntary responses during the testing.
Despite their limited Courtroom application, law enforcement agencies routinely administer Polygraph tests to suspects of crimes and the FBI uses polygraph testing regularly for not only suspects and witnesses, but also testing their own personnel, staff and agents.
I have used Polygraph testing in several cases where issues involved abuse allegations. In one instance a properly administered and passed Polygraph test helped result in a matter being dismissed by the Court and helped end a criminal investigation and rightly so.
As for the tricks on Ocean’s Eleven on to how to beat the test…well, the FBI tests for counter measures.
Matthew Thompson is a Family Law litigation attorney in Mississippi and encourages you not to lie!
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. –5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
In divorce cases pleading the 5th is not often invoked. The reason is divorce cases are civil matters, by their nature. Not civil in the sense that everyone is always nice, but civil as opposed to criminal.
When Can you Plead the 5th in a Divorce Matter?
When answering the question would involve you admitting to a crime. Interestingly, adultery, or habitual fornication rather, is a crime in Mississippi. It is rarely prosecuted, but is a crime nonetheless. Due to this you may invoke the 5th. However, you have not outsmarted the system. Pleading the 5th in a civil matter creates a presumption that you did what was asked. Or, at least the Chancellor can use it against you.
So, how does this play out? (envision a Courtroom)
Attorney: Mr. Smith, it’s true isn’t is that you have committed adultery during your marriage to Mrs. Smith?
Mr. Smith:I plead the 5th.
Attorney: Let the record reflect that Mr. Smith has invoked his 5th amendment right against self-incrimination as it relates to a question about adultery and the Court may make an adverse inference against Mr. Smith for doing so.
Judge:Duly noted.
Why do it then? The witness does not have to disclose the dirty details, name names, places, locations, or positions.
Pleading the 5th may not stop you from getting a divorce, but it may prevent bringing other persons down with you.
Matthew Thompson is a Divorce and Domestic Relations Attorney in the Magnolia State. Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer
Everyone knows that Adultery is a fault ground for divorce in Mississippi. Adultery is defined as sexual intercourse with a person of the opposite sex, not your spouse. It also must be uncondoned, which means legally forgiven by the other spouse, and it cannot have been committed in collusion with the other spouse just to gain a divorce. MCA § 93-5-1.
However, Adultery may also be considered crime!
§ 97-29-1. Adultery and fornication; unlawful cohabitation
If any man and woman shall unlawfully cohabit, whether in adultery or fornication, they shall be fined in any sum not more than five hundred dollars each, and imprisoned in the county jail not more than six months; and it shall not be necessary, to constitute the offense, that the parties shall dwell together publicly as husband and wife, but it may be proved by circumstances which show habitual sexual intercourse.
So in addition to having a divorce granted against the offending party they could also be arrested and prosecuted and face a $500.00 fine and/or up to 6 months in the county jail. And that may not even be the worst of it with the potential for an Alienation of Affection lawsuit out there. (It’s actionable to sue someone for the breakdown of your marriage, a blog for another day).
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