Two Mississippi men have avoided prison time but must pay back more than a quarter-million dollars in unpaid child support following separate sentencing hearings, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced.
The state’s legal actions targeted Nicholas Market of Pope, Mississippi, and Michael P. Rushing of Tylertown, Mississippi. Both men faced felony charges for desertion or nonsupport of a child.
On April 20, 2026, Panola County Circuit Court Judge Smith Murphey placed Market on five years of probation. The court ordered him to pay full restitution amounting to $54,577. The Panola County Sheriff’s Office assisted state investigators with Market’s arrest.
A few weeks later, on May 11, 2026, a separate case concluded in Walthall County Circuit Court. Judge David H. Strong, Jr. sentenced Rushing to five years of probation and ordered a much larger restitution payment. Rushing must pay back a total of $210,686.67. His arrest was handled with help from the Walthall County Sheriff’s Office.
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The Attorney General’s Office handled both the investigation and prosecution of these cases, working alongside the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
“Parents have a legal and moral obligation to provide for their children, and we will continue to hold those who fail to do so accountable,” Fitch said in a statement. “I am grateful for our AGO prosecutors and investigators, and partners at the Mississippi Department of Human Services who are committed to ensuring that Mississippi’s children receive the support they deserve.”
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