By Emily Williams

Three defendants were in Batesville Municipal Court Wednesday for shoplifting charges.

Jamiya Burgess, 794 Shiloh Rd., Courtland, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting sweat pants from Wal-Mart.

“Do you work anywhere?” asked Judge Bill Mckenzie.

“No,” replied Burgess.

“How do people get by or buy groceries with no income?” the judge asked.

“I have food stamps,” Burgess replied.

In lieu of paying $1,124 in fines she entered the city’s work program for 20 days.
Taneille Burgess, 794-A Shiloh Rd., Courtland, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting a pair of scrubs from Wal-Mart.

“Do you work anywhere?” the judge asked Burgess as well.

“No.” she replied.

“Do you get food stamps too?” McKenzie asked.

“Yes,” said Burgess.

She was fined $1,124.

Mekesha Bradford, 2244 Hwy. 51, Scobey, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting various items worth $417 from Wal-Mart.

“You know stealing’s wrong, don’t you?” asked the judge.

In lieu of paying $1,124 she entered the city’s work program for 20 days.

Vincent Ascencio, 150 MLK, Batesville, entered a guilty plea to malicious mischief by putting nails under the tires of a Jeep Cherokee belonging to his stepdaughter, Jessica Weekley, on June 3.

“It was back in the day, we just didn’t get along,” said Ascencio.
He was fined $305.

Justin Mister, 330 Ford, Batesville, had two counts of simple assault dismissed after the affiants, Anthony Harris and Devin Tribble, failed to appear to prosecute.

James Williams, 689 Meadowview, Batesville, faced a public drunk charge after entering the court room drunk last week to pay old fines.

He is entering a rehab program and was not in court Wednesday.

Carlos Rudd, 236 MLK, Batesville, was sentenced to time served for domestic violence-simple assault by hitting his brother Chadrick Rudd.

Rudd’s mother told the judge she called the police and that her son Carlos was on drugs and will be going to rehab.

Rudd is on a writ to hold as he waits to go to the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield.

Gary Bland, 125 Campground Rd., Batesville, was fined $2,353 for DUI, driving while license suspended, leaving the scene of an accident, possession of marijuana and no proof of insurance.

“None of us can afford to drink and drive,” the judge said.

Doretha Gardner, 6921 Compress Rd., Batesville, had old fines of $1,188 that have been due since June 2009. The judge told her to pay the fines or serve time in jail.

James B. Turner, 104 Jackson, Batesville, had old fines of $520 that have been due since January 2011. He had 90 days suspended jail sentence for failing to complete the work program.

Turner told the judge he worked 10 of the 15 days he was ordered to work, but left because he got his old job back and wanted to pay the fines off.

“You didn’t do what you were ordered to do,” the judge responded.

Turner asked the judge if he could just have a second chance to go back to work and pay the fines off.

“Why should I trust you?” asked the judge.

Turner explained he could have the job finished and the fines paid and made the judge a promise.

“If $520 is not paid by February 17 by 5 p.m. you will serve six months in jail,” the judge replied.

 Cases set for trial

Jermichael Joiner, 912 Brittany Dr., Oxford, had a petit larceny charge dismissed after the affiant, Demetrice Lester, failed to appear to prosecute..

Justin Harmon, 536 Callie Norwood, Sardis, had a simple assault case dismissed after the affiant, Brandon Taylor, failed to appear.

Tickets

Desharrun W. Cox, 5592 Nash Rd., Batesville, was given a lower fine of $194 for no proof of insurance. He was given the lower fine after proving he purchased insurance after the ticket was issued.

Dorothy Norwood, 876 Sanders Rd., Sardis, had a driving while license suspended charge. Records showed she only owed a reinstatement fee to have her license fixed.

“You need to go to the Highway Patrol Station and get your license fixed,” the judge explained.

Norwood was fined $370.