/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/madsack/QBKS7G4CCZDJ7AW33OJYZMY7HQ.jpeg?fit=%2C&ssl=1 "16-year-old from Mississippi has been in prison for 17 months – without charge")
Lexington. A 16-year-old from Lexington, Mississippi has been in prison for 17 months. So far, however, William Haymon has not been indicted, like the US website “The Appeal” reported. Prosecutors are supposed to present an indictment to the grand jury. Only then can the jury decide whether there is enough evidence that could lead to Haymon’s conviction. But that has not happened since his arrest in February 2019.
No regulations in Mississippi
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How is that possible? According to “The Appeal” in Mississippi, there are no regulations on how long a person can be detained without charge. This means that months, even years, can pass before the detainees are charged with a crime. According to district attorney Akillie Malone-Oliver, why the charges with Haymon take so long can be explained by the fluctuation in the police. But Haymon’s mother does not accept the explanation: “It takes away his childhood,” she says to “The Appeal”.
Suspected armed robbery
Haymon was arrested in June 2018 in connection with a suspected armed robbery. At that time he was 13 years old – he was released on bail for around 21,000 euros. In February 2019, the next incident: Haymon was arrested for suspected serious physical injury related to a gun and another teenager. Because of the previous release on bail, he was no longer entitled to a further release under state law. But the fact is: he is still innocent before the law.
The average number of inmates in Holmes County Prison, where Haymon is also detained 417 daysbefore an indictment is brought.
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