Complied By Myra Bean

Judge Rhea Tannehill had a light docket at Sardis Municipal Court to contend with Thursday morning, June 20. Two of his trials came with their own challenges.

Antonio Armstrong, 306 Greenhill Circle, Sardis, was charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a felon. The judge said there was not sufficient probable cause to move forward with the charges, but the state could do something with the charges at a later date.

Armstrong was charged with shooting at tow truck driver Randy Gant and his assistant June 11, when they came to repossess his car parked in front of his girlfriend’s house at 506 Leonard St., Sardis, around 12:39 a.m.

Gant reported to police officer James Hawkins and investigator Hunter Applewhite that after he hooked the car to the tow truck, a shot was fired at them. During cross examination by Jeff Padgett, Hawkins clarified that the tow truck driver looked through the back window of the tow truck, around the arm, and saw a naked black man holding a gun.

Armstrong was identified with a booking photo for a previous charge. Hawkins testified it had been a downpour and they were not able to recover a bullet. Applewhite said they looked where the shooter was allegedly standing and there was not a shell casing and no gun was ever recovered.

Armstrong’s girlfriend told the police she woke up when she heard a shot. She saw Armstrong standing on the porch naked, but did not see a gun. She also said she did not know if he owned a gun.

Karen Smith, no known address, was sentenced to 180 days in jail with 170 suspended. She was transported from the Panola County jail where she had been for one night. She has to stay there for nine days to complete the sentence.

Smith has been accused of numerous crimes including two counts of trespassing, disorderly conduct, possession of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of paraphernalia.

Applewhite said she has a long history with the Sardis Police department and the Panola County Sheriff’s department. She was very disruptive in court and often spoke over the judge and the officer while they were talking.

The case for Larry Farmer, 211 Wilkerson Dr., Sardis, was held in his absence. Padgett was assigned to represent him. He was found guilty of driving while license suspended-implied consent, no insurance, DUI second and leaving the scene of an accident without injuries.

Officer Derrick Booth said he was patrolling Dewberry which was lined with cars on both side April 5. He stopped to let the other cars pass. When it came to Farmer, Booth turned his wheel and moved over but Farmer kept coming straight on and hit his car and kept on going. Booth got turned around and followed Farmer to Melrose St.

When Farmer got out of the car, he almost fell down but did not go to the ground. Booth smelled liquor on him and when Farmer fell forward, he saw a bottle of liquor in his jacket pocket, which looked like a fifth of Hennessey. He had to assist Farmer in walking to his car. No field sobriety test was administered.

A warrant was issued for Farmer’s arrest for him to serve 30 days of a 60-day jail sentence. He got 15 days for driving while license suspended and 60 days for DUI second. His total fine is $2,276.25 which also includes some old fines.

The case for Justin Orlando Harmon was remanded to the files. He lives at 413 Dewberry St., Sardis and was charged with trespassing on Brandon Burton’s property. The judge told Harmon to stay away from Burton’s property.

Latoya Taylor was in court in witness against Moneisha Nicole Norwood, 404 Pearl St., Sardis, for malicious mischief. Norwood was not in court and on District Attorney Tommy Shuler’s request a continuance was granted until July 25.

Charges for disorderly conduct for Mario A. Dandridge, P.O. Box 273, Sardis, were dropped by affiant Christine Burdette.

Demetric Milan Demon, 175 Dishman, Como, charge of no drivers license was remanded to the file.

Willie Frost, 5623 Lucious Taylor Rd., Como, failed to appear and was found guilty in his absence for no driver’s license and fined $293.

The case for simple assault against Edward House, 104 Autumn Ave., Batesville, was continued due to the affiant had to have surgery.

Carlton Lemond Nunnally, 272 Maple Valley, Collierville, Tenn., failed to appear in court after he received a continuance from June 6 for improper equipment and no insurance. He was found guilty and fined $604.

Sharell Patra Smith, 208 Draper St., Batesville had a child restraint charge remanded to the file.

Defendants that Judge Tannehill signed  contempt of court warrants for include: Tony Levell Wheatley Jr., Thes Maurice Nason, Amber Daughtery, Rodney Butler, Yazmine Henderson, Tyiesha Mister, Travis Walker, Michael Lashone Young, Jason D. Hughes, Alissia Unique Johnson, Billy Wayne Orr, Jermarcus Demond Nelson, John H. Doyle, MacArthur Draper, Stanley Mckinney and Mardrekis Porter.

In order for these warrants to be pulled, defendants need to go to the Sardis Police Dept. and see the court clerk to pay fines anytime Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or turn themselves in to the Sardis Police Dept.