On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, FOX13 Memphis reported that Judge Andrew Howorth has recused himself from the case of Lindsey Whiteside, a former Mississippi youth pastor, who pleaded guilty to sexual battery. The recusal extends to all cases prosecuted by the DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office, led by Matthew Barton.
Whiteside’s case involved inappropriate relations with an individual who was nearing 17 years of age. The sentence handed down was 10 years of supervised release, including three years of house arrest and seven years of post-release supervision.
District Attorney Barton publicly criticized the sentence during a news conference, calling it “an absolute abomination of justice.” He further argued that the sentence was illegal because the crime was classified as violent, making the defendant ineligible for house arrest.
Judge Howorth’s recusal order, filed a week after Barton’s press conference, cited Barton’s office’s history of requesting sentences that do not align with the law. Howorth pointed out instances where Barton’s office had initiated sentencing recommendations in sex offender cases that were less than the legal minimum.
The judge stated that while disagreement with rulings is common, the situation had escalated due to “Barton’s apparent desire for a high and very public media profile.” Howorth expressed concern that Barton’s public statements could bring “unusually high attention directed at people involved in the case,” potentially compromising the judge’s ability to preside impartially.
Following the sentencing, Barton’s office reportedly asked a school board member who testified at the sentencing to resign. Barton also expressed his intention to make public the names of individuals who wrote letters supporting Whiteside. This revelation prompted a large gathering of parents at a DeSoto County School Board meeting, where they called for the resignation of board members who had voiced support for Whiteside.
Judge Howorth acknowledged the potential dangers of judges recusing themselves due to criticism. He warned that such a practice could allow prosecutors to publicly pressure judges until they recuse themselves, effectively enabling the prosecutor to hand-pick a judge who would align with their wishes. Howorth argued that this would blur the lines between the roles of judge and prosecutor, drawing a parallel to the court systems in authoritarian regimes.
Despite these concerns, Howorth stated that his primary focus was on the public sentiment surrounding the case, which had led to questions about his fairness and impartiality. For these reasons, he chose to recuse himself from further involvement in the Whiteside case and any other cases prosecuted by Matthew Barton or his office in DeSoto County, Mississippi.
Source: FOX13 Memphis
