In a case that’s drawing fresh attention to racial disparities in Mississippi’s justice system, a 38-year-old Black man named Dennis Anthony Walker has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for stealing a child’s piggy bank. The burglary took place in Rankin County in October 2023.
This sentencing comes shortly after the same Rankin County Sheriff’s Department paid a $2.5 million settlement in a high-profile civil rights case involving the now-infamous “Goon Squad” — a group of white officers convicted of torturing two Black men in 2023.
What Happened in the Burglary Case?
Walker, who is from Mendenhall, was arrested after allegedly breaking into a house on Clara Foote Road and stealing a piggy bank from a child’s room. Deputies responding to the burglary found the home ransacked and the suspect gone.
Witnesses described seeing a man running into nearby woods wearing red shoes. Police found red flip-flops in the area, then used surveillance footage and other evidence to trace the break-in to Walker. He was later arrested in Simpson County and charged.
Prosecutors noted that Walker had previous burglary convictions, which may have influenced the court’s decision to give him a 25-year prison sentence.
Why the Sentence Has Sparked Debate
Although the case does not involve the “Goon Squad” directly, the timing and severity of Walker’s sentence has raised serious concerns about fairness and racial bias in Rankin County’s justice system.
Critics point to the fact that Walker received a 25-year sentence for theft, while the six white officers in the Goon Squad, who committed racist torture and nearly killed two Black men, were only recently convicted, and the sheriff’s department faced no direct disciplinary action — only a financial payout.
A Reminder of the Goon Squad Scandal
The Goon Squad case made national headlines in 2023. Deputies stormed a home based on an anonymous racist tip, handcuffed Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, and subjected them to horrifying abuse:
- Forced to strip and shower together to hide evidence
- Doused with milk, alcohol, and chocolate syrup
- Tased repeatedly while officers used racial slurs
- One deputy, Hunter Elward, shot Jenkins in the mouth
Jenkins survived but suffered serious injuries, including a broken jaw and ongoing mental health issues.
The $2.5 million settlement is the largest of its kind in Mississippi, though far less than the $400 million originally sought. Attorneys said the amount was limited by insurance and budget constraints.
Public Reaction: Two Cases, One Question — Is Justice Equal?
Community members say these two cases — Walker’s sentencing and the Goon Squad scandal — show how uneven justice can be.
“How does someone get 25 years for stealing a piggy bank, but a department that enabled torture pays a fine and moves on?” asked Will Sims, a Rankin County resident.
Angela English of the NAACP added,
“No amount of money can make up for the abuse those men suffered. And now, we see another Black man handed a decades-long sentence under the same department.”
Moving Forward: Can Rankin County Heal?
Legal teams representing Jenkins and Parker have not yet decided whether to sue the individual officers. For now, they’ve asked the public to allow the victims space to recover and privacy to heal.
In the meantime, many are calling for greater accountability and changes in how justice is delivered, especially in communities of colour.
“I just hope we come together,” said Sims, “so this county can be a place where everyone feels safe — no matter their race.”