28-year-old man sentenced for killing 62-year-old girlfriend

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, December 20, 2017

A Vicksburg man accused of killing his 62-year-old girlfriend in May 2016 has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty in Warren County Circuit Court to second-degree murder in her death.

He was also ordered to pay $1,384.50 in fines, fees and court costs.

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Dexter Smith, 28, was arrested May 24, 2016, in the death of Mary Etta Warren, who died from blunt force trauma to the head that occurred during an argument between the couple at her home on Roseland Drive.

Warren was found dead by fire department paramedics responding to a 12:15 p.m. E911 medical call at her home. The medics immediately notified police.

In other cases:

• Herbert Boyd Smith, 37, was sentenced to 20 years in prison with six to serve and five years’ post released supervision after pleading guilty of aggravated assault — domestic violence and possession of a weapon after felony conviction for holding a woman in her home at gunpoint and striking her in the face with the gun.

He was also ordered to pay $2,584.50 in fines, fees, court costs and restitution to the victim.

• Gregory Bunch, 22, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and was placed on five years’ probation. He was ordered to pay $1,384.50 in fees and court costs and ordered to get an associate’s degree before completing his probation.

• Circuit Judge M. James Chaney revoked the drug court order for Michael Glenn Barnett for violating the terms of his drug court agreement. Chaney suspended a 10-year sentence on the condition Barnett complete the Mississippi Department of Corrections short-term drug and alcohol program, complete time at a restitution center to pay $2,710,or half of his court-ordered fines, fees and restitution. Barnett was also placed on five years’ probation.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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