Alcorn State SGA president arrested on gun, drug charges

Published 11:52 am Friday, September 27, 2019

LORMAN — James Stirgus III, a 2016 graduate of Vicksburg High School and the current president of the Alcorn State University Student Government Association, was reportedly arrested on the Lorman Campus Thursday, charged with possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance.

Stirgus was transported to the Claiborne County Jail, where he later posted a $10,000 bond. According to Claiborne County Sheriff Frank Davis, the charges are felonies.

The school did not provide details on the arrest, but did provide a statement on the arrest.

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“During the football contest this past weekend, Alcorn State Campus Police officers were alerted to potential unlawful behavior by an attendee. The attendee, identified as an ASU student, was immediately removed and ultimately arrested.

Please know that we take these situations very seriously, as we work daily to ensure a safe and secure environment for thousands of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. All members of the Alcorn State University campus community are expected to adhere to university policies, rules and state laws. This extends to all campus events and activities.

As set forth in the student handbook, the student in question has been placed on interim suspension pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.

Alcorn State University does not comment on individual student cases, as disciplinary records are considered confidential under federal student privacy laws.”

According to a story posted on Alcorn State’s website, Stirgus, a business finance major, was elected the 2019-2020 SGA president in March.

“I feel blessed that the student body trusts me to be their student leader, and I’m excited to put my best foot forward,” Stirgus said in the story.

In regards to the possession of a firearm, per Mississippi state law it is a felony to possess or carry a firearm of any kind on “educational property.” The law also states, “Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $5,000, or committed to the custody of the State Department of Corrections for not more than three years, or both.”

About Tim Reeves

Tim Reeves, and his wife Stephanie, are the parents of three children, Sarah Cameron, Clayton and Fin, who all attend school in the Vicksburg Warren School District. The family are members of First Baptist Church Vicksburg. Tim is involved in a number of civic and volunteer organizations including the United Way of West Central Mississippi and serves on the City of Vicksburg's Riverfront Redevelopment Committee.

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