Ex-MS Coast police officer convicted of domestic assault — for a second time
For a second time, a Jackson County judge has found former Moss Point police officer Craig Chandler guilty of misdemeanor domestic violence.
The conviction followed a new trial Monday in Jackson County Court before Judge Mark Watts. Watts initially granted a request from Craig Chandler’s attorney, Tyler Cox, to impose a nonadjudicated sentence, but on Wednesday, he said he has since decided against it.
When a non-adjudicated sentence is imposed, a defendant will not have a conviction on his record once he completes the terms of the sentence.
“After further consideration by the court, I didn’t feel like non-adjudication would fit in this case due to the nature of the crime,” Watts said Wednesday.
Watts said he also fined Chandler $1,000.
As a result of the domestic violence conviction, Chandler will no longer be allowed to carry a firearm.
This is the second time Watts has presided over the ex-officer’s domestic violence case as a result of him appealing his conviction.
But the first time around, Watts dismissed the conviction and expunged it from his record based on an agreement between attorneys. Amber Chandler was not advised of that deal, later resulting in a new order by Watts that paved the way for her to file new charges against Craig Chandler for the same offense.
Craig Chandler’s certification as a law enforcement officer in the state remains suspended pending a hearing on the matter later this year now that the criminal case has been handled, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety confirmed Tuesday. The Board on Law Enforcement Standard and Training will ultimately decide whether to strip him of the certification all together or otherwise.
At this week’s trial, Craig Chandler’s estranged wife Amber again testified about the events surrounding the Dec. 23, 2024, assault at the couple’s home.
Victim says she was ‘terrified’
Amber Chandler, emotional and crying at times, testified that the former officer became enraged after her 14-month-old Labradoodle bit him when he tried to remove a treat from the dog’s mouth. She said Craig Chandler began screaming, kicking, cursing, punching holes in the wall and threatened to shoot and kill the dog. Amber Chandler said she grabbed the dog’s kennel, but Chandler latched onto it and began slamming it onto the ground and flinging it around. She said the struggle resulted in injuries to her that included scratches to her arms and bruising to her body when the kennel slammed down on her feet. Chandler’s daughter was also in the home at the time. Amber Chandler said she feared for their safety.
“I was terrified, and his precious daughter is watching this, and he had a gun,” she testified. “That child was standing in the doorway hollering for her daddy to stop.” The assault continued, she said, and at one point Craig Chandler retrieved a handgun from a closet, checked it for ammunition and told her she had one chance to remove the dog from the house before he shot it.
Amber Chandler testified that she walked sideways down a hallway to reach the door because Chandler was following her with the gun in his hand. She said she feared he would shoot her. Cox challenged her account during cross-examination, noting that Amber Chandler had filed multiple affidavits and never said that Craig Chandler intentionally struck her or pointed the gun directly at her. Cox also introduced text messages exchanged between the couple after the incident, arguing they showed Chandler did not intentionally injure his estranged wife.
In one message, Amber Chandler wrote: “I have bruises all over me, and they may not come from your hands, but you were kicking and punching and trying to sling the dog kennel.” Amber Chandler testified that she sent the messages in response to Craig Chandler’s repeated texts and calls as she was trying to get to safety with relatives out of state.
Ex-officer denies domestic assault
Craig Chandler testified in his own defense Monday, denying any criminal conduct and characterizing the incident as “an argument.”
He said the dog had a sock in its mouth — not a treat — and bit his finger when he tried to remove it.
Craig Chandler testified that he became angry after the dog bite but denied ever grabbing a gun or physically assaulting his estranged wife. He acknowledged losing his temper and using profanity.
“I said some things that I never should have said,” Chandler testified. “I was screaming and yelling and cussing. I was mad — pissed.”
Chandler denied grabbing his firearm during the incident, though he testified that he did go to his closet to get ammunition because he was preparing to go to work.
“At no point was a gun ever grabbed,” he said.
When asked by his attorney why Amber Chandler would report the incident if it did not occur, Chandler testified that she was attempting to “ruin my career.”
“I know exactly why she did it,” Craig Chandler said. “Because I didn’t beg her to come back home, and because I told her I would do everything I could to make sure she never had anything to do with my daughter.”
During the testimony, he also said that Amber Chandler contacted various people about the allegations, including the district attorney, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence.
A domestic violence advocate accompanied Amber Chandler to both trials just as she does for other victims of domestic violence to advocate on behalf of victims.
County Prosecutor Lee Farragut argued the state had proved its case because the act was reckless and intentional and the victim had been placed in imminent fear of serious bodily harm.
Supporting domestic violence victims
Since Craig Chandler’s first conviction in Justice Court, his estranged wife has spoken out in support of domestic violence victims.
“Domestic violence is not just a private issue — it is a community issue,” she said. “It affects families, children and the future of our society.
“Speaking out is not easy, but silence only protects the abuser. Many suffer in secret, believing they are alone, but I want other victims to know they are not alone. There are people and resources ready to help.”
Where to get help
To get help for domestic violence on the Mississippi Coast, reach out to the Gulf Coast Center for Non-violence:
- 24/7 Crisis Line: 800-800-1396
- Harrison County: 228-435-1968
- Jackson County (Adrienne’s House): 228-762-8267
- Hancock County: 228-252-1999
This story was originally published February 11, 2026 at 1:16 PM.
