Ex-MS state senator, son Alan Moran and two others set for trial in December
Former Mississippi State Sen. Philip Moran and his son, former Diamondhead councilman Alan Moran, and two others waived their arraignments Tuesday, pleading not guilty to felony charges of bribery and conspiracy in a scheme to cover up a crime committed by Alan Moran.
The four did not appear in court as a result of the waivers, and Circuit Judge Lisa Dodson set a trial date in December. The trial is tentatively set to go before Judge Randi Mueller.
In addition to the Morans, Jeremy Billings of Diamondhead and Ian Schexnayder of Pearlington, are charged in the case.
All four defendants informed the court of their intent to plead not guilty to the charges when their attorneys filed their waivers.
Alan Moran is currently imprisoned and is serving a 12-year sentence after a judge earlier revoked his probation on a child exploitation conviction. That decision came down after a Harrison County grand jury indicted him and the three others in the bribery case in May.
Circuit Judge Lisa Dodson set a tentative trial date for all four defendants on Dec. 8.
Alan Moran’s attorney, Donald Rafferty, meanwhile, is continuing to push for a judge to reconsider his 12-year prison sentence as a result of his probation revocation that Judge Christopher Schmidt imposed earlier this year.
A Hancock County grand jury indicted all four on the bribery and conspiracy charges after hearing evidence presented to them during grand jury proceedings.
All but Alan Moran are out of jail on bond pending trial.
The arrests in the bribery case happened about six months after Waveland police first arrested Billings and Schexnayder for bribing a witness in a stalking case against Alan Moran. Police believe the teens acted at the direction of the Morans.
According to authorities, the Morans spearheaded an offer to pay $20,000 to a teen employee at Lowe’s in exchange for him dropping his misdemeanor stalking case against Alan Moran. A Waveland judge later convicted the younger Moran on the stalking charge, though Alan Moran is appealing that conviction.
This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 9:20 AM.
