Student sentenced for gun violation

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By NATHAN GREGORY
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Jefferey Hill, 42, was convicted in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court Thursday of possession of a weapon on educational property. He was sentenced to three years in prison and a $1,200 fine.

Mississippi State University Police Department Chief Georgia Lindley said the matter was first reported in September 2010. The trial was the second of two held in circuit court in Hill’s case. The first resulted in a hung jury.

MSUPD Detective Brad Massey said Hill was an MSU student and lived in Aiken Village on campus at the time of his arrest. Massey would not provide information on the caliber of gun in Hill’s possession except that it was a rifle.

“We were following up on a lead of a person having a weapon in his apartment,” Massey said. “This was an ongoing case for over a year and a half.”

Massey said Hill is in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections and will not be housed at Oktibbeha County Jail.

Possession of a firearm on school property is classified as a felony in Mississippi.

“We take possession of weapons on educational property very seriously,” Massey said.