By Emily Williams

A February 28 “sting” operation conducted by police in several local businesses landed three defendants in Batesville Municipal Court Wednesday.

Batesville Police Department Captain Jimmy McCloud said this is an ongoing effort to stop the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to minors.

A juvenile was sent into the stores to buy cigarettes and alcohol and officers waited to see if he was “carded” by store employees to check his age and if the sale was made.

Ruby Henderson, 104 Boyd St., Batesville, agreed to plead guilty to sale of alcohol to a minor at Jiffy No. 4 and had a charge of sale of tobacco to a minor remanded to the files. She was fined $604.

Jamie Helmes, 7420 Dummyline, Batesville, was fined $604 for sale of alcohol to a minor at Discount Liquor.

She told Judge Bill McKenzie, “Sir, I felt sick. I have a 14-year-old daughter and a 19- year-old step-son.”
Katheryn Norwood, 1385 Tom Cooper, Batesville, was fined $375 for selling tobacco to a minor at Batesville Express.

“I knew he wasn’t 21. I even took the beer back to the cooler myself,” said Norwood.

She told the judge the minor had been in the store before. The judge asked Detective Paul Shivers how old the minor was.

“He’s 17,” said Shivers.

McCloud said carding could prevent this from happening.

The police department is working with the Alcohol Coalition, McCloud explained, noting that the department has been getting complaints about from parents about the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to minors.

“We will check them (stores) again,” said McCloud.

Trespassing

Terrell Adair, Taylor Rd., Pope, was sentenced to 10 days in jail for trespassing.
Affiant Vonnie Carroll with Skyview Apartments located on Vance Street told the judge she had 56 units set up like a nursing home and the residents were scared when Adair came because he was “drunk and disorderly.”

Adair told the judge he has a father who lives there along with a new born baby.

“I understand his father lives there. But he has to understand why I ask him not to come. I am protecting the residents who are scared,” Carroll said.

After sentencing Adair the judge ordered him to stay away from the apartments.

“If you need to see your father or baby you can see them somewhere other than the apartments,” Judge Bill McKenzie explained.

Other cases

Jeremy Pegues, 20 CR 288, Abbeville, was fined $625 for false information.

Howard Harris, 124 Field St., Batesville, entered a guilty plea to DUI and was fined $770.

Brittany Tucker, 209 Court, Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to possession of marijuana in a vehicle.
She said the marijuana belonged to Nicholas Roebuck, 299 Pecan St., Pope, who admitted that it was his marijuana.

“It was in his truck,” she said.

A trial was set for April 4.

Roebuck, was fined $789 for possession of marijuana in a vehicle and speeding.

Tamekia Greer, 749 S Pocahontas, Sardis, had a simple assault charge dismissed after the affiant, Ezell Pegues (for minor) failed to appear to prosecute.

Nicholas Lewis, 407 Dewberry, Sardis, entered a guilty plea to domestic violence-simple assault. In lieu of paying $395 he entered the city’s work release program for seven days to satisfy his fines.

Dennis Nelson, 201 Armstrong, Batesville, had a domestic violence-simple assault charge dismissed after the affiant, Charlene Smith, failed to appear to prosecute.

Prince Poole, 113-C Cole, Batesville, entered a guilty plea to domestic violence-simple assault. He was fined $395.

Laquana T. Sanford, 3064 Butler, Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence-simple assault. A trial was set for April 4.

Roger Lynn Crosswhite, 3655 Baker Rd., Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to shoplifting steaks from Piggly Wiggly on Dec. 17, 2011. A trial was set for March 21.

Kathy Ann Melton, 40614 Eureka Rd., Courtland, was found guilty of petit larceny by charging $53 worth of gas to Sherry Hawkins’ account at Kenneth Brasell’s station.
She was fined $325 and ordered to pay restitution.

Cases set for trial

Jimmy Vance, 1561 Curtis Locke Station, Batesville, was found guilty of shoplifting. He was fined $1,124.

Commie Hart, 3209 Nash,  Batesville, had a DUI and improper equipment charge remanded to the files for six months, after an agreement was made with the city’s prosecuting attorney that Hart would attend MASEP classes and provide proof he completed the classes.

Tickets

Mattie Ree Bland, 154 Campground Rd., Batesville, was fined $295 for no driver’s license.

William Lee Carwell Jr., 201 B. Patton Lane, Batesville, was fined $194 for no proof of insurance.

Stacy Griffith, 1616 Bell Rd., Courtland, entered the city’s work program for 18 days in lieu of paying $999 for no driver’s license, no proof of insurance.

Donna C. Aldy, 573 Avery Rd., Courtland, was fined $370 for driving while license suspended.