Stone County resident and Pro tem Municipal Judge Carol Jones-Russell faces possible illegal voting and tax charges. Judge Jones-Russell allegedly voted illegally in both of Hattiesburg’s mayor’s elections and violated Mississippi law when she and her husband claimed two homestead properties in 2013 . Judge Jones-Russell used the same vacant house at 706 Tuscan as her father and Hattiesburg fireman, Greg Hinton to vote in the Hattiesburg election September 24th. Fireman Greg Hinton lives in Forrest County near Paul B. Johnson.
Judge Carol Jones-Russell’s marital residence in Stone county is filed with the Stone County tax assessor as homestead. Marital couples are only allowed one homestead tax benefit. Claiming two homesteads is against the law.
Jones attempted to cancel homestead status on her marital residence in Stone County about two weeks ago after the Hattiesburg Patriot began exposing illegal voters, but the application was denied by the Stone county tax assessors office.
Jones-Russell was in violation of law when she failed to remove her homestead status on the 706 Tuscan address after March 31st of this year when she moved to Stone County. The water at the address was disconnected after Jones marriage to Byron T. Russell. Adding to the evidence is the fact that in late June, Judge Jones-Russel renewed her Stone county plates on her 2007 white Chevrolet. On September 26th Judge Jones-Russell had the water connected in her name. It appears that Mrs. Jones might be scrambling to build a “rebuttal defense” to an illegal voting indictment.
Judge Jones-Russell was the judge who swore Mayor Dupree into office for his 4th term after the first election. Jones-Russell could face disbarment or suspension if the Mississippi State Bar Association takes action. She also faces possible indictment by a grand jury. Judge Jones-Russell ran unsuccessfully for Chancery Court Judge in 2011.
**If readers know of any possible illegal voting please message us on Facebook or call 601-620-0104 ext 403. All tipsters are kept completely anonymous.