By Emily D. Williams

A defendant in a trial in Batesville Municipal Court on Wednesday, following testimony from six witnessestold Judge Bill McKenzie he wanted to change  his plea to guilty.

Roger Lynn Crosswhite, 3655 Baker Rd., Batesville, had earlier entered a not guilty plea to shoplifting steaks from Piggly Wiggly back in December.

Testifying individually on Wednesday were witnesses Randy Barton, Mark Cole and Jerry Pierce from Piggly Wiggly. The store also supplied   video footage. Witnesses for Crosswhite included his wife, Jamie Crosswhite; his sister, Chesley Davis and his father, Buck Crosswhite.

Detective George Williford, who worked the case, testified that on December 17, 2011, two packs of ribeye steaks were taken from Piggly Wiggly.

Williford said they had video of two individuals stealing the steaks and they interviewed David Ray who admitted to the shoplifting charge.

Barton of Piggly Wiggly said, “They tried to sell the steaks for half price outside the store after stealing them. Both of them put the steaks in their pants.”

Cole said the lady next door to Piggly Wiggly called after she saw the individuals trying to sell the steaks for half price with their label on it.

Crosswhite told the judge it was not him and he was not at the store.

After video footage was shown to the judge and court, Crosswhite said, “It looks like me, but a lot of folks look like me.”

His witnesses were in the back room waiting to testify one at a time.

His wife testified they had been at Hot Shotz and David Ray left in her car and came back with a guy she didn’t know. She said Crosswhite was never at Piggly Wiggly.

“Look at this picture on this video. Do you recognize this man?” the judge asked.

She replied that it looked like him but it wasn’t.

Crosswhite’s sister came out to testify and said the same, that they were at Hot Shotz and that David Ray came back with a guy they didn’t know.

When the judge asked her to look at the picture on the video recording she looked and immediately looked back at her brother, “Yes sir, that’s my brother,” she told the court.

Crosswhite’s father came out last. The judge asked him to look at the paused picture on the video.

He put his glasses on and looked at the picture.

“Well, yea, that’s my son,” his father replied.

“We’ve got David Ray in the back to testify” the judge announced.

Officers brought Ray from the jail to testify.

Crosswhite immediately blurted out before Ray could come out, “I’ll just plead guilty. Can I just pay the fine?”

The judge accepted his changed plea from not guilty to guilty and at the store owner’s request told Crosswhite to stay away from Piggly Wiggly.
He was fined $1,124.

Initial appearances

James K. McGhee, 134 Patton Lane, Batesville, was referred to the grand jury for possession of marijuana with intent and firearm enhancement penalty. His bond was reduced to $7,500.

Clyde Henderson, 112 Williams St., Batesville, was referred to the grand jury for strong armed robbery by taking money from cash register at Batesville Corner Store on Van Voris by threatening to blow the employee’s head off and reaching in his pocket making the employee believe he had a gun.

He had a lawyer appointed and MDOC has a hold.

Jerrod Jones, 3436 Nash Rd., Batesville, was fined $654 for disorderly conduct-failure to comply, failure to stop to blue lights and careless driving.

Sharon Brown, 116 Autumn Wood, Batesville, was fined $305 for simple assault by striking Latashia Harris in the face.

“I plea no contest,” Brown told the judge.

“I just want her (Harris) to stop harassing my friends and family on Facebook,” Brown added.

“How do I stop them from hurting me?” she asked.

“I don’t see how Facebook can hurt someone. Turn the other cheek. I don’t see how it matters what someone says about you. Quit responding and it’ll quit,” the judge said.

“They are obviously wanting to get a rise out of you and they are getting what they want,” the judge added.

Lashundric Cosby, 155 MLK, Batesville, had a simple assault case dimissed after the affiant, Terry Brown failed to appear to prosecute.

Gregory Harris, 213 Hayes, Batesville, entered a guilty plea to domestic violence-simple assault. He was fined $395.

Michael Porter, 107 MLK, Batesville, failed to appear to answer charges for domestic violence-simple assault. Alright Bonding was notified.

Stacy Ford, 3408-A Eureka, Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence-two counts of simple assault. A trial was set for April 25.

Anthony Tribble, 209 King St., Batesville, failed to appear to answer charges for DUI, no child restraint and no driver’s license. Al Williams Bonding was notified.

Michael Lutts, 213 Court, Batesville, entered the city’s work program for 63 days in lieu of paying fines of $3,653 for DUI, driving while license suspended, possession of marijuana in vehicle, no turn signal, no proof of insurance and a new charge of shoplifting a pre-paid cell phone worth $40 from Wal-Mart.

Sybil Ann Hollis, 20555 Hwy. 6 East, Batesville, entered the city’s work program for 20 days in lieu of paying $1,124 for shoplifting from Wal-Mart.

Courtney Knight, 1660 Bell Rd., Courtland, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting cosmetics worth $27.81 from Wal-Mart. She was fined $1,124.

Terrence Butler, 324 Patton Lane, Batesville, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting a 32 inch tv and work out cds from Wal-Mart worth $297.34. He was fined $1,124.

Jerry Morton Jr., 206 Pearson, Batesville, was given time to get a lawyer after he entered a not guilty plea to felony shoplifting and encouraging/aiding a minor to shoplift.

He entered the city’s work program for 10 days in lieu of paying $562 in old fines that have been due since September 2010.

Terrence Ellis, 109 Jones St., Batesville, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for failing to pay $561 for contempt of court-old fines that have been due since July 2008.

Michael Brewer Jr., 2137 Brewer Rd., Batesville, told the judge he could pay his old fines of $763 that have been due since September 2009 in 15 days. The judge told him if the fines were not paid he would serve time in jail.