Shame of being a Mississippian
Georgia Cole Grimes
Introduction
This is a true story of current events (corruption) happening in the small town of Monticello, MS. I felt the need to write about it to share with those who choose to be informed, on just how corrupt Lawrence County is and the shame I carry being a Mississippian now. All events can be proven, and some documents are included here as well.
This situation began with a home(355 and 363 Cliburn Cemetary Road, Silver Creek, MS 39663) that belonged to my late distant cousin Danny Sills. The home was left in an estate after his passing. When he passed, his wife lived in the home until her passing. This divided the shares between Danny’s two sons and when the wife died her three children gained her share in the home.
The person that was overseeing the home was Daniel Sills, the oldest of the two sons. Daniel started out leasing to me and my husband in February of 2020 for $600.00 a month.
1 Lease agreement with Daniels signature
At the time we had no idea the taxes had not been paid since 2018. The home was a mess and hoarded with trash when we got it as well. It took over two weeks to just remove the trash from inside and then another week to clean. The agreement was that we would make any repairs if needed due to the shareholders’ lack of money or intrest in the home.
After some time, we found out the taxes had been sold at tax sales and if the back taxes were not paid the home would go to the purchaser. When I informed Daniel, he discussed with me that he did not have the money to pay it and said he was sorry. I made an agreement with him that I would pay for it so he would not lose the property. As the years went by I just started purchasing taxes on the home to avoid loss. We continued to pay rent until July of 2023. The reason being Daniel said he would accept what was already paid to him as a purchase and he wanted to see us with the home. He understood I would gain the title via tax sale, and it was better for him due to lack of funds for sale via attorney. I continued to see Daniel sometimes in town and we always spoke and joked around until he fell ill. Below are the tax sale purchases I made on the property not including the taxes I paid before the sale. Latoya Beacham has the original receipt where I paid it.
Now, August 26, 2024 or about, 3-4 days before we were to get the title to our home, a woman named Gajuena Ward (married to sheriff deputy Jack Ward) with a female and male I don’t know, shows up with a quit claim deed to our home saying her father (Emmitt Bullock) purchased it from Daniel and Lee Sills. I instantly knew this was not correct. I also knew that Daniel had just had a massive stroke on August 14, 2024 and brain surgery to remove a large tumor that left him paralyzed on the left side. That night I called the hospital and asked for his room. His mother answered and when I asked how he was, she said the same. I knew he was in bad condition because his uncle had already told us. She never knew it was me that called. Keep in mind his mother Brenda Faye Smith and Gajuena are best friends. Emmitt is Gajuena’s dad. Emmitt is the person the deed is made out to.
When Gajuena showed up with the deed I made a copy as soon as I saw it was notarized by Gajuena’s daughter Kourtney (Emmitt’s grandchild). She explained we could continue to live here and pay Emmitt the rent if we didn’t want to move. I told her that day to let me check on a few things and I would get back to her. This being due to the deed being signed by two of the shareholders, not all five. The two that signed allegedly, Daniel (in hospital) and Lee (Daniels little brother that is disabled & no POA). I immediately was concerned that Daniel signed knowing his condition but then I realized Lee signed without the power of attorney attached. Lee, receiving a disability check makes a POA needed by the laws I understand. I also knew for fact that Daniel was left handed and he was paralyzed on that side from the stroke. So, him being able to sign was impossible.
Over the next few weeks, Gajuena & Emmett, along with multiple others in separate cars, kept coming to our home trying to gain entry. On Labor Day of 2024 we had friends over (Bubba and Brittany Phenald) and three cars pulled up with Bullock and his group of people I don’t even know demanding access to take pictures of the inside of my home. My husband made them leave. I am so grateful he was home because by now I am afraid for our safety. My husband was home every time they came and would send them on their way. They tried to intimidate us with the repeated visits, bringing others with them. I was told by one of their cousins I should watch it because they are known to do some shady things to get what they want. I was then told don’t be shocked if they burn the house down to get us out. I then took out insurance on the contents of the home to be safe. Their actions made me feel threatened by what they could possibly do.
Next, we get served an eviction notice and we must go to court. On October 1, we have court in Lawrence County Justice Court in front of Judge Albert Turnage. I showed up with only my sister n law, paperwork, and truth. Emmitt, Gajuena, and Brenda came for the plaintiff side. I didn’t understand why anyone other than Emmitt came since he is the plaintiff wanting eviction. The judge asked if I wanted a hearing, and I said yes. He asked if I had witnesses, I said no. Emmitt on the other hand had two people to testify with him.
The three for the plaintiff had to be separated before it began. Emmitt stood there and said that Daniel and Lee came to him for help(I find this impossible as one is disabled and the other was in the hospital), and he said purchased the home at tax sale so they would not lose it. This is untrue because I had been paying taxes since 2020 when I had to pay back taxes to kept it. I found it odd Emmitt was saying he purchased it tax sale also because of the agreement I had with Daniel and him knowing there are five shareholders. Also, I wondered how Lee being childlike in a wheelchair came to think as an adult for a day. Emmitt then said he did not pay the boys any money for the property, and they signed it over to him. Emmitt not being related to them in any way. Me, being a distant relative would keep it in the family like me and Daniel had discussed in the past.
Brenda comes out to speak for Emmitt’s side, she stated that Daniel could not get us to get out and we moved into the home then stopped paying rent to him. Daniel never tried to evict us or asked us to leave. She also stated Daniels poor condition when I asked her about it so that it would be on record. She also stated Emmitt was a close friend of hers that offered to save the house when he was made aware of the tax sale in my favor. She never said the boys came to him for help. Her story is nothing like Emmitt’s and under oath.
Gujuanna comes next. She told the third different story of the day. It was that Emmitt wanted the property and paid the taxes I had already purchased to be able to get the boys the ability to sign the quitclaim deed over to him. When asked about Emmitt’s granddaughter notarizing the deed she testified to it being true. Now, according to the Mississippi Code below:
She could potentially gain from her grandfather in his passing. Also, I feel this is a huge conflict of interest by her preforming the act for him.
With the conflict in mind, I sent in a notarized statement about the document to the AG.
Figure 2 My maiden name is Cole and this is the original complaint to AG in September of 2024
In December they finally sent an investigator to my home that collected all the information I had. Her name is Latoya Beacham. I also obtained the notary entry for my records that Daniel signed allegedly. Again, he was left- handed and paralyzed on the left side when it was signed.
This Judgment plainly states that I could not be evicted.
Moving forward, my husband works on powerlines and was called out of state for over a month to work when the hurricanes hit Floridia and up the coast. With the constant harassment from Emmitt and Gujuanna as well as being warned of possible harm from them, I was afraid to stay alone at the home as was my husband with his absence. I decided to stay with my cousin for safety reasons. I would go check on the house and do laundry every few days or so. My husband returned home and we decided to finish our remodel of the home that I had already started before all of this came about. We started storing things we could to get them out of the way. We got rid of the old appliances as the fridge and dishwasher didn’t work anymore anyway.
While my husband was at work one day I went to run some errands and when I got to the house the door locks had been changed and our power had been disconnected. I was in shock. I text Gajuena and asked if they were responsible and she replied yes.
I waited to speak to the investigator from the AG office to do anything as I was confused about the order being broken. She advised me to report it to the sheriff office ASAP. At his point I go to Sheriff office on December 10, 2024. I took the judgement from the eviction court with me. I waited to speak to an officer named Chris. When he came out I told him my home was broken in and the locks changed preventing me entry into my home. I also told him I was in fear for my safety. The officer told me they could not help me and that it was a civil matter. I told him I had the judgement in my hand and they don’t have any right to force me out of my home. He would not look at it. He advised me I could write out a statement and if I felt the need to press charges to go to Justice Court to do so. I went to Justice court and pressed charges that day on Gujuanna since she was the admitted party.
With no help from the Sherriff’s office to regain entry to my home we are forced to start renting a home. So, that meant not only did we have to pay for rental cost of first and last months rents to gain the rental we also had to purchase furniture, clothing, cooking utensils, personal items, bed, and everything else for basic needs we lost access too. We had to have power turned on in our names as well.
Since the deed came about I have tried to find an attorney with no luck. Legal-aid said they cannot help either. The home not only has my belongings in it, I have a pool, playground equipment for grandchildren, commercial stove, 1997 Jeep Wrangler, and our belongings are in the mobile home and stored in the barn.
On February 1st, my husband got a phone call from Rickey Sills, he said that a strange car was parked at the home, backed in up on the hill(still on property). Afraid some local drug addicts may be stealing our things, we got in the truck to go see what was going on. According to the post the Sheriff made about recent break ins and to protect our belongings
I took my brand new 38 revolver for my safety and it was not loaded. I kept it in plain site while we drove there. When we pulled up a white car was backed in on the hill and we couldn’t see who it was. I got out with my gun pointed down by my thigh while using the front of the truck for cover incase of violent acts, said very loudly, what are you doing on this property. No response was given but the car pulled forward and then we could see it was Emmitt. I told him he was trespassing and he needed to leave. My gun never left by my thigh. Emmitt then pulled to the end of the drive to block my husband in but he was able to exit across the pond dam. He was going to get Rickey Sills to witness what was going on. I stayed to called Garrat Bradford that works for the Sheriff. The call didn’t last long as he proceeded to scream at me and call me a lie. He said I broke in Emmitt’s house and stole heaters. What I did was enter the home I was allowed to occupy per the court and I did take heaters that they broke in and left. When my husband returned I walked to the road and got in the truck and told him we need to leave. The police are not going to help us and I think its all planned. As we leave Emmitt starts to follow us then his daughter in a separate car. I told my husband to just go. They chased behind us very aggressively right on our bumper all the way to Jefferson Davis County. We pulled in my grandparents home and they sat at the road for a few minutes before leaving.
We decided to head home since we had given them plenty of time to go. I told my husband we should get someone to drive us and leave your truck somewhere. I felt like it was a trap. Sure enough, we get to our road and an officer was sitting there. He got behind us and pulled us over. Officer Sterling Allen, gets out and starts saying this is a traffic stop but makes my husband get out and put him in handcuffs immediately. Another officer pulls up, that had been sitting at the other end of our road, almost hits our truck which is a company truck. The gun was still laying in plain sight still and unloaded. Sterling then told me to get out and cuffed me. The other officer stated we would be going to jail for questioning and the truck was being towed. Sterling came to the officers car we were sitting in back of and stated this is a traffic stop again. I asked him what was the traffic violation. He shrugged his shoulders and said I am just doing what I am told. When asked is there anything we wanted removed from the truck before it was towed, we both replied phones. We never imagined they would take phones and my gun without recording them on our property.
On the way to jail with no cause given as to why, the officer driving stated at least three times that he had not read us our rights. He also stated that he was just doing what he was told. He then told us again he had not read us our rights as he was taking our handcuffs off. He never said a word about out phones or gun to booking he immediately took our belongs to the front office area. Now we are getting booked into jail one at a time. I was first and I asked the man what are my charges I am being arrested for? He would not say he pointed to a sheet of paper with burglary written on it and that’s it. When my husband ask his charges the man did the same thing.
Time comes for our phone call. The jailer told us he wanted us to know that he was instructed to allow us a phone call each and he was to tell us that we could only say we had been arrested and that’s it. He was just doing what he was told. He said he had to know who we called and he had to have it on speaker. At first, I tried to argue about the violations of my rights. Then he stated, I am just telling you what I was told to do mam. I gave him my aunt Sandra Warrens phone number, and he dialed it. When She answered I just started saying as much as I could so she could have an idea of what was happening. He finally said I have to hang up that’s enough. I didn’t want to get him in trouble, so I said thank you for my call. My husband did not even make a call. I suffered through the embarrassment of having to get completely naked infront of a lady I did not even know which was mortifying at the least. I refused to bend over and cough, she didn’t seem to care that I refused. We went to separate holding cells. Mine was concrete seats with poop looking substance on the wall and a toilet in plain view for the people who went back and forth all day and night so I urinated a total of 4 times in 3 days. Nothing but a toilet, a flat matt, a bottle of water with toothbrush was given to me. Oh a wool blanket that smelled like death also.
Arrested on a Saturday 2-1-25, placed in holding cells without showers, we sat until Monday 2-3-25. During this time, I asked for a lawyer multiple times. I asked to speak to the sheriff as well. No one came or said anything other than we could not leave our cells or speak to anyone from a voice on the intercom I kept pressing asking for a lawyer.
Monday morning, I get taken out of my cell and was to talk to the sheriff. He began reading my rights and I asked why bother now. He stated I had not be questioned yet. I immediately said I want a lawyer and told him I wouldn’t speak without one. I was then taking back to my cell where I spent the rest of my day. I was looking forward to seeing the judge as legally I should have within 48 hours of arrest. Instead, I got pulled out of my cell again by LaShay Smith, she told me my husband had been release and for me to not say anything and she thought the Sheriff would let me out too. The sheriff gave me an OR bond and presented me with warrants for burglary of an occupied dwelling x2 for the heaters I took out of my home. The warrants had not been signed until that day. I looked at the time to see if I could still go see a judge and court was closed. The sheriff released my husband with a trespass charge on OR bond as well. Now, all of the charges we got are for the home that Judge Turnage said we couldn’t be evicted from. So, I ask the Sheriff how could we be charged and he said to me that we don’t own it and for us to not even go on that street which he put in writing on our bonds. I also told him all of our stuff and my Jeep was there. He stated no contact or going to the house was allowed which is on the bond.
The property taken (38 revolver and both cell phones) was never recorded on our property sheets. My husband got his phone but the sheriff told me he was going to do a cyber dump on mine and he was keeping it and my gun even after I said I didn’t want him too because of photos in my phone I sent to my husband while he was away working. I offered to sit down and show him whatever to keep my personal photos from being viewed. This is the phone taken and I apologize for the Fword used in photo but I didn’t want to change anything from how it was when taken. I can get the gun information if needed from the Monticello Pawn shop where I purchased it new. It had never been shot when taken either.
We have been to court twice(2-26-25 & 3-11-25) and have yet to be allowed to speak to a judge. They have no record of my husband being arrested or having a trespass charge per the front office at justice court. The second court date was with Albert Turnage and we left due to he recused himself. The judges in our county recused themselves from anything dealing with the property.
So, now we are broke facing felony charges of my own home and can’t afford an attorney or find one. The warrants below did not get produced until the day we got released. Ryan was with Emmitt on 1-31-25 when he pressed the charges and signed it. I feel Ryan committed many violations to protect his deputies family and we have been drug through the trash.
3 This court day we showed up and only got to speak to the prosecutor from Columbia who didn't know what to really do.
4 this is obviously a plot to aid the wards and bullocks wishes to get my home
Now, I pressed charges on Gajuena in December 2024 and yet to have any court about it. I don’t know if she was even arrested. Emmitt made charges on me on 1-31-25 and I was jailed the next day via pretextual arrest.
According to MS Cod 11-9-137 the judges ruling should have been upheld by the Sherriff not ignored.
MS Code 97-17-23 Burglary was committed by Gajuena and Emmitt when they broke in and changed locks
MS Code 97-25-1 tampering with my power by having it cut off is illegal as well as MS Code 97.25-3 about power.
MS Code 97-17-97 states they also committed criminal trespass
MS Code 97-17-41 states by them retaining all of our belongings it is larceny.
MS Code 99-3-7 states my arrest without warrant was illegal
My fourth amendment rights of unlawful seizure was violated
Mississippi rules of criminal procedure state I was to see a judge in 48 hr and I was not allowed.
My Sixth amendment of right to counsel was violated.
The traffic stop was illegal as it of pretense to my arrest without warrant.
I was well within my rights under MS Code 97-3-15 to have my gun with me to go see who was on my property.
Now, I just need help from anyone to take this on. The ladys at the Justice Court front office are very forthcoming with the wrongful actions of law enforcement in Monticello and would verify my statements about anything dealing with court. I filed contempt against Emmitt for going against eviction order and nothing has been done. I have tried all I know to try.1 We have lost everything. The sheriff is taking the side of his deputies family. When he took my phone without a warrant I lost access to several accounts that need to be paid and I can’t. My credit cards are all months past due and credit is destroyed. We can’t get a judge or attorney around here to see us. I was warned that the sheriff does as he pleases around here and I should watch myself. My response to that is, what more can be taken from us. My life? What life is that? This one is horrible. We went from newlyweds that loved to travel and spend time with grandkids to almost divorced and don’t have money for food some weeks. All because of a broken justice system. I have become so depressed and afraid of going anywhere without someone with me that it has diminished my quality of life greatly. We hardly see our grandkids now because we cant afford to get them or feed them. That alone is more heartbreaking than I can stand.
Ammendment:
Now my sister n law was hit by a car while walking out of a store and the sheriff did nothing. The driver a convicted sex offender was not registered in this county as a sex offender and the police knew it. One officer (Garrett Bradford) told her it was just to much paperwork to deal with to do something about it. The person did not even get a ticket. My sister n law was never even contacted for a statement of what happened to her. She has a video of the incident and it looks almost like it was on purpose. I believe she was disregarded due to being family by the sheriff. What ever the reason may be, this was not the appropriate way to handle this by the deputy or the sheriff. If she was discriminated against due to relation to me, I don’t want that for anyone else.
My husband has missed work because of all this numerous times, had to pay to get his company truck back and has suffered emotional trauma. I am a current university student with a 4.0 GPA almost done with my BS in Information Tech Cybersecurity/Information Assurance. I believe having school to focus on is the only reason I have not had a heartattack or mental breakdown. I can’t find employment due to pending felony charges which is not ok when your in my line of work. Trust doesn’t seem likely. I can’t take much more I assure you of this. My mental health is about to go down hill worse if I can’t get help. I have always been proud of where I am from until now. I moved back home to be with family and care for elders in my family as they aged. That dream has been crushed.
My hope is sue the sheriff and sue Emmitt Bullock and his daughter and granddaughter one day. We have suffered enough at the hands of these people and need some kind of justice served. By this signature I promise every thing I have here is true and will swear it under oath. My word is all I have.
Georgia Grimes
601-522-4100
[email protected]
Mississippi Code Violations
- Failure to Enforce a Court Judgment (MS Cod 11-9-137):
- The statute requires that a sheriff—and by extension, other law enforcement officers—uphold valid judicial decisions. According to the narrative, the sheriff ignored the court’s eviction judgment that protected the occupants.
- Burglary (MS Code 97-17-23):
- This code defines burglary. The account alleges that Gajuena and Emmitt illegally broke into the property, changed the locks, and thereby committed burglary.
- Utility / Power Tampering (MS Codes 97-25-1 and 97-25-3):
- These provisions address the illegal interference with utility services. Cutting off power to the property—which directly affected the occupants—violates these sections.
- Criminal Trespass (MS Code 97-17-97):
- By repeatedly forcing entry and attempting unauthorized access to the property, the actions meet the elements of criminal trespass under this code.
- Larceny (MS Code 97-17-41):
- The retention of the tenants’ personal belongings—including items stored in the barn, mobile home, and elsewhere—is cited as constituting larceny under this provision.
- Illegal Arrest (MS Code 99-3-7):
- This section makes clear that an arrest without a proper warrant is illegal. The narrative argues that both the initial arrest and the subsequent pretextual traffic stop triggering the arrest violated this code.
- Failure to Provide a Prompt Judicial Review (as required under Mississippi Rules of Criminal Procedure):
- Although not presented as a numeric code, the rules mandate that an arrested individual must face a judge (typically within 48 hours). The author asserts that this requirement was not met, contributing to an additional statutory infraction within local procedural law.
- Fourth Amendment – Protection Against Unreasonable Seizure:
- The Fourth Amendment guarantees that seizures (including the physical confiscation of property) must be reasonable and conducted with proper legal backing. Georgia alleges that the forced change of locks and the seizure of her property (such as her phone and firearm) without due process amounted to an unlawful seizure.
- Sixth Amendment – Right to Counsel:
- This constitutional safeguard ensures that a person in custody has prompt access to legal representation. In her account, Georgia was repeatedly denied a timely opportunity to consult with an attorney—both while in jail and during the arrest process—which is a clear infringement of her Sixth Amendment rights.
- Due Process Violations:
- Beyond the specific amendments, the overall due process guarantee (rooted in both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments) was compromised when Georgia was not afforded a timely judicial review (the 48‑hour rule) and was subject to arrest without clear cause.
- Additionally, the pretextual use of a traffic stop as a means to arrest her (without presenting a valid warrant or explanation) further underscores a pattern of due process violations.
- Illegal Pretextual Arrest and Use of Unlawful Procedures:
- The narrative highlights that the traffic stop was merely a guise for arresting the occupants without due cause. The use of such tactics is not in keeping with constitutional protections against abuse of police authority.
In short, the allegations include the following statutory violations:
- MS Cod 11-9-137: Not enforcing a valid court judgment.
- MS Code 97-17-23: Committing burglary through unauthorized entry and lock changes.
- MS Codes 97-25-1 & 97-25-3: Tampering with essential utility services (cutting off power).
- MS Code 97-17-97: Engaging in criminal trespass by repeatedly attempting entry.
- MS Code 97-17-41: Larceny through the unlawful retention of personal property.
- MS Code 99-3-7: Arresting without a warrant.
- Violation of local procedural rules: Denial of a prompt judicial review (within 48 hours).
- Fourth Amendment violation: Unlawful seizure of property (including property confiscated without warrant).
- Sixth Amendment violation: Denial of the right to counsel.
- Due Process violations: Through both the failure to grant a timely judicial hearing and the use of pretextual procedures (like the traffic stop) to effect an arrest.
Emailed the below form to AG Investigator on 6-16-95
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
CRIME VICTIMS’ BILL OF RIGHTS
REQUEST TO EXERCISE VICTIMS’ RIGHTS
FOR VICTIM TO COMPLETE AND SIGN:
I, _____Georgia Grimes__victim of the crime of _ Burglary (MS Code 97-17-23)
Utility/Power Tampering (MS Codes 97-25-1 and 97-25-3)
Criminal Trespass (MS Code 97-17-97)
Larceny (MS Code 97-17-41)
Illegal Arrest (MS Code 99-3-7)_
Failure to Enforce a Court Judgment MS Code 11-9-137, Fourth and Sixth Amendment Violations, Failure to provide prompt judicial review, Due process violations, Property Seizure without Warrant, Pretextual arrest, __________
committed on _12-8-25 & 2-1-25___ by Emmett Bullock, Gajuena Ward, Sheriff Ryan
Everett, Deputy Sterling Allen, Arresting Officer__ in
Lawrence County, MS__, request that I be given all the rights provided in the Victims’ Bill of
(city, county)
Rights, Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 99-43-1 et. seq.
As of today, I still have not gotten in front of a judge for the charges I press, the contempt I filed or charges against me.
