STARKVILLE — A candidate for Ward 5 alderman completed a pre-trial intervention program for three drug-related felony charges from 2014, Oktibbeha County Circuit Court records show.
Brady Hindman, 28, is one of two candidates running in the April 6 Republican primary for the Ward 5 seat. He was indicted in August 2014 on three counts of selling marijuana. Records show that between Sept. 20 and Oct. 15, 2013, he allegedly sold marijuana to three different “undercover individuals” before Starkville police arrested him.
Instead of facing conviction, Hindman entered a pre-trial intervention program, often an option for first-time non-violent offenders. He entered the program in February 2016 and upon completion in March 2017, the counts were dismissed.
No conviction appears on his record, meaning the incident does not disqualify him from running for office. The arrest, however, remains on his record.
Hindman owns Commodore Bob’s Yacht Club restaurant and Bob’s Bottle Shop liquor store, both in the Cotton District. The West Point native has lived in Starkville for seven years.
In a phone interview with The Dispatch Wednesday, Hindman said “it definitely happened,” adding that the incidents occurred during a “low point” in his life.
In an email Hindman sent The Dispatch less than two hours later, he called the issue a “distraction tactic” but wanted to “set the record straight” for his supporters.
“Years ago, (as many young people do) I made a mistake and put myself in a position to be arrested,” the email reads. “The choices and circumstances that led to the incident were mine and mine alone. … After this incident passed, I decided to own my decisions, change my life, and become a contributing member of society.
“… It’s my past that makes me the man I am today, and I’ve always been open and honest about it,” Hindman continues. “Starkville has given me the chance to redeem myself, and I will be forever grateful. As Alderman, I look forward to pushing policies that provide the same opportunities for others who decide to make positive life changes.”
Hindman will face Anna Chaney, an interior instructor at Mississippi State University, in the Republican primary. The winner will face incumbent Hamp Beatty, a Democrat, in the June 8 general election.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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