[8/13/03]A former Sharkey County Justice Court judge accused of having two stolen farm trailers on his property has been indicted on two felony counts.

Ellis Willard, who held the judgeship before his removal in 2001, faces an indictment for receiving stolen property, District Attorney Gil Martin said. The indictment was returned this week by a Sharkey County grand jury, and Willard was expected to waive his right to an arraignment. Willard is also an independent candidate for sheriff.

Deputies allege that they found at his business in February two farm trailers, one 16 feet long and the other 12 feet long. The trailers and two tractor tires and rims found with them have a combined estimated value of $5,900. Willard’s business, called Beaudron’s Service Center, is on U.S. 61, north of Rolling Fork.

If convicted, Willard could be sentenced to a $1,000 fine and up to five years in prison on each count.

Sharkey County District 4 Supervisor Joe King said during an April justice-court hearing that the 12-foot trailer and the tractor tires and rims were his. He said that, with Sheriff Jacob Cartlidge, he found them outside Willard’s business about Feb. 2.

Vicksburg attorney David Sessums asked then that the case be dismissed for lack of evidence. He argued that authorities had established no connection between Willard and the trailers and tires.

Warren County Justice Court Judge Joe Crevitt, who was assigned to hear the case here because Clark Secoy of Sharkey County Justice Court recused himself, disagreed and the case proceeded to this week’s grand jury.

King said no one at the business claimed possession or knowledge of the trailer and that he was offered and accepted the chance to retrieve it.

The man identified as the other trailer’s owner, Clarence Allen of Yazoo City, did not testify at the hearing. Afterward, he and a Sharkey deputy said that his trailer had not been recovered.

Willard’s arrest on the charges closely followed his Jan. 31 arrest on accusations of misdemeanor hunting violations.

He remained free on bond Monday, Martin said. Bond for the receiving stolen property charges was set at $4,000 altogether, and that for the hunting-violation charges at $5,000 altogether.

Cartlidge, who is running for re-election, finished second among the six Democratic primary candidates Aug. 5. He was convicted in 1986 of federal felony charges of taking payoffs from drug dealers. Because of his conviction, he is not allowed to carry a gun. A state statute says non-certified law enforcement officers cannot be paid, but Cartlidge has been drawing paychecks under a court order from Circuit Judge Isadore Patrick.

Cartlidge faces part-time Rolling Fork Police officer Lindsey Adams in an Aug. 26 runoff for the Democratic nomination for sheriff.

Willard won elections for justice court judge in 1995 and 1999 but was removed by the state Supreme Court after allegations of judicial misconduct while in office.

In other action this week by the Sharkey County grand jury, Walter Lee Atkins, 30, P.O. Box 293, Anguilla, was indicted on a charge of sexual battery of a victim 14 to 16 years old. Atkins was employed as a school teacher at the time of the alleged crime, Martin said.

As of Tuesday, 10 other defendants had been arraigned on indictments returned by the panel this week. They were:

Devon Bee, 36, 205 Day St., Rolling Fork, larceny of a motor vehicle.

Kevie Cory Davis, 31, 1148 ASU Drive, Lorman, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Leon Fountain, 52, P.O. Box 59, Anguilla, armed robbery.

Vernon Eric Montgomery, 21, 143 Parkway, Rolling Fork, possession of a weapon after a felony conviction.

Marcus Moore, 17, 55 Lindey St., Rolling Fork, burglary of a business.

Terrance Carnell Myles, 17, 464 Pine St., Rolling Fork, burglary of a home.

Isaac Newell, 23, P.O. Box 191, Cary, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Jessica Powell, 18, 77 Duck Drive, Rolling Fork, simple assault on a school teacher.

George E. Sellers, 40, 278 Yelverton Road, Rolling Fork, possession of marijuana.

Eldrae Stewart, 18, 237 Mannie Road, Rolling Fork, possession of cocaine.

The grand jury also returned a “no-bill” in one case, meaning fewer than 12 jurors voted to indict.

An aggravated assault charge against Marcella Thomas, 24, Box 584, Thomas Trailer Park, Anguilla, was no-billed by the grand jury.