Watson-Jones convicted of assault on a law enforcement officer

Feb. 7, 2025- DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton has announced Tristan Watson-Jones of Memphis was convicted of assaulting a law enforcement officer, a charge stemming from an altercation that occurred last year in the DeSoto County Adult Detention Center.

Watson-Jones was sentenced to five years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, the maximum sentence allowed under state law for this offense.

The conviction follows a thorough investigation and a strong case presented by the District Attorney’s Office, demonstrating the severity of Watson-Jones’s actions.

On April 7, 2024, Watson-Jones was involved in an incident during which he attacked a jailer while resisting commands. The officer sustained injuries, though fortunately, they were not life-threatening.

District Attorney Matthew Barton expressed his office’s commitment to ensuring that those who attack law enforcement officers face the full consequences of their actions.

“The sentence imposed against Tristan, the maximum allowed by law, reflects the seriousness of this crime and emphasizes the strong message that our office will not tolerate attacks on those who put their lives on the line every day to protect us.” said District Attorney Matthew Barton.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Willcutt.