Pearl River County’s District Attorney has recused himself from the case against bonding agent Anita Carol Pearson and her attorney Glenn White of Hattiesburg.

DA Hal Kitrell’s office sent out a press release Thursday stating that Kitrell has been advised by White’s attorney’s office that Kitrell may be called as a potential witness in the cases.

Being advised of that has caused Kitrell and his office to withdraw from the prosecution of the cases, according to the press release.

For that reason, Pearl River County’s Circuit Court has designated the Attorney General’s office to pursue the cases further. The release states that the Attorney General’s office can refer the cases to another entity for prosecution if they find it necessary.

“Because of the assertions made by Mr. White’s attorneys that I could be a potential witness in this matter, I am left with no choice but to recuse myself and my office from prosecuting this case. In recusing myself at this point, it will allow these cases to proceed in a timely manner,” Kitrell said in the release.

Earlier in February, Pearson and several of her employees were arrested on charges ranging from kidnapping to armed robbery for allegedly taking bonding customers into custody and robbing them of cash and belongings as payment for unpaid bonds. She was arrested again later that month for another charge that stemmed from her allegedly attempting to pay an inmate to cause bodily harm to one of the witnesses against her in on the other charges.

White was arrested early this month for allegedly attempting to bribe that same witness.