By Emily D. Williams

A Canton man charged with murdering a woman in Batesville Christmas Eve appeared before Judge Bill McKenzie in Batesville Municipal Court Thursday.

Michael Wright, 443 Meadowlark, Canton, had his initial appearance after being charged with strangling Cera White Cannon, also of Canton, at 671 Hwy. 51 South in the city limits of Batesville.

Wright said his lawyer was Shanda Baldwyn.

McKenzie said he was not familiar with the name.

The case was continued until the attorney contacts the court.

Wright is being held at the Panola County’s Sheriff’s Department.

Kidnapping case
Terrell Tyrone Williams, 8123 36 Place, Indianapolis, Ind., was represented by David Walker on charges of  kidnapping, armed robbery, simple assault, resisting arrest, possession of controlled substance and felony possession of firearm enhancement.

The charges resulted from a December 7 incident when four men were apprehended after a lengthy pursuit by the Batesville Police Department following an attack and robbery of a Batesville woman.
The other three defendants have been referred to the grand jury. Williams had sought a bond reduction. He denied he was at the scene of the robbery.

Detective Jeremiah Brown testified that one suspect put Williams at the scene of the victim who he said was robbed after she was hit in the head with pistol. Her  hands were tied with wire and she had a wallet stolen with $100 in it.

“Do you think this is gang related?” Walker asked Brown.

“Possibly, but drug related for sure,” Brown testified.

Williams is on hold in the Panola jail on Indiana charges as well as the local ones.

“Do you know why you have a hold in Indianapolis?” McKenzie asked Williams.

“Probably because of my parole,” he replied.

McKenzie denied Williams’ request for a bond reduction.
The case was referred to the grand jury.

Other cases
John T. Aldison, 202-A Pollard St., Batesville, returned to court for a case that was previously taken under advisement on December 12 by Judge Bill McKenzie for disorderly conduct-failure to comply and resisting arrest.

During the arrest Aldison had 15 guns taken by the Batesville Police Department. His main concern was getting his guns back.

“Because of the nature of the charges, we don’t believe we have authority to take the guns,” said the city’s prosecuting attorney, Bob Morris.

“Of course this was before the Sandy Hook shootings. This is very scary,” the judge said as he examined Aldison’s files.

“Son, why do you have all of these guns?” McKenzie asked Aldison.

“It’s my second amendment right!” he answered loudly.

“Well,” the judge paused.

“It’s a hobby. Six of the guns are my mom’s,” said Aldison.

Aldison entered a not guilty plea to resisting arrest. A trial was set for January 16.

He was fined $634 for his guilty plea for disorderly conduct.

Roderick Baker and Niki Tubbs, both of 226 Magnolia Dr., Yazoo City, were bound over to the grand jury for felony shoplifting from Wal-Mart.

Roderic D. Holmes, 524 Iowa Ave., Clarksdale, was bound over to the grand jury for felony shoplifting from Wal-Mart.

Samuel D. Butler, 830 Russwin St., Clarksdale, was bound over to the grand jury for felony shoplifting from Wal-Mart.

Ebony L. Butler, 301 Elm St., Clarksdale, was also bound over to the grand jury for felony shoplifting from Wal-Mart.

Mashanta Bobo, 107 MLK, Batesville, entered guilty pleas to DUI, driving while license suspended and failure to yield to right of way. She was fined $1, 315.

Lashundra Willis, 265 Oil Mill Rd., Sumner, entered a not guilty plea to shoplifting from Wal-Mart on December 19. A trial was set for January 16.
 
Willis was with the next four defendants who entered guilty pleas:

Vernon Fletcher, 814 Shady Rd., Charleston, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting M&Ms, MP3 player, cologne, socks, perfume, video game controllers and other items worth $303.50. He was fined the full amount of $1,133.

Vonquarious Redd, 814 Shady Rd., Charleston, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting a bag of M&Ms and other items worth $303.50 from Wal-Mart. He was fined $1,133.

Marquis Hall, 726 Natchez Ave., Webb, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting a bag of M&Ms and other items worth $303.50 from Wal-Mart. Hall said he was guilty of eating the M&Ms and had been in jail since December 19.

He was fined $556  and sentenced to the time he had served in jail awaiting trial.

Lashondra Kennedy, 265 Oil Mill Rd., Sumner, also pleaded guilty to eating the M&Ms but not the other items. She was fined $566.

“You folks are walking around stealing and eating M&Ms. That wasn’t too smart was it?” McKenzie stated.
The defendants told the judge that Willis did not help them steal.

Willis, sitting in the audience hollered, “I want to subpoena them all,” as the judge asked about them returning to court for her trial.

April Partridge, 400 Franklin, Sardis, was sentenced to finish her 30 day suspended jail sentence for old fines of $1,667 that have been due since November 2011 and a new charge of shoplifting a purple shirt worth $18 from Treasures.

Partridge already served most of her days beginning December 20.

Her fines total $2,800.50.

“All fines are due May 1,” said McKenzie.

Tickets
Nathaniel Griffin, 2286 Asa Rd., Batesville, was given the lower fine of $205 for no proof of insurance after he proved he purchased insurance after the ticket was issued.

Cortellis McGhee, 5162 CR 223, Water Valley, was fined $205 for no proof of insurance.

Marcus T. Dixon III, 204 Arizona St., Batesville, was fined $381 for driving while license suspended.