Former Hinds County Sheriff Tyrone Lewis wins defamation case against ex-wife, others

A judge has ruled in favor of former Hinds County Sheriff Tyrone Lewis in his defamation lawsuit centered around abuse and paternity allegations made by his ex-wife and others during his re-election bid in 2015.

A hearing was conducted in the case Monday.

Special Chancery Judge James Bell upheld an injunction and ordered damages of $50,000 to be paid to Lewis, said his attorney, Dennis Sweet.

In 2015, Lewis filed for a restraining order against his ex-wife Sheila Lewis, Tony Davis, Tangue Davis, Kristie Nichols and other individuals identified only as John Does 1-10. Lewis, who was running for re-election at the time, lost his bid.

Sheila Lewis couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

According to court documents, Lewis contended that his ex-wife, Tony Davis, Tangue Davis, Nichols and John Does 1-10 committed unlawful acts, namely defamation, malicious prosecution, filing false police reports, extortion and cyberstalking/bullying.

Lewis said defendants made false and defamatory statements about him to others, posting and reposting them via social media, and causing them to be posted and reposted by others.

Initially, a restraining order was issued in 2015. Lewis sought a permanent injunction and damages.

More:Former jail guards filed federal lawsuit against Hinds County and ex-Sheriff Tyrone Lewis

"We weren't seeking a lot of money; we wanted the injunction," Sweet said Monday.

What amounted to a smear campaign, Sweet said, caused irreparable harm to Lewis' re-election bid.

Some of the allegations involved the parentage of Kristie Nichols, who Tangue Davis claimed was Lewis’ child, but Lewis produced documentation of two paternity tests, according to court documents. Davis alleged that Lewis had someone take paternity tests for him in the 1980s.

William Bell, attorney for Tangue Davis and Nichols, said Monday of the judge's ruling: "we disagree with it, but we respect the judge's decision."

Bell, no relationship to Judge James Bell, said he didn't know yet whether his clients would appeal. He said they are waiting until the judge files his written ruling.

The preliminary court order from 2015 stated that Sheila Lewis had written blogs and posts that alleged that Tyrone Lewis was abusive and had abused his stepchild, but Tyrone Lewis produced a certified copy of his divorce that revealed that he was the one who was granted the divorce and was given custody of their child.

In addition, the court papers revealed that Sheila Lewis’ behavior was found to be cruel and inhuman, and a judge had issued a restraining order preventing her from further abusive behavior toward Tyrone Lewis and their child.

Tony Davis said in 2015 he did repost and republish the accusations of Sheila Lewis, Tangue Davis and Nichols, but says that he believed their accounts to be genuine at that time.