Justice Court Judge Jim Mills on Tuesday recused from the simple assault by threat case against Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School Superintendent Lewis Holloway.
Special Prosecutor George Mitchell and attorney Roy Carpenter confirmed the recusal after a closed-door meeting.
The case is expected to be taken up by a new judge next year after Mills’ term expires at the end of the month.
The recusal was made in closed chambers after a meeting with Mitchell and Carpenter, who represents Holloway. Mitchell previously filed a motion seeking a new judge after alleging Mills contacted the father of a minor who was present during an Aug. 9 altercation between Holloway and his neighbor, Roy Couvion.
According to Mitchell, Mills contacted Lt. Brett Watson, who serves as a lead investigator with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department, on Aug. 12 and informed him that he’d been in contact with Holloway regarding the criminal charges. Mitchell’s motion states Mills discussed with Watson “the possibility of all parties dismissing the charges.”
Watson’s daughter was present during the Aug. 9 altercation in which Couvion alleges Holloway fired a gun into the air during an argument.
Couvion was charged with simple assault that same month after Holloway filed an affidavit alleging Couvion hit him in the jaw and pushed him to the ground in May.
Both men surrendered peacefully to law enforcement agents after warrants were issued. They both bonded out of jail shortly after their arrests.
Justice court clerks said they were awaiting Mills’ signature on the recusal Tuesday but could not confirm if he would step away from the Couvion case.
Couvion’s Columbus-based attorney, Rod Ray, was not at justice court Tuesday.
The SOCSD Board of Trustees first placed Holloway on administrative leave after the incident, then voted 3-1 to suspend him for two weeks. He returned to work in September.
Reaction to the school board’s decision was mostly negative from the small crowd gathered at the Greensboro Center in August. After the meeting was adjourned, numerous people stopped SOCSD Board of Trustees President Eddie Myles to ask him how the board could continue to support the embattled superintendent.
Carpenter and Mitchell declined to comment further on the Holloway case.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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