Man arrested for alleged ‘terroristic threats’ to MS Coast judge in Heather Wyatt case

Authorities arrested a Mississippi man this month who police say left “terroristic” phone messages for a Jackson County Chancery Court judge.

Jeffery Scott Miles, 38, faces one count of making terroristic threats and one count of retaliation against a public servant after allegedly threatening the judge presiding over a controversial case from Ocean Springs.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department said Miles left threatening messages this month to the office phone of Judge Mark Maples.

Maples ruled this month in a controversial court case involving Heather Wyatt, an Ocean Springs mother whose daughter died by suicide, and the parents of four girls accused of bullying her daughter.

The Sheriff’s Department said the messages threatened to harm Maples “if he didn’t issue a favorable ruling in an Ocean Springs case the judge was hearing.”

Sheriff John Ledbetter said Miles was threatening to “assault” the judge. Investigators identified Miles as the suspect after tracking the call back to him.

U.S. Marshals arrested Miles July 19 — the day after Maples ruled to restore Heather Wyatt’s social media. Maples had previously issued an emergency order that shut down Wyatt’s accounts to protect minor children involved in the case.

Reached Tuesday, Maples declined to comment.

Miles, of Cleveland, Mississippi, was arrested in Rockford, Illinois. Authorities returned him to Jackson County on Monday and booked him into the county’s jail.

He made his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon, a press release said.

He is held without bond for making terroristic threats and held on a $100,000 bond for the charge of retaliation against a public servant.

Miles could spend up to 10 years in prison if convicted of making terroristic threats and another 10 years to 15 years if convicted of the additional charge for retaliation.

This story was originally published July 30, 2024 at 4:43 PM.