By Emily D. Williams
A Courtland man will face the grand jury on a charge of felony shoplifting following a ruling by Judge Jay Westfaul in Batesville Municipal Court Wednesday.

Rodney O. Ladd, 1105-B Hawkins, Courtland, decided to represent himself in court after the judge ruled that he did not qualify to have counsel appointed. Ladd is charged with stealing a slab of ribs from Sav-A-Lot. The charge is a felony because Ladd has two previous shoplifting convictions.

Sandra Beard of Sav-A- Lot testified Ladd entered the store and spoke to her.
“I noticed when he walked out he was limping,” Beard testified.

She said she followed Ladd out of the store getting the tag number off the vehicle he left in.
She said she viewed the store surveillance video with Officer Wesley Hawkins and she saw Ladd stealing the ribs worth $12.73.

Ladd had his mother sit next to him as he asked the judge if he could “cross examine” the witness.

“Which aisle was I on?” Ladd asked Beard.
“Aisle two,” she replied.

“What was I wearing?” he asked.

“Overalls,” she replied.

Ladd asked, “What color overalls?”

“Blue jean” she replied.

Ladd called his mother as a witness, “Do I own any blue jean overalls?”

His mother replied, “no.”

Judge Westfaul ruled there was probable cause to bind the case over to the grand jury. His bond was set at $1,500.

Austin Mark Payne, 120 Trianon, Batesville, entered a guilty plea to malicious mischief by breaking a windshield.

The affiant, George Czseszerpger, wanted restitution.

Total damages were $1,790.81 for front grill, headlights, rear end bumper and other parts of the vehicle. The windshield was $489.92.

“Sir, I plead guilty to breaking the windshield and that’s it,” Payne said.

Czeszerpger told the judge, “I have three books to give him (Payne). I would feel irresponsible as an AA member if I didn’t.”

The judge replied, “I can’t tell you what gifts to give. If he wants them he can have them.”

Payne looked at the books and said, “I will take the Bible. That’s the only one I see use for.”

“With all due respect sir, can I change my plea?” Payne asked.

Westfaul said, “No, you can appeal.”

Payne’s appeal bond was set for $100 appearance and $1,000 cost bond.

Elton Hays Turner, had a 48-hour hearing for felony possession of controlled substance, public drunk, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.  Turner was arrested on May 7.

Turner contended he was not arrested with a warrant.

Detective George Williford testified the night Turner was arrested officers responded to a call that two shots were fired at Patton Lane Park. Williford said upon investigation a large crowd of people dispersed, with Turner being one of them.

“Turner took off running and officers caught him and that’s how he was arrested that night,” Williford said.

Turner was arrested for misdemeanor charges that night.

“There is probable cause you were arrested appropriately,” Westfaul said.

A preliminary hearing was set for the next court session, next Wednesday.

MDOC has a hold on Turner and his bond is $6,163.

Mance M. Willliams, 895 Lee Jennings, Rd., Como, entered a guilty plea to public drunk. He was fined $210.

Latashia Renee House, 306 Arizona, Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to simple assault, a charge filed by affiant Latoya Fondren.

Latoya Fondren, 18 Earnestine Turner Rd., Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to simple assault charges filed by affiant Latashia Renee House.

A trial was set for both Fondren and House for May 28.

Califerro Purnell, 224 Gordon Dr., Batesville, had a domestic violence-simple assault case dismissed after the affiant, Nina Webster, failed to appear to prosecute.

Purnell also had felony  charges of possession of controlled substance with intent and simple possession of controlled substance bound over to the grand jury.

Billy Dewayne Lewellen, 226 Eureka, Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence-simple assault. A trial was set for June 4.

Anthony Floyd Bost, 30 CR 107 Oxford, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting-second. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $1,131.

Tavis M. Steel, 311 Lincoln, Sardis, had a warrant issued and Alright Bonding was notified after he failed to appear to answer charges of shoplifting-second, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct-failure to comply along with old fines of $947 that have been due since April 2014.

Walter C. Tunson, 4060 Curtis Rd., Batesville, entered a guilty plea to disorderly conduct-failure to comply, simple possession of marijuana and old fines of $2,401.25 that have been due since March 2010.

Due to Tunson having four years to get his old fines paid the judge sentenced him to 90 days in jail. Tunson still owes his old fines along with new fines of $1,060 for his new charges.

Alright Bonding was notified after Brandon Adair, 208 Sarah Dickens, Sardis, failed to appear to answer contempt of court charges for old fines of $381 that have been due since March 2013.
Mike Fudge, 598 East Lee St., Batesville, had a case for two counts of simple assault transferred to Justice Court after both Municipal Court judges recused themselves.

Tyrone Ellis, 109 Everette, Batesville, was found guilty of false information. He was fined $632.
He was also sentenced to 60 days in jail after failing to pay old fines of $1,186.