THE WORST DAY of his life was Nov. 21, 2013. That morning, Devonta Pollard walked into a courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi. The 19-year-old, once a top basketball recruit who seemed destined for the NBA, had barely slept the night before. His lawyer told him to dress up, so he wore a dark suit, a recent gift from one of his aunts. After his name was called, Devonta sat behind the witness stand and looked down at the prosecutor, steeling his face so he wouldn't cry.
"You know the defendant that is on trial here today, don't you?" asked the government lawyer.
Devonta responded in a soft Southern drawl, "Yes, sir."
The lawyer asked him who it was.
"Mother."
Earlier that year, shortly after Devonta finished his freshman season at the University of Alabama, his mother, Jessie Mae Brown Pollard, had kidnapped the 6-year-old daughter of a cousin. Eventually, six other people, including Devonta, were charged in connection with the crime. Though his involvement was peripheral, his arrest made national headlines. The shy teenager's mug shot was posted online, his wide, almond-shaped eyes staring impassively into the camera.
As Jessie's trial date drew closer, the other defendants, most of whom were relatives, signed plea agreements. But Devonta balked at the idea of testifying against his mother, whom he considered his best friend and confidante. It wasn't until Jessie turned down a deal that would have shielded her son from imprisonment that Devonta changed his mind. She had told the judge that she didn't see the point of accepting an agreement that wouldn't help her in any way.
His testimony was brief. He said that he was unaware of Jessie's plot until it was too late and that, even though he met with his mother that day, he never saw the victim. He choked out his words, barely looking at his mother, who sat several feet away. When he finally glanced at her, he was startled. Her roots were gray. Jessie, 55, had been dyeing her hair black for years.
The prosecutor asked him to describe his mother's character. "She was a person that -- that I know never hurt anyone," Devonta said. "Always wanted to help people, always wanted the best for people."
Knowing what you do now, the lawyer continued, who planned the kidnapping? "My mom." As soon as he was excused, Devonta bolted out of the courtroom. Jessie was found guilty and sentenced to prison for 25 years.
Final Home Midweek for Alabama Brings Samford to The Joe
