By Emily Williams
Judge Bill McKenzie referred two cases to the grand jury during Wednesday’s session of Batesville Municipal Court.

Amber J. Woods, 807 Strickland Rd., Byhalia, was bound over to the grand jury for felony possession of controlled substance.

Joshua W. Fisher, 10006 Keely Dr., Olive Branch, was bound over to the grand jury for aggravated assault, felony fleeing, DUI-other, resisting arrest, running a stop sign and driving while license suspended.

Teresa Barnes, 321 Hays St., Batesville, had a shoplifting charge dismissed after a short trial.
An employee from Walmart testified he saw Barnes with Linda Foster on December 5 in Walmart.

Foster had entered a guilty plea to shoplifting in the December 30 session of municipal court.
Barnes previously told the judge she was not aware that Foster was shoplifting and she was sitting in the car.

The Walmart employee testified that Barnes was beside Foster the entire time.

“They were concealing items in sacks and were going to return them.” The items included: clothing, a cell phone, candy, a Coke and clothes adding up to $165.20 worth of merchandise (21 items total).

Another employee from Walmart testified he saw Foster put a cell phone in her purse and heard her tell Barnes, “Go get in the car, I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Barnes told the judge she did not know Foster was taking the items.

Barnes’ sister, Mary Blankenship testified she received a phone call from Barnes from jail saying she was arrested for shoplifting and she had no idea Foster was taking the items.

Judge McKenzie dismissed the charges due to evidence provided, but said, “I don’t believe you didn’t know she was stealing.”

James P. Hicks, 466 Pearidge Rd., Grenada, failed to appear to answer shoplifting charges. Fox Bonding was notified.

Yaseen Alhensdi, 1427 Stateline Rd., Olive Branch, was fined $832 for no tag and no proof of insurance.

Ronnie Foster, 790 Loden Rd., Holcomb, was found guilty of false information and shoplifting from Walmart. He was fined $1,793.

Laura Beth Hannaford, 18 Harmon Circle, Batesville, had a domestic violence-simple assault charge remanded to the files for six months.

The city’s prosecuting attorney Ryan Revere told the judge there was video evidence that the defendant was not the aggressor.