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By Rupert Howell
A Mississippi judge has temporarily blocked the release of 21 inmates who’d been given pardons or medical release by Republican Haley Barbour in one of his final acts as governor.

Circuit Judge Tomie Green issued the injunction late Wednesday at the request of  Attorney General Jim Hood.

Several former felons whose crimes were committed in Panola County were included in the list of 207 pardoned during the last hours of Barbour’s term. All of those residing locally had served their time and have been living a near normal life.

The AG’s office was concerned some of those pardoned did not run sufficient notices in newspapers where the crime were committed as required by law.

The AG’s staff was busy Thursday checking with publications within approximately 55 counties to see if the publication requirements had been met.

According to Section 124 of the Mississippi Constitution, “… no pardon shall be granted until the applicant therefor shall have published for thirty days, in some newspaper in the county where the crime was committed … his petition for pardon, setting forth therein the  reasons why such pardon should be granted.”

All felons listed from Panola have served sentences and pardons would in effect clear their names giving them full citizenship privileges such as voting, more job opportunities and allow them to legally own a firearm.

Those locally listed as receiving pardons from crimes committed in Panola County include: Perry Lee Cauthen, conspiracy to commit larceny and grand larceny; Kimario Kuhron Hentz, armed robbery; Demetries Andre Sanford, armed robbery;

Eldridge Dean (Bubba) Bonds, forcible sexual battery.

Attorney General Hood is asked the Hinds County Circuit to block the release of inmates pardoned saying the state Constitution has been violated in at least some cases.

Hood said his office has discovered that no notice was published in some cases, in other cases not published before 30 days and in some cases, published on time.

“Unfortunately our research has revealed that Gov. Barbour violated the Constitution,” Hood said. “We’re seeking to stop the release of any prisoners.”

Barbour’s pardoning of nearly 200 people has prompted an uproar among victims’ families and others.