Whiteside arrested on federal charges of transporting a minor across state lines for sex
Photo: DeSoto County Sheriff Thomas Tuggle announces the arrest of Lindsey Whiteside on federal charges during a Thursday afternoon news conference. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
HERNANDO, Miss. — The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, working with the U.S. Marshals Service, has arrested Lindsey Whiteside on federal charges of transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity, Sheriff Thomas Tuggle announced Thursday.
The arrest follows a lengthy, collaborative investigation between the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi. Sheriff Tuggle said investigators presented a “thorough and compelling case” to a federal grand jury, which resulted in an indictment against Whiteside.
“Crimes against children will not be tolerated in DeSoto County,” Tuggle said. “We are committed to pursuing justice and protecting the most vulnerable members of our community — our children.”
Whiteside has been placed in federal custody, where a federal judge will decide whether she remains detained pending trial. The case will be prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Oxford.
Tuggle praised his investigators, noting the emotional toll such cases take on law enforcement.
“Our investigators deal with some of the most heinous crimes imaginable, yet they show up every day with dedication and courage,” he said. “Justice will always prevail.”
Tuggle declined to share details about the victim or family, citing the ongoing federal process, but emphasized that the Sheriff’s Office will continue to support the victim and family throughout the proceedings.
“My hope is that this brings justice for the victim, closure for the family, and healing for our community,” he added.
The sheriff also issued a stern warning to potential offenders.
“If you come to DeSoto County to prey on our children or engage in criminal activity, we will find you and hold you accountable,” Tuggle said. “We will be relentless in our pursuit of justice.”
Whiteside, a youth minister at Getwell Church Hernando and who at one time was an assistant girls’ basketball coach at DeSoto Central High School, pleaded guilty on Oct. 13 in DeSoto County Circuit Court to charges of child sexual battery. The sentence of three years house arrest and seven additional years probation caused a firestorm of reaction from county residents. District Attorney Matthew Barton had sought a maximum of 30 years in prison for Whiteside, but Judge Andrew Howorth gave the lighter sentence. That caused Barton to take the judge to task, stating the light sentence was illegal.
As a result, Howorth recused himself from further action in the case and also refused to deal with any future case Barton was involved with. State Supreme Court justices were now being tasked with determining a new judge on the DeSoto County case.
