Desoto County NewsMississippi News

Former Grenada legislator arrested in DeSoto County

A former state representative from Grenada is in the DeSoto County Adult Detention Center after his arrest Friday night, reportedly on prostitution charges.  

Jail information states Donald (Donny) Ryals, age 63 of Grenada was booked into the jail Saturday morning. Ryals was a state representative from Grenada from 2000-2004 and is owner of D-Ryals Performance in Grenada, a company that troubleshoots and consults on Automotive Engine Management systems. He has owned the company since 2018.  

Darkhorse Press first reported Ryals’ incarceration with the following screen grab from his page on the DeSoto County jail website:

(Credit Darkhorse Press)

No bond has yet been indicated for Ryals and the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are listed as arresting agencies in different parts of the page.  

UPDATE: A spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department Monday said the arrest was part of an operation the department was involved in, but state officials made the actual arrest and became the lead agency in what she termed was a misdemeanor charge. His information on the jail website has now been updated to state a bond of $10,000 has been set and he has a court appearance set for Dec. 21.

Donald Ryals (DeSoto County Jail photo)

Bob Bakken

Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.