Voter intimidation conviction overturned

A voter intimidation conviction in Madison County involving beer and votes that held a 15-year prison sentence has been overturned by the Mississippi Court of Appeals. 

The Court of Appeals on March 16 reversed a Madison County Circuit decision involving former Canton School Board member Courtney Rainey conviction of intimidating a witness in an election fraud case.

Madison County Circuit Judge Dewey Arthur ruled in September 2019 that Rainey was not guilty of election fraud but was guilty of voter intimidation.

It was alleged that Rainey influenced the vote of Emma Ousely by registering her to vote and buying her beer in exchange. 

It was also alleged that later she encouraged Ousely to provide false information to the District Attorney’s office during their investigation of the alleged voter fraud.

Rainey’s appeal argued that there was not sufficient evidence to support the claim that she encouraged Ousley to provide false information.

The voter fraud case stems from Rainey allegedly offering Ousley, her boyfriend, Marvin Cain, and another man identified as Red a $10 bill to purchase beer after she had helped them register to vote prior to the 2017 municipal elections. 

As the election neared, it was also established that Rainey had taken Ousley to City Hall to vote absentee and had given her another $10 bill to get something to eat.

It was also established that Rainey and Ousley had talked before the trial, but that Ousley was not encouraged to lie or give any false information and, in fact, told her to tell the truth about what happened.

“I walked her down to her car, and I told her, I said, ‘I’m just going to tell the truth,’” Ousley testified in court, according to transcripts.

Efforts are underway to release Rainey from the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County.