⚖️ Arrest for Smuggling Contraband (August 2024)
On August 9, 2024, Hinds County Judge Johnnie McDaniel entered an order setting bond at $75,000 for Daniel Sidney Dale, Esq., age 49, following his indictment on multiple counts of contraband smuggling into the Hinds County Detention Center. The State alleges that during routine attorney-client visits, Mr. Dale intentionally introduced the following items into the secure facility:
- Cellular telephones and associated chargers
- Controlled substances (suspected marijuana)
- A digital precision scale
- Tobacco products (cigar wraps and cigarettes)
Pursuant to Mississippi Code § 47-5-1701, the introduction of any device or substance capable of facilitating illicit communication or drug distribution into a correctional facility constitutes a felony. The indictment charges Dale with:
- Two counts of Conspiracy to Introduce Contraband (Miss. Code Ann. § 97-1-1 et seq.)
- Three counts of Introducing Contraband into a Correctional Facility (Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-1701)
According to law enforcement affidavits, surveillance video captured Mr. Dale handing both a cellular device and an envelope containing narcotics to an inmate client. Authorities further allege coordination with inmates William Antonio Harness Jr. and Marcell Cornelius Martin in executing the scheme.
🔍 No Additional Updates Since August 2024
As of June 22, 2025, there have been no publicly reported developments in this matter. Specifically:
- No trial calendar entries have appeared on the Hinds County Circuit Clerk’s docket.
- No change in bond status or superseding indictments has been recorded.
- No motions—such as motions to suppress or dismiss—have been filed on the electronic docket.
- Mr. Dale’s professional networking profile (LinkedIn) remains unchanged, reflecting his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law and practice in the Greater Jackson area, without reference to ongoing criminal proceedings.
Given that felony indictments in Mississippi typically proceed to trial within one year pursuant to the Speedy Trial provisions (Miss. R. Crim. P. 3.191), the absence of a calendared trial date suggests either ongoing pre-trial negotiations or potential stays related to discovery disputes.
✅ Summary – What We Know Now
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| Aug 2024 | Arrested and charged with smuggling contraband into Hinds County Detention Center |
| Aug 2024 | Bond set at $75,000; indicted on 2 counts of conspiracy and 3 counts of contraband introduction |
| Jun 2025 | No docket activity; no trial date; no reported motions or sentencing information |
Next Steps & Considerations:
- Monitoring Docket Activity: Regular review of the Hinds County Circuit Clerk’s online system for trial settings, plea entries, or dispositive pleadings.
- Obtaining Court Records: Filing a public records request for the full charging instruments, bond orders, and video exhibits referenced in the affidavit.
- Case Strategy Analysis: Should the case proceed to trial, potential defenses may include challenging the admissibility of video evidence under Mississippi Rule of Evidence 403 (unfair prejudice vs. probative value) or attacking chain-of-custody for the alleged contraband items.
