By Emily Williams
A Batesville man charged with several felonies returned to court very loud interrupting Judge Bill McKenzie as he tried explaining to the defendant the procedures for felonies when they come through Batesville Municipal Court.
Christopher Key, 517 Harmon Rd., Batesville, refused his waiver again for robbery, conspiracy to commit, petit larceny, conspiracy to commit, two counts of armed robbery, three counts of kidnapping and three counts of conspiracy to commit a crime.
“They got the wrong guy!” Key interrupted after telling the judge he didn’t know why he was in jail in the first place.
“We went over these charges last week,” McKenzie said.
Key mumbled profanities under his breath. Officers warned Key to keep quiet.
The judge then read each charge by detail to the defendant.
Key is charged with forcibly taking items from victims by using a handgun on December 29 at Skyline and forcibly seizing and coercing victim at gunpoint while stealing his roommate’s purse.
December 28 Key is charged with snatching a woman’s purse from under her arm at Kroger. Also on December 28, he is charged with conspiracy with D’Undrygus M. Henderson by snatching a woman’s purse at Kroger that contained $175 in cash and other items in it and then driving off.
Also on January 3, Key is charged with petit larceny by taking a woman’s purse at Kroger that contained $185 in cash, phone, wallet and insurance cards. The kidnapping charges stem from forcibly confining victims at Skyline by holding them at gunpoint and conspiring with Henderson to commit armed robbery.
The judge went on reading each charge in detail as Key interrupted.
McKenzie told his court clerk, “Make note that we read EVERY charge in detail to the defendant.”
“These are felony charges that will be held in another court,” the judge said.
“Do you not have a job?” McKenzie asked.
“I worked at McDonald’s two years ago. I’m a convicted felon. Nobody wants to hire a felon,” Key said.
Key was bound over to the grand jury.
D’Undrygus M. Henderson, 872 Bethlehem Rd., Batesville, was told to return to court on February 3 with an attorney announcement for his felony charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit, petit larceny, conspiracy to commit, armed robbery (two counts), kidnapping (three counts) and conspiracy to commit a crime (three counts).
Grand Jury
Walter C. Tunson, 4060 Curtis Rd., Batesville, bonded out prior to court for arson and was bound over to the grand jury.
Jasmine S. Moore, 211 Tubbs Rd., Batesville, bonded out prior to court and was bound over to the grand jury for embezzlement.
Keldrick D. Henderson, 112 Williams, Batesville, bonded out prior to court and was bound over to the grand jury for burglary, petit larceny, aggravated assault and concealed weapon.
Initial appearance
Anthony D. Flowers, 226 Noble St., Batesville, entered the city’s work release program for eight days in lieu of paying $450 for public drunk and old fines of $225 due since October 2015.
Joseph E. Smith, 2242 Vassar Rd., Pope, failed to appear to answer charges for shoplifting and willful trespassing.
Justin Fletcher, 712 Bethlehem Rd., Batesville, failed to appear to answer false pretense charges and old fines of $646 due since April 2015.
Willie S. Harris, 497 Gregory Taylor Rd., Courtland, had charges for driving while license suspended and speeding remanded to the files. He was found guilty of DUI and entered MASEP classes. He was represented by Attorney Bobby Vance.
Novan Foster, 276 Joe Dettor Rd., Batesville, had old fines of $2,484 due since July 2013. Foster argued he didn’t owe those fines. The judge told him to sit down and go through all of his paper work.
Foster has a MDOC hold and cannot be released from jail either way. The judge told him the week he’s released by MDOC from jail to return to court to figure out how to settle his old fines.
Cases set for trial
Trenita Ann Winfield, 3339 Benson Rd., Pope, was found guilty in her absence for disorderly conduct-failure to comply after testimony from Officer Will Parrish.
Joey A. Wells, 43 CR 173, Oxford, had old fines of $1,146 due since October 2015. The judge told him to pay those fines in full by 5 p.m. today or serve 60 days in jail.
After a short trial he was fined $200 for possession of marijuana in a vehicle, $205 for no proof of insurance (his fine was lowered after he proved he purchased insurance after the ticket was issued) and $155 for improper equipment.