By Emily D. Williams
After Batesville Municipal Court Judge Bill McKenzie sorted out the details of a July 27 car chase that ended with the drivers in a fight in front of the Batesville Police Department, he found defendant Hunter Hynum not guilty of disorderly conduct.

Hynum, 6826-A Barnacre, Sardis, testified in Wednesday’s city court session that he has been helping relatives move when he encountered William David Bell, who wanted to fight and tried to run Hynum’s vehicle off the road.

He said he tried moving his aunt Martha Gray and friend Johnnie Kelly to Sardis but could not because Bell was in a vehicle trying to run them off of the road.

BPD Lt. Billy Sossaman testified he received a call from dispatch saying a vehicle was chasing another and they were heading to the police department.

“We called 911 because two vehicles chased us from Yalobusha to Panola,” Hynum said. “Dispatch told us to find the nearest police station.”

In Hynum’s vehicle were his aunt, Martha Gray, and Gray’s friend, Johnnie Kelly.
Kelly told the judge William David Bell is her uncle but she did not know the reason for him running them off of the road.

Sossaman said he saw Hynum pull into the police station and Bell blocked his vehicle in with his car.

Sossaman said when Hynum got out of the vehicle the men started fighting.

“This is an unusual case where everyone agrees on the facts,” the judge said in ruling.
“I believe you were put in a bad situation and trying to get help,” said McKenzie.

Bell’s case will be heard at another date.

Animal cruelty
Prestine Adair, 228 Perkins, Batesville, was found guilty of animal cruelty after testimony from Officer Ruby Myers and animal resource officer Benji Caine.

Myers said the residence had nine puppies and five dogs without food, water and air.
Adair failed to appear for her hearing.

Myers told the judge a fire on July 16 is what led Adair’s landlord, Mike Fudge, to make a complaint about the animals in the home.

Adair was fined $331.

“Where are the dogs now?” McKenzie asked.

“We gave them all away except two. We have two left,” Caine said.

Other cases
Rodney Johnson, 148 Shiloh Rd., Courtland, had a probable cause hearing set for next Wednesday for possession of firearm by a felon, DUI-refusal and loud music.

Quentin Hogan, 107 MLK, Batesville, entered a guilty plea to public drunk. He was fined $210.
Melissa A. Steward, 636 Morris Lane, Batesville, had a case for simple possession of controlled substance dismissed after she showed the judge she had a prescription to Clonazepam.

Danny Webster, 2585-C Chapel Town, Batesville, was fined $2,340 for possession of marijuana in a vehicle, no driver’s license, improper turn and no proof of insurance and old fines that have been due since December 2009.

He had a trial set for August 28 for simple possession of controlled substance. He showed the judge a prescription bottle.

Judge McKenzie noticed the date was scratched off of the bottle.

The judge told him to return next week with the proper prescription.

Edward Brooks, 8208 Pope Crowder Rd., Pope, entered a not guilty plea to simple assault. A trial was set for August 28.

Pamela Deason, 130 Johnson Road, Batesville, had a domestic violance-simple assault case dismissed after affiant Michael Deadson failed to appear to prosecute.

Brandon Rice, 3140 Lambert Cove, Hernando, entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence-simple assault. A trial was set for September 25.

Brandi Wolfe, 206 Pollard, Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to disorderly conduct-failure to comply.  She also had old fines of $242.50 that have been due since April 2012. A trial was set for August 28.

Dameon Sanford, 207 Gordon St., Batesville, paid in full prior to court a cash fine of $845 that had been due since April 2013.

During a case set for trial Jasmine Sims, 104 Sunrise Cove, Batesville, had a speeding charge dismissed.

Sims told the judge she stopped at a friend’s house across from the old Crowson’s.
“He followed me. I knew he was there,” Sims said.

Sims testified she told her passenger, “He’s behind me. I am not going to give him a reason to stop me.”

She said he eventually stopped her.

“I was not speeding,” she testified.

“He ran my license and it came back clean. He then came back and ran my insurance and it came back clean. He got me out of the car and put my hands on car because I told him I was not speeding,” she testified.

“Another officer came and I heard him say, ‘She’s a cop’s kid, she should know not to speed.’”
“Are you a cop’s kid?” the judge asked.

“Well, yes, sir,” she replied.

Officer Will Parrish testified he did not clock Sims speeding but she was going 35 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone.

The judge found her not guilty due to lack of probable cause.

Johnie G. Williams, 218 Panola, Batesville, was fined $779 for DUI. He had possession of marijuana in vehicle, driving while license suspended and a stop sign violation remanded to the files. He was represented by Attorney Horan.

Melvin Vaughn, 120 Field St., Batesville, had a case for possession of marijuana and improper equipment continued.

George Mister III, 3023 Henderson Rd., Batesville, had a case for saggy pants continued.

Tickets
Seon Buckley, 106 Field St., Batesville, had a no proof of insurance ticket continued. He entered a guilty plea to speeding.

Shaneke Burdette, 213 Hayes St., Batesville, was fined $155 for a turn signal violation.
Trinity Brooks, 223 St. Elmo, Memphis, had a ticket for driving while license suspended continued. Brooks was fined $205 for no proof of insurance.

Luther Attaway, 3934 Seven Rd., Batesville, was fined $310 for no child restraint.

David L. Rudd, 1321 A Hentz Rd., Pope, was fined $205 for no proof of insurance.

Christopher Scott Jr., 116 Williams St., Batesville, was fined $181 for a stop sign violation.