Mark Hand a/k/a Mark Eugene Hand v. State of Mississippi

Jackson, MS criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of child

exploitation

Fifty-one-year-old Mark Hand was family friends with "Kate” and her ten-year-old

daughter "Nina.”1



During Nina's early childhood, Kate would allow Hand to babysit Nina

and drive her to the store. Hand's mother lived within walking distance to Kate's home and

Nina would often spend time there with Hand. As Nina became older, Kate's friends began

to describe Hand and Nina's relationship as inappropriate. Kate testified that Hand began

to act "strange and different” around Nina. On one occasion, Hand approached Kate and told

her that he believed another man had "messed with” Nina. Kate believed Hand was trying

to "come clean” about something himself. Nina denied that anyone touched her

inappropriately and called Hand "crazy.” Kate told Hand to stay away from ten-year-old

Nina.

The jury found Hand guilty of kidnapping under Mississippi Code Annotated section

97-3-53 (Rev. 2020) and child exploitation under Mississippi Code Annotated section 97-5-

33(5) (Rev. 2020). The trial court sentenced Hand to serve thirty years for the kidnapping

and forty years for the child exploitation, running consecutively in the custody of the

Mississippi Department of Corrections. In addition, Hand was ordered to register as a sex

offender. Hand moved for a new trial which was denied. He timely appealed.





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