Reports – 5/13/2005

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 13, 2005

The Panolian: COUNTY REPORTS – May 13, 2005

  From the 5/13/05 issue of The Panolian  
   

City Court Report
Judge Westfaul postpones ruling on contested DUI case
By Rita Howell

In a tedious session of Batesville Municipal Court on Wednesday, Judge Pro Tempore Jay Westfaul postponed ruling on a DUI case until he can talk to the Attorney General’s office concerning the state’s newly implemented DUI breath analysis procedures.

Albert G. Barnett of 119 Dabney St., Batesville, was charged April 3 with DUI-refusal, meaning he allegedly refused to submit to the Intoxilyzer 8000 computerized breath test at the Batesville Police Department.

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His attorney, Tom Womble, brought to the court’s attention that the new system, in use for about a month, does not provide the defendant with a paper document outlining steps in the test procedure. The steps are on the computer screen and read by the police officer administering the test.

The new test also requires two breath samples. Sgt. Billy Sossaman testified that Barnett gave only one sample, so the test was never completed and that resulted in the "refusal" charge.

Judge Westfaul said he would rule at an unspecified later date.

In another DUI case, Rowdy Wayne Griffin of 2561 Highway 322, Batesville, testified that he was not driving the vehicle the night he and friends were stopped at the Exxon station on Highway 6 East.

Griffin told the judge that his friend had been driving and had jumped out when he stopped, and Griffin had slid over into the driver’s seat because he feared his friend’s job would be in jeopardy if he got a DUI.

"You were sitting behind the wheel of the vehicle," Judge Westfaul said, "I have no choice but to find you guilty."

Griffin was fined $2,017 for DUI second offense, driving while his license was suspended under the implied consent law, and improper turn.

Other cases
Jermaine House of 339 Hays St., Batesville, pleaded guilty to charges of resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, careless driving, running a stop sign, and failure to yield to blue lights. He was fined $970 and sentenced to 60 days in jail. The jail sentence was suspended providing House pays the fine within 60 days.

McElwain Adair of 228 M. L. King Drive, Batesville, pleaded guilty to petit larceny and was fined $295.

Christopher Jones of 106 Maple Lane, Batesville, had his case continued until May 25 when a trial will be held on charges of domestic violence and simple assault.

Contempt of court
Akeen L. Davis of 1747-B Shiloh Road, Courtland, was found guilty of contempt of court from fines dating back to October of 2004. His representative paid the fines of $505 at city hall and returned to the courtroom with the receipt.

Hulet Lee Peagues of CR 217 231 Campground, Oxford, was found guilty of contempt of court for fines dating back to July of 2000. He was ordered to have $383 paid in full by Wednesday, May 18, or face 15 days in jail.

Cornelius Wells of 217 Noble St., Batesville, failed to appear in court to answer a charge of simple assault. Fox Bonding Company was notified.

Tickets
Ronald Lee Lancaster Jr. of 4815 Darling Road, Sledge, charged with driving while his license is suspended and no proof of insurance, had his case continued until next Wednesday to allow him the opportunity to present proof that he has vehicle insurance.

Kianna Kandice Leland of 103 Queen St., Batesville, was fined $113 for speeding and was enrolled in the adult driving school which will allow the ticket to be stricken from her driving record.

Jason Thomas Brooks of 1335 Dunleith Place, Jackson, pleaded guilty to speeding and was enrolled in the young drivers school. If he successfully completes the course his fine will be waived.

Shawndarryl Daniel of 416 Juanita St., Sardis, was found guilty of no driver’s license, but Judge Westfaul reduced the fine to $130 since Daniel now has his learner’s permit.

Robert Steven Holmes Jr. of 786 Snowden Circle, Memphis, had his expired tag charge dismissed after he showed Judge Westfaul the receipt for his tag, purchased after he received the ticket.

Dorothy Jean Elliott, 15430 Ballentine Rd., Sardis, produced proof that she has auto insurance and had her fine for no proof of insurance reduced to $155.

Lee Andrew Crump of 1879 Highway 51 North, Sardis, was fined $635 for running a stop sign, driving while his license is suspended and no proof of insurance. He had provided proof that he now has insurance, so that portion of his fine was reduced from $1,055 to $155.

Robert Calvin Harris of 412-B Alcorn St., Sardis, was fined $1,920 for no tag, no proof of insurance, and driving while his license is suspended (under the implied consent law).

Roy Lee Gardner of 104 Gore St., Batesville, is to appear back in court next Wednesday for a trial on charges of running a stop sign, driving while his license is suspended and contempt of court for an old fine.

Teresa Ann Peeples of P.O. Box 271, Greenville, was fined $270 for no child restraint and no proof of insurance. She provided proof that she now has auto insurance and the judge lowered her original fine.

Jonathan Lynn Bratton of 35 Business 7 North, Abbeville, pleaded guilty to speeding and was enrolled in the adult driving school.

Jerry Pearson of 116 Price Hill Road, Oxford, contested a speeding charge and had a trial date set for June 1.

Demitra Lee will have a trial on May 18. She is contesting charges of following too closely, driving while her license is suspended and no proof of insurance.

Miranda Brown of 39217 Highway 315, Batesville, pleaded not guilty to a no tag charge and has a trial date of May 25.
    

Health Inspections
No report this issue
    
 
Sheriff’s Report    
All information is taken directly from the open records of the Panola County Sheriff’s Department. An arrest does not mean a conviction. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty. Names will not be left out of the records upon request. If a name appears in the arrest logs, it will appear in The Panolian.

May 3
Billy Wayne Johnson, 408 Tubbs Rd., Batesville, was arrested and charged with violation of the child support law. The case will be heard in Chancery Court.

Kristopher Shannon Jones, 106 Maple Lane, Batesville, was arrested and charged with domestic violence. The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

Brian K. Roach, 136 Peccen Rd., Pope, was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended. The case will be heard in Pope Municipal Court.

Cornelius O. Wells, 217 Noble St., Batesville, was arrested and charged with simple assault, simple possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance (xanax and cocaine). The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

May 4
Keith Roger Danner, 714 West Pearl St., Sardis, was arrested and charged with possession of counterfeit bank note. The case will be heard in Sardis Municipal Court.

Katie L. Virinia Dintelman, 407 Hwy. 30 E., Oxford, was arrested and charged with speeding. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Chris E. Standard, 17571 Hwy. 51, Sardis, was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

May 5
Willie Lee Andrew Reeves, 4511 Curtis Rd., Batesville, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and grand larceny. The case willl be heard in Circuit Court.

Ron Ferrell Ware, 204 Choctaw Ridge Hwy. 51 South, Oakland, was arrested and charged with three counts of disturbing the peace. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Limekin Deantoine Arnold, 268 Atkins St., Sardis, was arrested and charged with contempt-failure to pay fines. The case will be heard in Como Municipal Court.

May 6
McElwain Adair, 228 Martin Luther King, Batesville, was arrested and charged with petit larceny/violation of probation. The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

Tracey Lomon Barksdale, 119 1/2 Field St., Batesville, was arrested and charged with contempt. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Jermaine House, 339 Hays St., Batesville, was arrested and charged with careless driving, running a stop sign, failure to yield to blue lights, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana (less than an ounce). The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

May 7
James L. Griffin, 1103 W. Jackson, Tupelo, was arrested and charged with DUI. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Dale E. Nolan, Hwy. 35 South, Batesville, was arrested and charged with DUI, no driver’s license, no insurance and careless driving. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Ronald L. Lancaster Jr., 4815 Darling Rd., Sledge, was arrested and charged with no driver’s license and no proof of insurance. The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

Kevin D. Cook, 230 Johnson Circle, Como, was arrested and charged with no driver’s license, no proof of insurance and expired tag. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Bobby D. Johnson, 532 Gleaton Rd., Pope, was arrested and charged with contempt-failure to pay fines. The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

May 8
Andrew L. Smith, 791 Enid Dam Rd., Pope, was arrested and charged with petit larceny and DUI refusal. The case will be heard in Pope Municipal Court.

Victor Hernandez, 160 Upton Way Douglas #39, Atlanta, Ga., was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident, expired tag, no insurance and expired driver’s license. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Akeen Lamorian Davis, 1747 B-Shiloh Rd., Courtland, was arrested and charged with contempt of court. The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

Bobby Heffner, 85 B-Willow Rd., Sardis, was arrested and charged with DUI (second) and driving while license suspended. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Billy D. McCullar, 3442 Phelps Rd., Courtland, was arrested and charged with DUI (second). The case will be heard in Justice Court.
    

Marriage Licenses
No report this issue
    
Divorces Granted
No report this issue
    

                                         
                         
 

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