Cortez Deontae Bass v. State of Mississippi

TINDELL, J., FOR THE COURT:

¶ 1. A Tunica County grand jury indicted Cortez Bass and Dedrick Small for the first-degree (deliberate-design) murder of Donterrius Jackson with a firearm enhancement. See Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-19 (1)(a) (Rev. 2014) & 97-37-37(1) (Rev. 2014). The Tunica County Circuit Court later granted Small's motion to sever his trial. Following the completion of Bass's trial, the jury found Bass guilty of first-degree murder. Because Bass was seventeen when he committed the crime, the circuit court held a sentencing hearing to determine whether he was entitled to parole…