By Marilyn Miller
Minden City Attorney on Wednesdays. Webster Parish Assistant District Attorney on Mondays and Fridays. Self-employed lawyer and “putting out fires” on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is just the start of a week in the life of 35-year-old Jimbo Yocom.
There’s also his podcast, entitled “Legally Blind,” the Brick Town Title Company, squeezing in time to serve as attorney for Sarepta and Ringgold, AND as magistrate for the town of Haughton. Don’t forget Dorcheat Real Estate, his management company involving over 20 rent houses.
And on top of all that, is God. And his family. And then, everything else.
“We are very blessed,” Yocom remarked. “In three years (since the official, official opening of his law firm in May of 2021) we have grown exponentially and continue to grow.”
Obviously, faith is at the center of everything that Yocom endeavors to do. He is quite a powerful spokesman for his God and the Christianity that he professes. Born in Minden, Louisiana, as a child he was diagnosed with “retinitis pigmentosa,” a retinal disease that causes him to be legally blind. As a result of this untreatable disease, he is unable to read or drive.
As a testament to the man and his dreams for a normal life, Yocom learned early on the value of hard work and perseverance. He was raised in a broken home with little money. He overcame all of these “obstacles” – even being raised by four older sisters. And, today, this makes him an outstanding advocate for whatever cause he is fighting for.
Before he ever became an attorney, Yocom was a preacher, ministering in his church with a focus on youth. Today, he and his family attend Pentecostals of Bossier City, where he still teaches and preaches. He and his wife, Jesslyn, have three children, ages three months, three years, and four years. His wife is an accountant, but now focuses on being a stay-at-home mom.
In 2013, at the age of 24, Yocom entered Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) to pursue an associate degree, transferring to Louisiana Tech University to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, with a concentration on Marketing and Economics. With encouragement from Jesslyn, he signed up to take the LSAT (the test to qualify for law school).
He “made a pretty good score” and earned a full ride (scholarship) to several universities, including LSU and Mississippi College. He attended the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Miss. and while there earned his Doctorate of Juris Prudence and his civil law certification for Louisiana law. “Do all things unto the Lord,” Yocom quoted. “Everything I have is Christ-based.”
While in law school, Yocom received many notable awards for both academic excellence and outstanding performance in the courtroom. He served as an associate editor of the Mississippi College Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Board. On Moot Court (simulated court proceedings), he was able to compete in four national competitions, and won two of them, plus the overall Mississippi Moot Court Competition. It was on the Moot Court that Yocom was able to develop his skills as an advocate in the courtroom. Yocom also excelled in the classroom, receiving the American Juris Award for having the highest scores in Criminal Law, Torts II, Contracts II and some 10 other classes.
In January of 2019, Yocom became “licensed to practice…to hang his shingle.” Nine months into returning to Minden to practice, he found himself as “an Assistant DA, the Minden City Attorney, and trying to start a law firm.” The very first day as an ADA found him working a jury trial with ADA Stuart McMahen who is now working with the Yocom Law Firm and will open a Springhill Office.
“In March of 2020, COVID hit, and in May of 2020, I started renting a single office at the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce, which was basically a 10×10 room,” Yocom recalled. In May of 2021, the law firm moved to its present location on Pearl Street behind Roma.
Yocom’s office staff today includes Caroline Dinkins, secretary/successions & estate planning; Reagan Dodge, law clerk; Brittney Hudson, office administrator & promotions director; Katie Price, paralegal (working remotely); Stewart McMahen, attorney, Springhill; and Cody Boyd, attorney, partner in Brick Town Title.
“We are growing, growing, growing,” he said.
And Yocom remains busy, busy, busy. He successfully assisted the prosecution of Logan Smith for a Springhill murder, assisted prosecuting Michael Duck for first degree rape of a child under 13, and is now heading up the continued prosecution of the TTS gang. He is also trying defendants in the drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of a three-year-old child.
“One thing we have to remember. The devil is real, but people can be evil all by themselves,” Yocom said of the vicious crimes. “You have no idea who you are standing behind in the Walmart line. You never get used to it, and the ones I take home are the kids.”
The job can be rewarding, he said. “The public doesn’t see how the DA’s office shows mercy trying to help 18 to 22-year-olds kids try to find themselves.
As for the City of Minden, implementing the STEP Program for the Minden Police Dept. and Marshal’s Service stands out as important. The Safety Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) utilizes ghost patrol cars, electronic license readers, and heightened law enforcement to control traffic coming off I-20.
As for the future, Yocom wants to grow his practice and to attract young locals to Minden to work for him. He wants to grow his “Personal Injury” business to combat the billboard lawyers. And, he can see a run for DA or judge once his highly-respected mentors, Schuyler Marvin and Sherb Sentell retire. “They excel at what they do,” he emphasized. “I just want to be in a position where I can be impactful.”
