Former Leake County deputy charged with 31 counts of evidence tampering

On Oct. 31, agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from Leake County Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Crime Lab conducted an arrest for evidence tampering in Leake County.

39-year-old, Justin Ross Moore, from Carthage, Mississippi has been arrested and charged with 31 counts of tampering with evidence and his bond is set for $155,000.

The Mississippi Forensics Laboratory operates under a management system in accordance with Option A of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 clause 8.1. Evidence and cases are tracked using JusticeTrax LIMS-plus software. The policies and procedures in place at the laboratory address evidence handling, receipt, protection, storage, sealing, and packaging, and include all provisions necessary to protect the integrity of the evidence during its stay at the laboratory. In this instance, the policies and procedures in place for the management of nonconforming work were followed, and the submitting agency was informed of the problem.

“Great job to all involved,” said Commissioner Sean Tindell. “Quick action taken by Director Mary Dukes and her team at the Crime Lab, as well as the agents from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Leake County Sheriff’s Office, and all other assisting parties made this swift arrest possible.”

“I want to personally take the time to brag on the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory,” said 8th Circuit Court District Attorney, Steven Kilgore. “I am grateful to them for all of the difficult work you do.”