HERNANDO Miss. - An illegal sentence—that's what DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton claims was given to Lindsey Whiteside.

Whiteside confessed to sexual battery of a minor but will receive no immediate jail time.

"The sentence that was handed down yesterday was actually an illegal sentence. Sex offenders of this category is considered a violent crime. It's specifically enumerated as a crime that's not eligible for the house arrest program,” Barton said.

Whiteside was sentenced to three years of house arrest for sexual battery of a minor under a trusted public authority.

DA Barton said the reason she got what he calls a light sentence is that multiple community members showed unwavering support and wrote letters to the judge.

"There were nine teachers and one vice principal

See Full Page