Defendant in Labor Day murder makes initial court appearance

By Emily D. Williams
A defendant charged with murder made an initial appearance in Batesville Municipal Court Wednesday, questioning Judge Jay Westfaul’s decision to give him no bond.
Adricus Draper, 210 Arizona St., Batesville, was denied a bond as he faces charges of murdering Corey Henderson at Henderson’s home on Patterson Street on Labor Day.
Draper was also charged with armed robbery and malicious mischief.
Draper was already out on bond for three different felonies when these charges were filed.
“You are not entitled to a bond,” Westfaul explained to Draper.
“Why not?” Draper asked.
“I want to know why I don’t have a bond. I ain’t done nothing. I understand the others (charges). I’ll plea guilty to armed robbery,” Draper said.
“No, do not plead in this court,” Westfaul said as he explained to Draper his case would be heard in a higher court.
Draper was indicted in July’s session of Panola County Grand Jury for DUI-death, armed robbery of an occupied dwelling and felony evasion.
Judge Westfaul referred two more defendants to the grand jury for a separate shooting on Labor Day at West Ridge Apartments during a robbery attempt.
Devonta Pride, 6317 Hwy. 6 West, Batesville, and Derrick Morning, 1229 Heafner Rd., Batesville, were both bound over to the grand jury for aggravated assault, armed robbery and trespassing.
Pride told the judge he would be represented by attorney Helen Kelly.
Morning told the judge he did not have an attorney yet but was getting one, “as soon as possible.”
Though MDOC has a hold on Morning, his bond was set at $50,000. Morning was out on probation when charged.
Pride was not eligible for bond due to already being out on a felony bond for shooting a man several times last year.
Rose Mary Jackson, 201 Harmonia Rd., Como, had a trial set for October 1 for disorderly conduct-failure to comply and public drunk.
Joshua Cannon, 131 Vance St., Batesville, entered a guilty plea to disturbance of a family and was fined $313. He also had old fines of $1,809 due since May 2013.
Cannon’s brother approached the bench and promised the judge his brother would work with him and pay his fines in full along with getting his GED.
After careful consideration the judge decided to not put Cannon in jail giving him a chance to pay his fines.
Frank Ware, 206 Garson, Batesville, was fined $638 after entering a guilty plea to simple possession of marijuana and public drunk.
Kevin Ashford, 5031 Hwy. 35 North, Batesville, had charges for simple possession of marijuana remanded to the files pending good behavior.
Dwyane D. Armstead, 1424 Figg Rd., Batesville, had simple assault charges dismissed after the affiant, Annie Morris, asked the judge to drop the charges.
The court clerk told the judge Morris had a history of filing false reports and making these charges was a continuing thing. The clerk also told the judge Morris had been warned before court she could be charged.
Morris was charged with false reporting of a crime.
Ollie M. Hall, 110 Bradford St., Batesville, had a charge for domestic violence-simple assault dismissed after the affiant, Bobby Smith, failed to appear to prosecute.
Ricky Darby, 105 Tubbs, Batesville, had a charge of simple assault amended to domestic violence. He entered a not guilty plea and a trial was set for Oct. 8.
The judge also made a no contact order and told Darby to stay away from affiant, Pamela Deloach.
Markievus Middleton, 203 Garson St., Batesville,  entered a guilty plea to shoplifting from Autozone and was fined $1,131.
Garry D. Cox, 74 Sherwood Dr., Batesville, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting from Autozone and was fined $1,131.
Deshaun Lockwood, 149 Victory Rd., Courtland, told the judge he could pay his old fines of $3,259.25 in full within 30 days. He was given 90 days in jail suspended pending payment.
Darius Johnson, 236 MLK Dr., Batesville, was told to have his old fines of $1,110 in full by Oct. 15 or serve time in jail.
During a case set for trial, Willie Draper, 205 Tubbs Rd., Batesville, had simple assault charges were remanded to the files for six months pending good behavior.
Ulysses S. Wilbourn, 113 Rockhill Rd., Sardis, was represented by attorney David Hill on shoplifting charges filed by Lowes.
The judge remanded the charges against Wilbourn who was ordered to pay restitution for the stolen goods and was banned from Lowes.