MACON — Jeffery Simmons will have to wait at least one more month to find out his fate.
The Mississippi State University football signee and former Noxubee County High was granted a continuance in his criminal case Tuesday afternoon in Macon Municipal Court until June 14.
Simmons was charged with simple assault and disturbing the peace — both misdemeanors — after a video surfaced allegedly showing him striking a woman at Mayfair Apartments in Macon on March 24.
Represented by attorney Jay Perry of Starkville, Simmons was granted a continuance due to a dispute with the restitution victim Sophia Taylor is seeking.
Perry said proper documentation of Taylor’s medical bills had not been provided by the victim.
“Evidence supporting alleged restitution was not there,” Perry said.
Martin Perkins of Jackson, Taylor’s attorney, said his client is seeking approximately $12,000 in total restitution. Of that, $5,811.99 is for Taylor’s medical bills, according to a source close to the case but not authorized to release the exact amount.
Along with assault, affidavits show Taylor accused Simmons of damaging her 1998 Honda Accord. Simmons’ sister Ashley Bradley, mother Brenda Bradley and brother-in-law Keith McCloung are also being charged with simple assault and disturbing the peace. All three were on hand and were granted the same continuance but did not have representation.
Simmons posted an apology on his Facebook page shortly after the incident, but he later took it down. He apologized to the “Taylor Family and especially to Sophia Taylor.”
The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Simmons, The Dispatch’s 2015 Large Schools co-Defensive Player of the Year, committed to MSU in February and is the top signee in the 2016 class. Coach Dan Mullen has been quiet on the incident and has said numerous times he is gathering information before he makes a decision on Simmons’ future with the program.
Simmons led Noxubee County to the 2015 Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A State championship in December.
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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