Businessman avoids jail time on disorderly conduct charge
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (AP) – The Bay St. Louis city prosecutor has agreed to conditionally dismiss a case against a businessman and former county supervisor candidate, who was charged with disorderly conduct during a heated City Council meeting in 2015.
According to Hancock County Circuit Court records, Jeff Harding agreed to a pretrial diversion program that will dismiss his case after a year as long as he is not charged with any other crimes other than routine traffic violations.
At a city council meeting April 28, The Sun Herald reports Harding was accused of making an obscene gesture toward a councilman.
Harding pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge in municipal court, at which point Judge Steven Maggio sentenced him to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended.
