Former Court of Appeals candidate charged with burglary

A former assistant district attorney for Madison County was arrested and charged with burglary in Jones County after he was accused of walking into a home earlier this month.

George McDowell “Dow” Yoder III, 49, of Canton was arrested and charged by Jones County Sheriff’s Deputies on the afternoon of Jan. 11 with burglary-breaking and entering of a dwelling.

Sgt. J.D. Carter with Jones County said that Yoder posted a $5,000 bond on Jan. 23, this past Saturday.

Yoder has a law and government affairs firm in Ridgeland. Carter said Yoder had been staying with family near the home in Jones County he was accused of breaking and entering. 

Carter said that they received a call about 3:04 p.m. on Jan. 11, reporting a possible burglary at a residence on Rocky Creek Cove near Ellisville.

The homeowner said that they had heard a door open and confronted a man, identified as Yoder, who had entered his home. 

He said that deputies made contact with Yoder as he was walking on the side of the road, confirmed his identity and arrested him. Carter said that nothing was determined to be taken from the residence.

Carter said that the case has been sent to the Jones County district attorney for further consideration.

Yoder was a candidate for the state Court of Appeals in 2016 where he finished third behind Jack Wilson and Ed Hannan. Wilson would go on to win a runoff election with Hannan.

Previously he had served as assistant DA in Madison County and he was special assistant U.S. Attorney in the Jackson Division of the Southern District Court. Local media in Jones County reported that he had worked as a defense attorney in several local cases they called “high profile.”