Prosecutors have dismissed 34 drug cases in Jones County, Miss., after an investigation showed agents with the Southeast Mississippi Narcotics Task Force planted evidence on suspects or tampered with evidence.

Assistant district attorney J. Ronald Parrish says the cases were dismissed in July following an investigation of the task force.

The former task force members were to be in circuit court Tuesday to enter pleas to charges that include simple assault, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. The task force members also served as deputies.

Authorities say former deputies Roger Williams, Chris Smith, and Randall Parker agreed Monday to waive their rights to a grand jury investigation and plead guilty to a variety of charges ranging from planting evidence to assaulting defendants and embezzling money.
The men face sentences that range from five to ten years in prison.

The task force covered Jones, Smith and Covington counties. Authorities say Jones County will not be involved in the formation of another drug task force. Covington and Smith counties probably will join another drug task force.