Suspected county murder accessories held without bail

Published 9:28 am Wednesday, September 16, 2015

A Warren County man and woman accused of aiding a murder suspect were held without bail Tuesday.

Steven Paul Breedlove, 30, who lists an address on Beverly Drive but had been living on Standard Hill Road was arrested Monday and charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder in the shooting death of 42-year-old Joseph Acuff Jr, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

About 4 p.m. Tuesday, Raja Tedder, whose address was unavailable, surrendered on a warrant for accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, Pace said.

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“They aided Tamares Dillon in his departure from the scene and in concealing his location,” Pace.

Breedlove was working on a Jeep with Dillon, 35, 118 Lightcap Blvd., Saturday at Tedder’s home when authorities say Acuff arrived at the residence. An argument ensued, and Dillon shot once, killing Acuff.

Breedlove took no action to aid Acuff or call authorities and fled the scene, Pace said. Tedder gave Dillon a ride to another location, Pace said.

TEDDER

TEDDER

Justice Court Judge James Jefferson declined to set bail Monday for Dillon, who said the shooting was an act of self defense. Dillon was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm after felony conviction. He was convicted in August 2002 in California of possession of cocaine, according to the arrest affidavit against him read Monday in justice court.

Dillon was also set to go to trial for murder Oct. 12 for the 2012 shooting death of Mardy Eugene Blackmore at the Vanguard Apartments.

He was arrested in November 2012 following Blackmore’s death but was allowed to post bail in March 2014 after spending 17 months in jail awaiting trial in the 2012 case.

Circuit Judge M. James Chaney set bail at $100,000 after hearing motions from Dillon’s defense attorney, Brannan Southerland. Prosecutors objected to bail being set in the case, District Attorney Ricky Smith said.

Dillon’s trial in the 2012 murder was delayed at least four times. Child molestation cases went to trial or ended in pre-trial guilty pleas each of those weeks.

Dillon was arrested again about 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the home of Shelly T. Walker, 40, 120 Redhawk Road, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

Pace said Dillon was in a bedroom of the home and had a 12-gague shotgun next to him at the time of his arrest. Dillon denied having the weapon.

During his arrest, deputies found guns, crystal methamphetamine, small plastic bags and a digital scale and received a search warrant for the home, Pace said.

Walker, who is on house arrest for a drug conviction in Copiah County, was wearing a Mississippi Department of Corrections inmate-monitoring ankle bracelet at the time of her arrest, Pace said.

She is charged with two counts of possession of a weapon after felony conviction and possession of meth with intent to distribute. Jefferson set bail for her at a total of $100,000.

A third suspect in the case, Jeffery Eatmon, 35, 2816 Drummond St., was in the home with Walker and Dillon when the drugs and guns were found. He is also charged with possession of meth and possession of a firearm after felony conviction.

Jefferson set his bail at $75,000.