Grand Jury meets to discuss Hashman case

The Lafayette County grand jury met Friday, Feb. 18 to determine whether University of Mississippi cheerleader Johnny Beasley would be held criminally liable for an alleged assault on former University of Mississippi baseball player Taylor Hashman that occurred July 31, 2010.

The meeting concluded a series of rendering hearings that began on Wednesday, Feb. 16 in Oxford. According to local law enforcement officials, the results of the hearings will be released to the public in early March.

Benjamin West, an attorney at Oxford-based law firm Holcomb and Dunbar, said that his office has been serving as an adviser to Hashman throughout the course of the legal proceedings. A statement regarding Hashman and the case is expected to be released by the firm later this week.

The Beasley family has retained the legal representation of Stephen E. Farese, Sr., a prominent criminal defense attorney and president of Farese, Farese & Farese Law Firm.

Farese, whose firm is headquartered in Ashland, is an alumnus of the Ole Miss Law school and has been the recipient of several awards within the legal profession.

The incident under investigation took place approximately six months ago outside The Exchange apartment complex, now called The Connection, in Oxford where both Hashman and Beasley were attending a party.

Sources said that Hashman was struck and fell to the ground, hitting his head on the concrete. As a result, Hashman suffered a serious head injury from which he has still not fully recovered.