By Jason C. Mattox

A Batesville woman was convicted of false reporting of a crime Wednesday morning in municipal court in connection with local football star’s arrest for DUI and driving without a license.

Karnesha Ellis, 200 Fisher St., Batesville, pleaded guilty to the charge in front of Judge William McKenzie III. She was fined $620.

Ellis had accused Darius “Tig” Barksdale of stealing her car Thursday, August 6 according to a Batesville Police Department incident report.

“The only reason I called the police is because I panicked,” she said. “I just wanted to get my car back.”

The report indicated that a missing car, reported to be stolen, was later returned to the owner’s residence. The report did not indicate that the car was being driven recklessly.

“So you put everyone out there working to solve a crime that isn’t even a crime?” McKenzie asked Ellis.

The incident report stated that the arresting officer saw the vehicle in question after, “about an hour of searching.”

The officer’s report stated that Barksdale was driving the car, smelled of alcohol and did not pass the breathilyzer test and was transported to the Panola County Jail where he was booked.

The jail indicated that Barksdale was booked at 6:50 a.m. that morning and released at 9:10 a.m. on an appearance bond. The incident report stated that Barksdale was charged with DUI first and no driver’s license.

Ellis apologized again saying she simply panicked when she noticed the vehicle was missing.

“Next time, don’t set the wheels in motion when there is not a crime,” McKenzie said.

Barksdale was declared academically eligible Tuesday by the NCAA and began football practice Wednesday at Ole Miss.

According to the Clarion-Ledger’s Ole Miss beat reporter David Brandt, “ It doesn’t appear there will be any sort of suspension for the freshman from the alleged DUI incident in Batesville. Nutt said Barksdale would receive counseling and he’ll also probably do a fair share of running after a bunch of these preseason practices.”