MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The DeSoto County District Attorney had strong words on Monday after announcing the indictment of a former elected official and a former Southaven police officer.

“I am not the one. I am not the one to play games, so I am not done with DeSoto County,” Matthew Barton said. “One by one, everyone that stands in the way will be pushed out of the way.”

District Attorney Barton warned those looking to commit any form of fraud by saying the following: “The county no longer belongs to the good ole boys club.”

“Every garden has some weeds, so I don’t mind plucking a weed out here or there,” Barton said.

When Barton took office, he created a public corruption division and said he’s serious about prosecuting anyone who commits a crime.

On Monday, Barton announced the indictments of Charles Roberts, a former Horn Lake Alderman, and Tony Herring Jr., a former Southaven police officer.

Herring pled guilty to accessory after the fact for his role in a motor vehicle theft ring. He is set to be sentenced in May.

“This is just one step in that process. I am not done with DeSoto County,” Barton said. “I will take every chance I can to go after someone who is defrauding the public whether it is an elected official or not.”

Roberts pled guilty to unemployment fraud committed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He will serve a three-year supervised probation.

His attorney, Tony Farese, told WREG in an earlier report that Roberts was overpaid but paid it back through a garnishment and by selling his home.

However, Barton was not amused by Farese’s comments.

“Just because you pay it back doesn’t mean the crime didn’t happen,” he said.

Barton also expressed concern about those who might interfere with his plan to fight public corruption.

A bill in the Mississippi legislature would’ve restructured the state auditor’s office, which is the same office that tipped off the prosecutor about the former Horn Lake alderman.

That bill, eventually pulled, was proposed by an Olive Branch lawmaker.

“I was fully prepared to bring this bill to the floor for questions only today; however, over the weekend, I received an interesting correspondence,” State Senator David Parker said. “I was warned that discussing this case could be considered jury tampering and I should keep my opinions to myself.”

“He’s not the only politician in DeSoto County that wants to play games with my cases and make statements,” Barton said. “So, I’ll just say I’m not the one.”

WREG reached out to State Senator David Parker for a rebuttal against Barton’s comments but has not heard back.