Transvestite Gets Life for Stealing Bras

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - A man arrested for the first time in DeSoto County was sentenced to life in prison.

Darnell Wilson was caught leaving the Kohl's in Southaven after stealing bras. Although this was his first arrest in Desoto County, prosecutors used his numerous arrests in Tennessee and a Mississippi law to put him behind bars for life.

Wilson was confronted by police after Kohl's employees caught him filling a garbage bag full of clothes. After a life of crime, this would be Wilson's last shoplifting trip.

"We are here to protect our citizens and we will protect our citizens and we're not going to tolerate habitual offenders," said Desoto County District Attorney Smithe Murphey.

Wilson has 18 arrests in Shelby County including aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and sexual battery. Murphey used the Mississippi habitual offender law to put Wilson behind bars for three consecutive life sentences.

The law allows prosecutors to combine Mississippi felony arrests with felony arrests in other states to define the accused as habitual offenders. There must be at least three felony convictions, and at least one for a violent crime.

In Desoto County Wilson was charged with felony larceny for stealing a variety of clothes in the Southaven store, including bras, which prosecutors say were for his job back in Memphis.

"He explained that he was a prostitute," said Murphey. "A transvestite prostitute."

In the police chase that followed the theft, Southaven officers stood on Goodman Road and used spike strips to blow Wilson's car tires. He was going 80 miles an hour. Southaven Police Chief Tom Long said this habitual offender law is key to keeping criminals out.

"My personal advice would be you better stay in the state that allows you to get away with it and continue your felony escapades there," said Long.

Both police and prosecutors say it sends a message to Shelby County career criminals: stay north of the state line.

"Each community sets their standards," said Smithe. "And we have standards that we're not going to tolerate 18 time convicted felons to keep walking around with out any repercussions."

Shelby County prosecutors do not have the same rights as Desoto County because Tennessee does not have tough laws on habitual offenders.