By Emily D. Williams
A case of sexual battery was bound over to the grand jury by Judge Jay Westfaul after a preliminary hearing in Batesville Municipal Court Wednesday. 

James Robert Riley, 59 Wrights Rd., Grenada, is charged with sexual battery   against a 12-year-old child.

He is represented by attorney C. Hill.

During testimony Detective Jeremiah Brown said the child was taken to Tri-Lakes Medical Center after the assault which occurred at a Batesville residence in November.

Brown said a family member called police around 5:28 a.m. after the child woke them up.
Brown testified that Riley  agreed to also go to Tri-Lakes to submit a rape test kit.

“I sent the suspect’s and the victim’s rape kit to the crime lab,” Brown testified.

Riley is being held in custody without bond.

Riley is listed on the Mississippi Sex Offender registry, convicted in 2005 for “touching of a child, or a mentally defective, incapacitated or physically helpless person for lustful purposes.”

In other cases, Rondarius Powell, 105 Hoskins Rd., Batesville, paid his fine of $155 prior to court for disregard for traffic device (device being a police officer).

Steven Wood, 150 Jones St., Courtland, entered a not guilty plea to simple possession of marijuana. A trial was set for January 15.

Amanda Alexander, 276 Joe Dettor Rd., Batesville, entered a guilty plea to simple possession of marijuana. She was fined $428.

Jamari Poole, 4194 Barnacre Rd., Sardis, paid a cash fine of $428 in full prior to court for simple possession of controlled substance.

Rodney L. Harris, 221-B Henry Harris Rd., Courtland, failed to appear to answer charges of trespassing, resisting arrest and simple possession of marijuana. Fox Bonding Company was notified.

Sammy Barksdale, 4238 Curtis Rd., Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence-simple assault. A trial was set for January 15.

Heather Allen, 208 Baker, Batesville, had a case continued for petit larceny.

Jaron T. Bishop, 557 Sanders Rd., Sardis, failed to appear to answer a shoplifting charge and old fines of $393.75 that have been due since September 2012.

Novan Foster, 276 Joe Dettor Rd., Batesville, had a warrant issued after failing to appear to answer charges for possession of marijuana in a vehicle, speeding, careless driving, no driver’s license and no proof of insurance along with old fines of $1,614.