By Emily D. Williams
A man who came to court over an hour late was arrested for being drunk during Batesville Municipal Court held Wednesday.

After a short recess Judge Westfaul returned to the bench to see Joel M. Covington, 185 Mt. Olivet Rd., Batesville, asking to plead not guilty to DUI-second-refusal, no proof of insurance, improper tag and no driver’s license.

“You were almost an hour late to court,” Westfaul said.

“Yessir, I am walking. I want to plea not guilty,” Covington said.

The judge set a trial for April 9 but officers took Covington into custody for appearing to be intoxicated while in court.

Jerry L. Ballard, 132 Field St., Batesville, had a trial for public drunk, resisting arrest and careless driving. He previously entered a guilty plea to driving while license’s suspended.

After the officer’s testimony and video evidence of Ballard running away from police, the judge found him guilty of all charges and fined him $1,071.

Renicha B. Shegog, 262 Herron Sub., Courtland, entered a guilty plea to embezzling $424.44 from Cracker Barrel.

She was fined $333 and ordered to pay restitution.

Mary I. Brassell, 259 Milam Rd., Batesville, and Kendrick D. Jones, 205 Claude St., Batesville, both had domestic violence-simple assault charges remanded to the files for six months after the judge told both of them to stay away from each other.

Ann M. Ellis, 227 Love Ave., Crowder, had a domestic violence-simple assault case remanded to the files after the officer told the judge he thought she was just trying to be a mother.

Ellis told the judge she popped her teenage daughter after she cussed her.

Ellis also told the judge it was her daughter who bailed her out of jail.

Pamela K. Deason, 130 Johnson St., Batesville, entered a guilty plea to public drunk. She was fined $210.

Charles J. Higginbotham, 1132 Willow St., Grenada, was fined $428 after entering a guilty plea to possession of marijuana.

Julia A. Cross, 1132 Willow St., Grenada, entered a guilty plea to possession of marijuana in a vehicle and was fined $668.

Jonathan L. Joy, 121 Patterson St., Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to trespassing. A trial was set for April 2.

During a case set for trial, Donteraus Mister, 106 Normandy, Batesville, had a domestic violence-simple assault case remanded to the files for six months after the victim failed to appear to testify.

“I think the police have done all they can do,” Westfaul said.

Westfaul told the defendant, “The main thing is to keep the peace, but if it needs to be brought back up it can be.”

Kyla Giles, 1309 Highland Dr., Knoxville, Tenn., had a case for DUI-refusal remanded to the files for six months after an agreement.

“If she completes six months of drug and alcohol counseling and has proof the charges can be dropped,” said the city’s prosecuting attorney, Bob Morris.

Giles was represented by attorney Jim Holland.