Former Mississippi State University football player John Michael Hankerson faces multiple felony charges after being arrested for a third time in less than a month.
Hankerson, 18, is behind bars in the Oktibbeha County Jail after U.S. marshals arrested him in Horn Lake Wednesday, said Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Sgt. Phillip Miller. Hankerson was charged with five counts of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of kidnapping.
Eight of those charges — four armed robbery, three aggravated assault and one kidnapping count — stem from a Dec. 17 incident at Campus Trails apartments, Miller said. Then, Hankerson and two other suspects allegedly entered the apartment complex, took items from four individuals and pistol-whipped victims.
OCSO is still working to identify the other two suspects, Miller said, and anyone with information on the case should call deputies at 662-323-2421.
Miller said the remaining charges stem from a separate incident under investigation by OCSD Lt. Brett Watson. Miller would not speak to the nature of Watson’s case, and Watson was out of the office this morning.
Hankerson’s bond is set at $420,000, said Oktibbeha County Jail Administrator Jimmy Vaughn.
OCSO released no additional information on the arrest or the incidents that led to the charges.
Wednesday’s arrest marks the third time this month Hankerson has been arrested by local law enforcement agents.
Earlier in the month, Oktibbeha County deputies arrested him on simple assault and trespassing charges. Less than a week later, he was again arrested and charged with false pretense.
Hankerson, a defensive back, redshirted his freshman year at MSU.
MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter confirmed today that Hankerson is no longer enrolled at the university.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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