WALTHALL – A number of defendants were sentenced in Webster County Circuit Court during the past two months.
The recalled grand jury met Dec. 6 and the January term of Circuit Court, when a new grand jury was empaneled, was held Jan. 10-21.
All defendants entered guilty pleas before Circuit Judge George Mitchell Jr. and were sentenced to terms in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections on the respective dates, according to court records:
Dec. 8
Jarvis J. Pittman, possession of more than 500 grams but less than 1 kilogram of marijuana: 10 years in MDOC custody, which is to be served through the Intensive Supervision Program/House Arrest Program for five years.
He is be released after five years and placed on post-release supervision for five years. Pittman must pay a fine of $2,500 and all court costs and assessment. A second count was dismissed upon motion of the state.
Jesse Dewitt Robinson, Count I: possession of methamphetamine: three years in MDOC custody suspended for three years and supervised probation for that period, with credit for any time served. It was further ordered that an unindicted case not be presented to the grand jury and be dismissed upon motion of the state.
Jason Barnett, misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, reduced from a felony: six months in the county jail suspended for one year probation. He is to also pay a $500 fine and a $60 assessment fee to the Sheriff’s Department.
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Dec. 13
Jesse Wade Kent, aggravated assault: 10 years, four months and 21 days in MDOC custody. After serving four months and 21 days, he is to be released and placed on 10 years of post-release supervision with five years being supervised probation and five years non-supervised probation. He is to be given credit for time served.
Matthew Bowen, Count II: felony child neglect: five years in MDOC custody to be served through the Intensive Supervision Program/House Arrest Program for five years, with credit for all time served.
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Jan. 5
Paul Frank Westmoreland, misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, reduced from a felony: six months in the county jail suspended for two years’ probation. He must also pay a $55 assessment to the Sheriff’s Department and a $250 fine.
William C. Pegram, felony fleeing law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle: five years in MDOC custody, suspended for five years, and five years supervised probation. He will be given credit for time served.
Bennie Jennings, possession of firearm by a convicted felon: five years in MDOC custody to be served through the Intensive Supervision Program/House Arrest Program for two years, followed by post-release supervision for three years.
Robyn Parker Bowen, Count II: felony child neglect: five years in MDOC custody, suspended for five years and supervised probation for five years. She will be given credit for time served.
Nora Cole Cooper, felony driving under the influence-third offense: five years in MDOC custody to be served through the Intensive Supervision Program/House Arrest Program for one year, followed by post-release supervision for four years.
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Jan. 10
On June 26, 2019, Mickey Vaughn pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine. The court placed him on non-adjudicated suspended probation for three years.
On Jan 10, 2022, the court conducted a hearing on a petition for adjudication filed by the state, alleging Vaughn had violated the terms and conditions of his suspended sentence.
The court found he had violated those terms and accepted his plea of guilty. Mitchell sentenced him to eight years in MDOC custody but placed him under MDOC supervision on suspended probation for three years. He will be given credit for time served. Vaughn was also fined $250.
Stewart Keith Parker, misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, reduced from a felony: six months in the county jail suspended. He is to also pay a $55 assessment to the city of Eupora and a $300 fine.
Lakin Lindsey, misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, reduced from a felony: six months in the county jail suspended. She is to also pay a $55 assessment to the Sheriff’s Department and a $300 fine.
As reported last week, Kayla M. Tindall pleaded guilty Jan 10 to statutory rape. 10. She received a 15-year sentence with six years to serve; credit will be given for time served. After serving six years, she is to be released and placed on nine years of post-release supervision with five years being supervised probation and four years non-supervised probation.
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Jan. 19
Robert Nowell, misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, reduced from a felony: six months in the county jail suspended for two years’ probation. He is to also pay a $500 fine and a $55 assessment fee to the Sheriff’s Department.
Kenneth W. Douglas, possession of methamphetamine: 20 years in MDOC custody; to be placed on five years of post-release supervision after serving 15 years.
He will be given credit for any time served and the sentence enhancement: habitual offender provision was dismissed upon motion of the state. Another charge was dismissed upon motion of the state.
Tony Sanchez Robinson, possession of methamphetamine: because of no prior felony conviction, an order of non-adjudication was entered in which Robinson was placed on suspended probation for five years.
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Dismissal Orders
Upon motions of the state, Mitchell issued dismissal orders on these dates for charges brought against these defendants:
Oct. 18: Levi Kelly, possession of controlled substance charge filed Jan. 14, 2019, based upon the inability of the state Forensics Laboratory to test the substance at question.
Nov. 18: Cassey Wells, bound over to the grand jury on Jan. 20, 2021, on a charge of furnishing contraband. After review of the case, the District Attorney’s Office has ascertained that the item being described as contraband is a “vape pin,” which is not listed as being a prohibited contraband item.
Nov. 18: Anna Lane, bound over to the grand jury on May, 20, 2020, on a charge of tampering with evidence.
Nov. 18; James C. Lexus, bound over to the grand jury on June 16, 2020, on a charge of possession of firearm by felon.
Upon motions of the state on Dec. 8, Mitchell ordered that indictments against these defendants be dismissed without prejudice: Jarvis J. Pittman, Robert Lamont McCurry and Robert M. Swindle.
Also on Dec. 8 upon motions of the state, the judge ordered that charges against two people who were bound over to the action of the grand jury on Dec. 15, 2020, be dismissed.
Those charges were sale of controlled substance against David Patterson, and possession of controlled substance and possession of marijuana with intent against James Patterson.
On Dec. 13, the judge sustained a motion by the state, by and through the District Attorney’s Office, for the court to enter a nolle prosequi (dismissal order) for 18 bound-over cases without prejudice:
James Flowers, possession of cocaine;
Robert Oswalt, possession of controlled substance;
Michael Wright, possession of controlled substance;
Latheithia Stokes, possession of marijuana;
Travis McCain, aggravated assault.
James Pickens, possession of controlled substance;
Jerry Pittman, identify theft.
Lesa Medders, possession of controlled substance;
Jerry Eskridge, possession of controlled substance;
Blake Corder, possession of controlled substance;
Joshua Poyadou, auto burglary.
David Gary, possession of methamphetamine x2
Jeffrey Butts, possession of controlled substance;
Lacarlton Coleman, possession of controlled substance;
The aforementioned James Lexus, possession of firearm by felon
Edjueana Stokes, possession of controlled substance;
Tiffany Lynn, possession of controlled substance.
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Other Orders
Upon motions of the state, Mitchell issued orders Nov. 18 that two cases be handled as misdemeanors and remanded to Mathiston Municipal Court: April Eady and Jonathan Hollingsworth, misdemeanor possession of controlled substance.
In January, Mitchell issued bench warrants and judgments nisi against principal and surety after two defendants failed to appear Jan. 10: Christopher McMullen and Marneco M. Pratt.
The judge granted agreed orders of continuance for cases involving these defendants: Christopher Lloyd Box, Kevin Walston, Effie Renea Langford, Erica Deanne Ray, Jacob Bell, Ditris D. Bell Jr., Major Scott Miller, Antrell Holbrook, David Harlon “Nick” Knight, Jaqarius Turner and Jimmie Lee Crowley.
