North Mississippi Sheriff arrested on embezzlement, gun trafficking charges

A sheriff in North Mississippi has been arrrested on several felony charges, including embezzlement and gun trafficking, according to county officials. 

Webster County Sheriff Tim Mitchell has been arrested on multiple felony charges as of Wednesday morning, including  alleged sex with an inmate, furnishing an inmate with a weapon and selling or allowing narcotics in jail. There are 12 felony counts in all.

Mitchell was set to retire in January, claiming health issues as the reason. 

From the MBI:

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation announced today that the Sheriff of Webster County, Mississippi, has been arrested on multiple felony charges.

Timothy Seth Mitchell, 53, a resident of Eupora, MS, was charged with two (2) Counts of Embezzlement; two (2) Counts of Trafficking in Stolen Firearms; one (1) Count of Attempting Sex and/or Sexual Acts with an Inmate; one (1) Count of Tampering with Physical Evidence; three (3) Counts of Retaliation Against a Witness; one (1) Count of Permitting Possession and/or Sale of Controlled Substance in Jail; and two (2) Counts of Furnishing an Inmate with Weapons, Cell Phone, and Narcotics. Sheriff Mitchell was serving his second term as Sheriff at the time of his arrest.

If convicted, Mitchell faces a minimum of nine (9) years and a maximum of one hundred and fifty-two (152) years, along with fines up to $ 102,000.00, for the twelve (12) felony counts. Mitchell was remanded to the custody of the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department pending his initial appearance. 
The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol (MHP), MHP SWAT, SOG, and Interdiction teams, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Mississippi State Auditor’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the 5th District Attorney’s Office participated in the investigation and resulting arrest.