Inmate serving assault conviction dies in Mississippi prison
An inmate serving a 30-year sentence for assault died March 19 in the hospital of the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.
The Mississippi Department of Corrections said in a news release that no foul play is suspected in the death of Lamar Kitchens, 61. An autopsy will be done.
Kitchens is at least the 28th Mississippi inmate to die since late December. Some died amid outbursts of violence, and the state prison system is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department.
Kitchens was sentenced Nov. 20, 2008, for two counts of aggravated assault in Winston County.
Former Philadelphia Court Clerk is Guilty of Embezzlement
State Auditor Shad White announced former Philadelphia municipal court clerk Karen Refre has been convicted of embezzlement in Neshoba County Circuit Court. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Stephen S. Kilgore in Judge Mark Duncan’s court chambers. The sentencing was recorded last week on Friday.
Refre was arrested by Special Agents from the State Auditor’s office in August 2019 after being indicted. She used her position to manipulate accounting software and embezzle over $11,000 from the city during a two-year period.
Judge Duncan sentenced Refre to spend two years in prison and five years in a probation program under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. The Auditor’s office has already recovered the entire amount of Refre’s demand letter by filing a claim against her surety bond, and she must also personally reimburse her surety bond company as part of the sentencing order.
“Another successful investigation concluded, another guilty plea,” said Auditor White. “I’m thankful for the work of our investigators and for the work of prosecutors, who obtained prison time as a part of this guilty plea. We will continue to forge partnerships around the state and work to bring cases to a successful conclusion, just as we have done here.”
Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office online any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or via telephone during normal business hours at 1-(800)-321-1275.
