Municipal judge sends two defendants to grand jury
Published 12:00 am Thursday, September 1, 2016
By Emily Williams
Judge Bill McKenzie was perplexed after reading a Crowder man’s charges out loud during Batesville Municipal Court held Wednesday.
Jonathan A. Griffin, 65 Fifth St., Crowder, entered a guilty plea to public drunk, having been arrested at the Municipal Court Building on August 17.
Griffin had been in jail since August 17 and was sentenced to time served in lieu of the $225 fine.
“What were you doing here?” Judge McKenzie asked.
Griffin mumbled a few words then said, “Well my auntie was supposed to be here.”
Tanner Layne Toliver, 815 Third St., Crowder, bonded out prior to court for felony malicious mischief and public drunk. He was bound over to the grand jury.
Donna Jean Palmer, 200 Hwy. 51 South, Batesville, had an open container case continued.
Demesha K. Hendrix, 309 Armstrong, Batesville, paid fines of $443 in full prior to court for simple possession of marijuana.
Joe F. Mosley Jr., 45 Sanders Rd., Sardis, entered guilty pleas to possession of marijuana in a vehicle, improper equipment, driving while license suspended and no proof of insurance on August 11. He was fined $1,044.
Elizabeth N. Lemaire, 210 Van Voris, Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to disrderly conduct-failure to comply by refusing to stop yelling and cursing. A trial was set for September 28.
Jody Lynn Smith, 110 Jeff Sanders Rd., Batesville, failed to appear to answer simple assault charges. Alright Bonding was notified.
Heather W. Cox, 228 A Eureka St., Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence-simple assault. A trial was set for September 28.
Tekendra M. Oliver, 1607 Sanders Rd., Sardis, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting a speaker worth and a pencil box from Walmart.
She was fined $1,146.
Wilbourn S. Winters, 200 Park St., Batesville, failed to appear to answer charges of contempt of court and old fines of $743 due since February 2014. He also had a new charge for no seat belt.
Carlos Rudd, 236-B MLK, Batesville, told the judge he had been in jail for 17 days for old fines of $589 due since October 2015. He previously failed to complete his assigned number of days on the city work release program.
“I didn’t have transportation at the time,” Rudd said.
After Rudd promised to have his fines paid in full within 30 days, McKenzie told him to have them paid or serve time in jail.
Voshun D. Thomas, 272 Old Panola Circle, Como, did not appear in court to face his charges of felony possession of controlled substance, possession of marijuana in a vehicle and no seat belt. He also owes unpaid fines of $296 from a previous municipal court conviction. He was bound over to the grand jury on the felony charges.
Saundra L. Matthews, 113 Keating Grove, Batesville, entered a guilty plea to a speeding charge and was fined $167.
Jessie D. Smallie, 206 Sherwood Dr., Batesville, was fined $855 for possession of marijuana in a vehicle and speeding.