A Batesville man was found guilty of possession of marijuana in a vehicle after his girlfriend testified to Municipal Judge Bill McKenzie on Wednesday that "the marijuana was planted in his vehicle by the officer."

Officer Gray Nickel said he responded to a call that involved a problem with Kenneth Smith, 114 Lawson St., Batesville, and the mother of Smith’s child, Alecia Bright.

"While I was at the house speaking with her (Bright), Smith drove up and I asked if his license was suspended," said Nickel.

It was.

Nickel said he searched Smith’s vehicle and found a "sack" of marijuana in the back floorboard of the vehicle. The car belonged to Smith’s girlfriend, Christy Moudy.

"I asked if it (the marijuana) was his and he said ‘no,’" said Nickel.

"Moudy arrived after I arrested him and she said it was planted in the vehicle by me," the officer added.

Smith said he just wanted to visit his baby and he went by himself in Moudy’s car.

"It wasn’t even enough to roll a joint, I didn’t know it was there," said Smith.

Moudy testified that she did smoke marijuana, but she had been in her vehicle all day and knew that there was no marijuana in her vehicle.

"I knew there was none in there. I’m not going to lie, we smoke weed," said Moudy.

"He (the officer) didn’t put the marijuana in the evidence locker, he put it in a drawer and looked at me and smiled," Moudy added.

The judge asked the officer why he put it in a drawer.

"I put the evidence in the locker after I finished my paperwork," said Nickel.

The judge said the evidence was sufficient, found Smith guilty of driving while his license is suspended and possession of marijuana and imposed fines of $2,038.

"You are responsible for what you drive," McKenzie told Smith.

Grand jury
Deandre Cole, 1824 Shell Rd., Batesville, was bound over to the Panola County Grand Jury after a preliminary hearing on charges of burglary and rape. His bond was reduced from $125,000 to $50,000.

Contempt of court
Jeremy Wright, 116 Cole Dr., Batesville, had a simple assault charge dismissed after the affiant, Justin Harmon, failed to appear to prosecute.

He also had old fines of $498 that have been due since March 2006.

He was previously ordered to work on the city’s work release program, but failed to complete the assigned number of days.

The judge told him to have the fines paid in full or serve 90 days in jail.

Randy Lee, 205-A Bright, Batesville, had old fines of $2,187 that have been due since June 2005.

Lee told the judge he had been trying to get caught up on his child support and that was the reason he couldn’t pay his fines.

DHS was called during court and it was proven that Lee had paid $2,900 in child support and still owes $2,276.

The judge said he was convinced that Lee was trying to get caught up and gave him 90 days to pay his total fines or serve six months in jail.

Michael E. Johnson Sr., 8353 Old Panola, Sardis, entered in the city’s work release program for 39 days instead of paying his old fines of $1,593 that have been due since June 2004.

Shavon Robinson, Lester St., Batesville, entered the city’s work release program for 24 days instead of paying old fines of $334 that have been due since September 2004 and new fines of $618 for driving while license suspended and two counts of no child restraint.

She was also told if she didn’t complete her assigned number of days that she would serve six months in jail.

Randy Curtis, 386 Humprey, Crowder, had his old fines of $527 suspended due to medical reasons.

David Lee Flowers, 230-A Perkins Lane, Batesville, entered the city’s work release program for 14 days instead of paying his old fines of $526 that have been due since September 2006.

Olivia Oliver, 119 Cox, Senatobia, paid her old fines of $480 that have been due since November 2005, in full prior to court.

Disorderly conduct
Edward Donahou Sr., 122 Krotzer, Sardis, entered a guilty plea to disorderly conduct at Tri-Lakes Medical Center.

He was fined $265.

Domestic violence
Deroy Johnson, 123 CR 105, Oxford, had a domestic violence-simple assault case remanded to the files.

Stefan Davis, 106 Maple Lane, Batesville, entered a "not guilty" plea to domestic violence-simple assault. A trial will be heard February 28.

Other
Marvin Brownlee, 107 Vance St., Batesville, was found guilty of public drunk and sentenced to the six days he had already served awaiting trial.

Shalonda Ford, 1590 Airport Rd., Gallatin, Tenn., was fined $961 for false information and driving while license suspended.

Percy Robertson, 413 Jones St., Batesville, had a simple assault charge dismissed after the affiant, Willie Strickland, failed to appear to prosecute.

Robertson also has an investigative hold for other charges.

David Harris, 106 Goodhaven, Batesville, said he would pay his fines of $1,754 in full February 9, for reckless driving, no driver’s license, no proof of insurance and contempt of court.

Delayed ruling
After hearing testimony last Wednesday, Judge Jay Westfaul had delayed ruling in order to review the DUI case against Frances Houston, 942 Shady Grove Rd., Sardis. Houston, represented by attorney Tom Womble, was charged with DUI and refusing to submit to a breath analysis test.

She was later found not guilty, confirmed Court Clerk Rene Hubbard.

Tickets
Parrish Donahou, 4 Edgarwood Rd., Batesville, was fined $325 for no driver’s license and no tag.

Both charges were reduced after Donahou showed the judge he had his license reinstated and bought a tag.

"I wish more folks would come in here with their stuff fixed," the judge said.

Krystin N. Allen, 31540-C Blackjack, Batesville, had a no proof of insurance ticket dismissed after she provided proof she had insurance. She was fined $121 for speeding and enrolled in driving school.

She will not be required to pay the fine if she finishes driving school, due to her age.

Michael Milton, 107 Martin Luther King #3-H, Batesville, had a no proof of insurance charge dismissed and was fined $512 for driving while license suspended and a stop sign violation.

Gemekia Conley, 324 Patton Lane, Batesville, was fined $92 for expired tag. The fine was lowered after she proved she purchased a tag after the ticket was issued.

Conley also had a no proof of insurance ticket dismissed.

Sonya R. Laws, 12 North Sarah Ave. Ext., Charleston, was fined $939 for driving while license suspended, no proof of insurance and expired tag.