Two Picayune men sentenced for 2017 kidnapping
Two Picayune men, members of Two Simon City Royals gang, were sentenced to 25 years in prison each this week for the kidnapping of two U.S. Navy men in Biloxi in February 2017. During the kidnapping, they forced the Navy men to withdraw cash from their accounts at ATMs in Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian.
Colton Delaughter William Stockstill
(Harrison County Detention Center photos)
On Tuesday, Circuit Court Judge Lisa P. Dodson sentenced Colton Delaughter, age 27, and William Stockstill, age 24, both of Picayune, to 40 years in prison each, with 25 years to serve, District Attorney Joel Smith announced in a press release.
"The crimes took place on February 17, 2017, when the two defendants kidnapped two Navy men from the Beau Rivage parking garage at gunpoint," Smith said in the release.
"The victims were stationed in Pensacola and were on vacation in Biloxi, when they were forced into their rental car at gunpoint. Delaughter and Stockstill took their cell phones so they could not call for help. They then drove the victims to a gas station in Pass Christian and forced them to withdraw cash from an ATM in the store. Delaughter had the victims also buy snacks and drinks. When they approached the checkout counter, one of the victims wrote 'help me' and 'gun' on his receipt when he signed for his credit card purchase. He then passed it to the clerk. The defendants grew suspicious and quickly made the victims get back into the car. The clerks called the police."
The defendants then drove the victims to Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis and forced them to withdraw more cash from an ATM machine, Smith said.
"After leaving Hollywood Casino, the defendants left the victims on the side of the road, north of the Interstate in Hancock County," Smith said. "The victims were able to flag down a car and call police."
Detectives from the Pass Christian and Biloxi police departments led the investigation, Smith said. Delaughter and Stockstill were identified from surveillance video and photo line-ups, he said.
Delaughter was arrested in Carriere, MS, the next day, Smith said, while still in possession of the rental car. Stockstill was arrested the same day in Richland, MS.
“These convictions are the result of the victims’ ability to maintain their composure in this case, their ability to alert the gas station clerk, and the hard work of the case detectives." Smith said.
"We will not tolerate violence to tourists or residents of the Mississippi coast.”
