Philadelphia Man Found Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter In Death Of 13 Year Old Boy

Jackson, Miss – Christopher Thompson, Jr., 24, of Philadelphia, Mississippi, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was found guilty today of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 13-year old Choctaw male in the Bogue Chitto community of the Choctaw Indian reservation in Kemper County, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. The criminal trial was held before U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III, in Jackson.

Thompson was indicted on June 5, 2012 for involuntary manslaughter committed in three different ways: driving recklessly, driving drunk, and driving in a grossly negligent manner. The jury found him guilty of having committed the crime in all three manners.

On July 3, 2011, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Thompson, after having been drinking almost continuously for 12 hours, Thompson drove himself and his girlfriend down Sonny Jones Road in the Bogue Chitto community. As he was driving, he veered across the center line, into the oncoming lane, and hit a 13-year old Choctaw male who was riding his bicycle. After striking the child, Thompson veered off the shoulder of the road and the vehicle rolled over. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and the 13-year old was taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Thompson was also taken to the hospital, where it was determined that his blood alcohol level was .21% - over twice the legal limit.

Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office, East Neshoba Volunteer Fire Department, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Lemon and Mike Hurst prosecuted the case.

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