By Billy Davis

Justice Court Judge Mike Wilson has reduced the jail bond for Marion Strickland, the South Panola High teacher terminated last month, from $500,000 to $100,000 at a bond hearing in Sardis.

Strickland is charged with enticing a child for sexual purposes.

Strickland’s attorney, Randolph Walker, sought the bond reduction for his client. After Wilson’s ruling, the attorney complained to the judge that the teacher’s family could not raise $10,000.

“This is not a punishment,” Wilson replied, citing Walker’s complaints about “excessive” bail for his client, who has no felony convictions.

Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Jay Hale, who opposed any bond reduction for Strickland, told the court he intends to file a motion in Circuit Court to deny bond for the high school teacher.

A preliminary hearing for Strickland, 24, will follow this week’s bond hearing. A date has not been set.
Strickland is charged with using a cellular phone to entice an underage child, a high school student, for sexual purposes.

He has been in the Panola County jail since October 24, when he was arrested at the high school by law enforcement.

Tim Douglas, an investigator for the Miss. Bureau of Investigation, testified at the bond hearing that Strickland is charged with one felony count, though other counts are likely.

“Potentially there are four other victims,” the investigator said.

Douglas alleged Strickland used his role as a student council sponsor to befriend teenage boys, promising to “set them up” with girls, such as an Ole Miss recruiter. But explicit text messages and photos from the “girls” were sent by Strickland, who asked the boys to respond with the same, Douglas said.

Douglas also testified that Strickland was investigated for a similar incident at Delta State University, when he was a student there. A police report from 2009 alleges that Strickland pretended to represent a “men’s underwear company” to get photos of young men, he said.

Citing additional police records from Delta State, the MBI investigator cited a second report from 2009 in which a student complained that Strickland touched him inappropriately at an apartment, when Strickland was there posing as the magazine rep.

A police report from December 2009, filed three months later, alleged that Strickland attempted to sexually assault a second student in a dorm, Douglas also testified.

It’s not clear if university police ever brought charges against Strickland, and there was no dispute Tuesday that the defendant has no criminal record.

Hale, the assistant district attorney, used the allegations at Delta State to argue against reducing Strickland’s bond. But he was warned by Judge Wilson to halt the testimony.

“You’re on a thin line,” said Wilson, who had cautioned both attorneys that the bond hearing was not an opportunity to hold a trial.

Douglas also testified that Strickland has admitted in a taped interview that he sent the explicit images and texts to the students.

When Walker cross-examined Douglas, the attorney asked the investigator if he suggested Strickland’s bond be set at $500,000.

“That was set by the judge,” Douglas replied.

“Are there other bonds that have been set at $500,000?” Walker asked.

“Yes, sir, absolutely,” Douglas replied.

Walker and Douglas sparred over the status of the investigation and whether Strickland has been cooperative with authorities. Potential evidence from some students’ cell phones has not been downloaded as evidence, said Douglas, who said minutes later the defendant has been “cooperative to a degree.”

At one point Wilson instructed Walker to “be civil,” when the attorney wouldn’t allow Douglas to speak beyond a yes-or-no answer.

“My testimony is that Mr. Strickland is a danger to young children,” Douglas said, suggesting the alleged incidents at Delta State show a “method of progression.”

Irene Strickland, of Corinth, testified on behalf of her son. She told the court that her son’s annual salary was $32,000 before his contract was terminated. She is employed by the Corinth school system and makes $28,000 annually, she said.

“What bond are you in a position to post?” Walker asked the mother.

“I could probably do $10,000. Maybe $20,000,” she replied.

The mother said her son would live with her in Corinth if he makes bail.

If the defendant makes bail, Wilson said Strickland would be restricted to a 3 p.m. curfew, must wear an electronic ankle bracelet, and cannot use an electronic device of any kind.