Jackson County assault and sexual battery convict wants new trial

Cameron May is serving 50 years in prison for brutally attacking and raping an Ocean Springs apartment worker in September 2015.
May was found guilty on several counts after his two day trial ended March 22nd. This afternoon, May appeared before a Jackson County judge asking for a new trial.
Cameron May’s only option is an appeal now as his request was denied after the judge heard his attorney’s arguments in Jackson County court this afternoon.
May’s attorney, Melvin Cooper, asked the judge to set the jury verdict aside in attempt to have a new trial. May has already been found guilty for aggravated assault, kidnapping, and sexual battery. The 26-year-old is accused of beating and raping an Ocean Springs woman at the Dominion Apartments in September 2015.
During his trial back in March, his attorney’s argued May had a severe mental illness, preventing May from knowing right from wrong. May’s attorney brought up the same argument in front of the judge this morning.
Court officials tell News 25 May had a fair trial in March and will stick to the jury’s decision. District Attorney Tony Lawrence said, “There’s no doubt in my mind, and obviously the jury’s either, that he was not insane at the time he committed this crime. I think the evidence was overwhelming that he knew what he was doing was wrong. It was just one of those things that was just a traumatic thing for the victim, the victim’s family and the community. It was a random act of violence and I think it was shocking to the community. I’m just glad at the results that we got.”
The Jackson County district attorney tells News 25 if May goes for an appeal, it will go to a higher court for review, a process that usually takes a year and a half.