Hernandez Govan, the individual accused of being the mastermind behind the 2021 murder of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, was arrested in Southaven, Mississippi for driving and stalking-related charges. Action News 5 reported that the arrest occurred over the past weekend, and the charges include driving with a suspended license and having an improperly mounted license tag.
Records indicate Govan also faces an outstanding warrant in DeSoto County for stalking/repeatedly following/harassing or making threats, and while specifics of the stalking charge are currently unclear, the district attorney has been queried for further details. After posting a $2,250 bond, he was released from custody Monday morning. Govan is scheduled for a court appearance on Wednesday in Southaven Municipal Court regarding the recent traffic violations and is due before a judge on August 20 for the stalking-related warrant. These dates come ahead of his pending trial for the murder charges set to commence in September.
For the murder of Young Dolph, Govan faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, as WREG notes. Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton, Jr., was tragically shot 22 times, and the authorities believe Govan enlisted Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith to carry out the killing. Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith are scheduled for a motion hearing on August 9 preceding the trial, while Jermarcus Johnson has already entered a guilty plea for being an accessory after the fact.
The Shelby County District Attorney's Office, aware of Govan's latest arrest, is reviewing the circumstances, the recent developments come after Govan had posted bond and been released from Shelby County Jail in May 2023, wherein he pleaded not guilty to all charges related to Young Dolph's murder, "We were apprised of Govan’s arrest on an unrelated preexisting warrant last night. We are looking into the circumstances. The Court will be made aware of the arrest," a spokesperson for the district attorney's office told FOX13.
