Lucedale man convicted of sexual battery of a minor

Gulfport, Miss. – District Attorney, Crosby Parker announced today that Arqreuis Kordell Polk of Lucedale was found guilty of two counts of Sexual Battery of a Child, following a two-day jury trial that concluded late yesterday evening.

Circuit Court Judge Randi Mueller immediately remanded Polk into custody following the verdict, but deferred sentencing in the matter to a later date. Polk faces a potential sentence of twenty years to Life in prison on each count.

During the trial, the victim testified that in 2019, when he was eleven years old, Polk was hired by his step-mother as a live in babysitter. Polk would keep the children overnight in their home in Saucier, while the step-mother worked nights at a local bar.

The victim testified that approximately one week after Polk moved in, Polk started sleeping in the bed with the victim, and began sexually assaulting him.

“The sexual abuse occurred almost on a nightly basis for a period of several months,” stated Assistant District Attorney Ian Baker, who prosecuted the case for the State along with ADA Patti Simpson.

The victim also stated that he was repeatedly beaten by Polk, and was initially afraid to tell anyone what was happening to him.

The victim’s sister testified that the victim had disclosed Polk’s actions to her and that she informed her step-mother, who asked Polk to leave, but did not report the abuse to the police.

The Jury heard from a special education administrator that testified that the victim was developmentally delayed and functioned about two years behind his actual age.

The Jury also heard from a counselor who contacted Child Protective Services and reported the abuse, once the victim disclosed the sexual abuse to her.

Due to the counselor’s efforts to protect the child, the child was removed from the home, and a no contact order was put in place for the step-mother.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office was also contacted to investigate the allegations of sexual abuse, which resulted in the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of Mr. Polk.

District Attorney Crosby Parker stated, “we are pleased with the jury’s decision to hold the defendant accountable for these horrendous acts and hope this will be a major step in the healing process for the victim. We applaud the victim’s courage in coming forward to face his abuser.”