Municipal Court witnesses rise in shoplifting cases

By Ashley Crutcher
Judge Jay Westfaul heard 11 cases of shoplifting out of the 22 defendants in Batesville Munipal Court this week.
Daniel Patton, 226 Patton Ln., Batesville, pleaded guilty to two counts of shoplifting after advising the judge he stole “something small.”
“You call 20 items small,” said Judge Westfaul. Patton went on to say he served a week in the Panola County Jail. However, the clerk advised it had only been three days.
“That’s a short week,” said the judge.
Patton also has old fines from February of 2017 in the amount of $1,563. He was sentenced to serve 30 days in the Panola County Jail with credit for three days served.
Timothy R. Kelley, 598 Lee St., Sardis, failed to appear to answer charges for shoplifting. Fox bonding company has been notified.
Jeffery L. Norwood, 211 Noble St., Batesville, pleaded guilty to shoplifting and faces the $1,146 fine due in 30 days.
Krishunna Starlock 211 Noble St., Batesville, pleaded guilty to shoplifting and has 30 days to pay the $1,146 fine.
Minnie B. Perry, 149 Victory Rd., Courtland, pleaded guilty to shoplifting. Westfaul granted Perry 30 days to pay the $1,146 fine.
Colin S. Kemp, 209 Hardy Rd., Batesville, pleaded not guilty to shoplifting sunglasses from Love’s. Kemp also has an old $1,664 fine from November of 2016.
“I wasn’t aware of them. I thought I had all my fines paid off,” said Kemp. Kemp was sentenced to pay the fine in 30 days or serve 60 days in jail.
Boyce Waller, 820 Southline St., Grenada, pleaded guilty to shoplifting and has 30 days to pay the fine.
Jessica L. Brooks, 65 CR 551, Batesville, was charged with felony possession of controlled substance and shoplifting. The case was bound over to Circuit Court.
Two other defendants being held at the jail on shoplifting charges includes mother and daughter, Julie and Betty Martin, no address.
Dennis Henderson, 150 Lester St., Batesville, was charged with felony domestic violence. The case was sent back from Circuit Court to be handled as a misdemeanor where it was dropped due to lack of prosecution.
Hunter Lenard, 218-A Broadway St., Batesville, pleaded not guilty to three counts of petit larceny. Lenard is represented by Attorney Kirk Willingham and the case is set to go to trial June 6.
Brandon Burton, 10765 Charlie Pride Hwy., Lambert, was charged with burglary, three counts of petit larceny, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Burton is being held in the Lafayette county jail on similar charges. The case was bound over to the Grand Jury.
Brazel Wortham, 976 CR 115, New Albany, was charged with felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanor receiving stolen property as well as no driver’s license. According to law enforcement officials, Wortham was driving a stolen vehicle with a switched stolen tag and has been charged with grand larceny for the stolen vehicle in Como. He is being held on a $2,500 bond.
David Lee Flowers, 200 Fisher St., Batesville, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and discharging a firearm in the city limits. The case has been bound over to Circuit Court.
Keddrick Flowers, 207 Vance St., Batesville, pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm in city limits and has old fines. The total $1,597 fine is due in 30 days.
Both Flowers’ were charged in connection with the large fight that occurred on Van Voris St. in Batesville. The fight was filmed and later posted on Facebook.
Steve Fox, 102 Goodhaven Rd., Batesville, pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm in city limits. The weapon will be forfeited to the city. Fox faces a $646 fine due in 30 days.
Robert Buice, 135 Public Square, Batesville, pleaded not guilty to public drunk. The case is set to go to trial May 23.
Dominique Patterson, 318 Panola, Batesville, pleaded guilty to simple possession and has old fines from April 2016. “I forgot about them,” said Patterson. He must pay the total fine of $1,205 or face 30 days in jail.
Robert Porter, 5211 Nash Rd., Batesville, failed to appear to answer charges for simple possession of marijuana. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
Robert C. Smith, 223 Pine Ln., Batesville, has a charge of domestic violence-simple assault dismissed due to lack of evidence. According to sworn testimony, Officer Irby responded to the Skyline Motel where the affiant, suffering from a busted lip, said Smith had assaulted her. Smith stated the affiant head-butted him causing her busted lip.
Brooklyn Jones, 1695 Ravenwood Ln., Pearl, had a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor nonadjudicated for 30 days and is currently attending parenting classes. Jones faces a $417 fine due in 30 days.