Carthage Man Going to Prison for Sexual Battery of Vulnerable Person

A Carthage man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to sexual battery of a vulnerable person, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.  Thunder Willis, age 19, of Carthage, appeared in Leake County Circuit Court Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one count sexual battery of a vulnerable person. As a result, Judge Vernon R. Cotten sentenced Willis to 10 years, four to serve, six suspended. Judge Cotten also ordered Willis to undergo alcohol and drug treatment, attend sex offender counseling and complete the GED program while in custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Upon his release, he will serve three years on post release supervision.Jackson, MS - A Carthage man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to sexual battery of a vulnerable person, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. Thunder Willis, age 19, of Carthage, appeared in Leake County Circuit Court Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one count sexual battery of a vulnerable person. As a result, Judge Vernon R. Cotten sentenced Willis to 10 years, four to serve, six suspended. Judge Cotten also ordered Willis to undergo alcohol and drug treatment, attend sex offender counseling and complete the GED program while in custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Upon his release, he will serve three years on post release supervision. The 29-year-old victim suffers from cerebral palsy and is basically an invalid, under the care of relatives. The crime was uncovered when the victim became pregnant and the DNA linked the baby to Willis. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Marvin Sanders and investigated by Jamie Thompson and Shannon Spence of the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Division/Vulnerable Adults Unit.