By John Howell
A nine-count burglary indictment issued by the Panola County Second District Grand Jury in July alleges that two men struck three homes and one business from August through November, 2014. One of the burglaries came three days after the pair had been jailed on three counts of burglary, according to the Panola County Jail Log.

Austin Tyler Blair, 236B Henry Heafner Road, Sardis and Michael Burt Stephens Jr., 612 Stephens Road, Como, both 19,  are alleged to have burglarized the dwelling of Jeffrey Dillion on August 31, 2014. That incident brought two counts — one for the burglary and the second for grand larceny in the thefts of the items from the homes — iPads, Xboxes and a laptop.

On both September 13 and 14, 2014 they are alleged in three additional counts of the indictment to have broken into Hearn’s Grocery and stolen marine batteries that belonged to Billy Helms.
They were arrested September 15, 2014, the jail log states. Then on September 18 they are alleged in two more counts to have burglarized the dwelling of Joshua Forehand, taking an assortment items from truck rims to a shotgun and electronics.

Two additional counts in the indictments allege that Blair and Stephens broke into the dwelling of Paul Iles on November 16 last year, stealing chainsaws and other items.

Indictments handed down by meetings of the Second District Grand Jury meetings become public record after the defendants named in them have been served.

Battery thefts
Among them are indictments for property crimes earlier this year also committed by a trio of men alleged to be thieves. Demetrius Deshun Gleaton, Anthony Albert Sims Jr., 18, Desmond Ulyssess Lester, 19, were indicted for the March 23 theft of rims and other equipment from James Locke, but in other indictments they appear to have preferred vehicle batteries. Sims and Lester were also indicted for the theft on March 10 of 30 auto batteries, also from Locke.

A third indictment alleges that on April 7, Sims and Lester stole 10 heavy duty machine batteries from Lawrence Hoskins. The following day, they are alleged to have stolen an assortment of batteries from William Bickerstaff. Also on April 6, Sims and Lester were alleged to have stolen two NAPA batteries from Kenneth Brasell and the following day, three 24-volt batteries from Barry Bridges.

Other property crimes
In other indictments related to theft and property crimes:
• Jeffrey Thomas Bridgman, 24, 236 Chapel Town Road, Courtland, also known as William Bennett Tubbs, was sentenced to five years with the Mississippi Dept. of Corrections, followed by 10 years’ probation for burglary of a dwelling. A bill of information in the Circuit Clerk’s files states that Bridgman broke into the home of Joe Castleman in Sept., 2014.

In the negotiated plea of guilty, Bridgman also agrees to complete and long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation program;

• Brandon Scott Cosby, 31, was indicted for two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card in February.

• David Jacob Matthews was indicted for embezzlement between December, 2014 and January from Tower Loans. He was released on $5,000 bond;

• Dustin Wayne Hardenburgh, 33 and Christina D. Howie, 35 are alleged in Sept., 2014 to have broken into the vehicle of Curtis Bobo and stolen a debit card. A three-count indictment charges conspiracy, burglary and petit larceny.

In a June court appearance, Howie entered a plea of not guilty, according to the court file. She is represented by attorney Tommy Defer;

Dogs stolen
• Tommie Dewayne Robertson, also known as “Tom Cat,” according to the indictment, is alleged on January 24 to have stolen two pit bulldogs that belonged to Donna Johnson. Following the theft report Panola County Deputy Sheriff George Renfroe tried to intercept Robertson in his vehicle, Robertson refused to stop, according to the second count of the indictment. Robertson is also charged as an habitual offender, having been previously convicted auto burglary and strong-armed robbery;

• Kristopher Andrew Steward, 28, 1448 Pittman Road, Batesville, entered on July 17 a plea of guilty following his indictment for grand larceny for the October, 2014 thefts of personal property, including game cameras and assorted tools, from Harold Johnson.

Following his guilty plea Steward was sentenced to five years incarceration which was suspended. Steward was ordered to observe two years’ supervised probation and to make $3,000 restitution to his victim;

• Eric Sean Heafner, 37 was indicted for writing in October, 2014, a bad check to Panola County Sold Waste;

• Orlando Paxton Simon, 22, Percy Deundra Bryant, 18, and Derrick Lamar Hatchett, 23, were indicted in February for felony shoplifting after they were alleged to have stolen from Walmart four large flatscreen TVs along with sweaters and telephones in November, 2014. The Clarksdale men are free on $5,000 bond each, awaiting further ajudication;

• Shanique Delasha Lee, 24, pled guilty in July to burglary of an automobile, stemming from a five-count indictment by the Second District Grand Jury in February. Lee was represented by public defender David Walker. She received seven years, which were suspended with two years of probation during which she will be supervised. She was fined $1,000, agreed to pay $570 restitution and $300 in other fees. Four counts of the indictment were remanded to the file;
Hilltop burglary

• A plea date has been set for Sept. 28 for Jivontae Lashon Key, 18, indicted for breaking into the hilltop grocery at Curtis Road and Macedonia Road that belongs to Knowledge Conner. Key and unindicted juveniles are alleged have conspired and to have entered the store last October and to have stolen a handgun, tobacco products and “40 bags of chips,” the indictment states. Key is also represented by Public Defender Walker. If no plea agreement is reached, Circuit Judge Jimmy McClure ordered an October 12 trial date;

Car theft thwarted
• David Scott McLarty, 45 was indicted for allegedly attempting  in January to steal a 1983 Oldsmobile that belonged to J. B. Anderson, Jr.

“David Scott McClarty failed to consummate the crime due to the intervention of Darrin Anderson, the brother of J. B. Anderson, Jr.” according to the indictment. Darrin Anderson is a State Trooper. McClarty entered a plea of not guilty and is free on $5,000 bond. Circuit Judge Gerald Chatham set McLarty’s plea date for Sept. 25; trial date for Oct. 5;

• In July Judge McClure set a Sept. 29 plea date for D’Andre Derrell Walker, indicted for embezzlement. “The parties request additional time to discuss restitution,” the judge’s order to continue states.