Two face murder charges after grand jury indictments|[02/01/08]

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 1, 2008

Two Vicksburg men were arraigned Thursday on murder indictments returned by Warren County grand jurors.

Five other homicide suspects await decisions on their cases.

Indicted and arraigned were Herman Green, 23, 1312 Bowmar Ave., who is accused of killing 19-year-old William Wade, and Matthew Ladale Nash, 29, 1312 China St., one of five defendants facing charges in the shooting death of Justin Maurice Harris, 25.

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Wade was found dead just after midnight May 27, between two cars in front of the Green’s home. Police said the two had an argument and Green pulled a handgun, shot the victim twice and fled on foot. Wade died at River Region Medical Center during surgery about three hours after he was shot in the chest and thigh.

Wade’s death was the second homicide of the year in Vicksburg. The third was that of Harris, who was gunned down June 17, outside his home at 1224 Grammar St. Harris had earlier been at the New New Orleans Cafe, a since defunct downtown nightclub on Grove Street, just after 3 a.m. when multiple shots were fired, one of which struck him in the left side, police said. An argument over a girl apparently had taken place at the bar.

In addition to murder, Nash was also indicted on charges of shooting into an occupied dwelling, two counts of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon after a felony conviction. Nash was convicted of sale of cocaine in January 2003 and sentenced to six years with three to serve.

Nash’s four co-defendants awaiting a decision from grand jurors are three Trevillion brothers, Alonzo, 35, Anthony, 30, and Armond, 27, and Rufus Armstrong, 32.

Nash’s trial date is April 14, while Green, who has no previous felony convictions, is to appear in court June 23.

The other homicide suspect whose case is under review by the January term of the grand jury is Jason Jabori Davis, 22. He’s accused of shooting and killing Thaddeus Jeffrey, 21, Sept. 3, outside the Exxon Jubilee at Clay Street and Mission 66.

In addition to the homicide cases, 18 other people were arraigned Thursday on returned indictments. They were:

* Corey Lovelle Anderson, 21, 205 Locust St., two indictments, one for sale of a controlled substance and the other for possession of a controlled substance. The indictment alleges the sale occurred Dec. 18, and he was charged with the possession offense the next day when he was arrested at his home. Trial was set for June 16.

* Kenneth Neil Blackmore, 30, 30 Kings Drive, possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested Aug. 26, at Cherry and China streets. Trial was set for June 16.

* Don Aaron Brown, 39, 433 S. Sixth St., Greenville, forgery (counterfeit instrument). He was arrested Sept. 13 at Ameristar Casino, 4146 Washington St. Trial date was set for April 14.

* Ashley Michelle Burrough, 19, 425 John Russell Road, sale of cocaine on Jan. 17, 2007, in the 200 block of Hartley Road. Trial was set for June 23.

* Jermaine Franklin, 26, 2709 Drummond St., two indictments, one for one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling and one count of possession of a weapon after a felony conviction, and the other for two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a weapon after a felony conviction. He was arrested Aug. 1 in the 2800 block of East Main Street and accused of crimes that occurred that day, May 18, and March 1. Trial was set for June 23.

* Jerrod Cornelius Gleese, 38, 1611 Lane St., grand larceny and possession of burglar’s tools. The offense took place at Harcross Chemical, 4280 Rifle Range Road, and he was arrested that same day at Third and Polk streets. Trial was set for April 7.

* Soloman Harris, 43, 1102 Avenue D, possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested May 7 at the Deluxe Inn, 2751 N. Frontage Road. His trial was set for June 16.

* Jabori Damond McGrew, 18, 290 Rockey Lane, burglary of a dwelling. The offense occurred Oct. 2, in the 100 block of Hilda Drive, at which time he was arrested. His trial date is April 14.

* Yolanda Shuntae Montgomery, 33, 75 Ironwood Drive, arraigned on four more indictments Thursday, one for felony bad check, another for false pretenses, and two for identity theft. She was arraigned Wednesday on another indictment for two counts of false pretense. Montgomery was arrested Dec. 6, on charges that date to January 2007. Trial was set for June 23.

* Columbus Palmer, 26, 225 School St., Clarksdale, forgery (counterfeit instrument). He surrendered to police May 3 for an offense that occurred the previous day at Doc’s Wholesale, 1890 S. Frontage Road. Trial was set for April 2.

* Jimmy Lee Pete, 33, 1006 E. Sixth St., retaliation against a public servant or witness. The offense occurred Sept. 28 at the Vicksburg Municipal Courtroom, 820 Veto St. and he was arrested at that time. Trial was set for April 7.

* Frederick Dewayne Rogers, 31, 901 Speed St. Apt 10., possession of a weapon after a felony conviction. He was arrested Sept. 1, at Speed and Meadows streets. Trial was set for April 21.

* Lash Dean Rogers, 29, 2405 Railroad Ave., one count of eluding or fleeing a law enforcement officer, one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of simple assault on an officer. He was arrested July 26, after a traffic stop at Walnut and South streets. Trial was set for June 23.

* Michael Anthony Russell, 35, 600 Adams St., three indictments for sale of a controlled substance. He was arrested Nov. 6, following a traffic stop at North Frontage Road and Indiana Avenue. Trial was set for June 16.

* Chester Lee Smith, 18, 17467 Mississippi 465, auto burglary. The offense occurred Nov. 11, at the Super Stop located at 2700 Alcorn Drive and he was arrested a short time later in the 100 block of Elizabeth Circle. Trial was set for April 14.

* Jeffrey Dewayne Stamps, 33, 1108 Fayette St., possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. He was arrested Oct. 22 at his home. Trial was set for June 23.

* James Eddie Wilson, 60, no street address available, simple assault on an officer. The offense occurred Oct. 17, in the 1500 block of Washington Street. Trial was set for April 7.

* Jeremy Nathan Wright, 22, 1628 Crawford St., two counts of armed robbery. Wright surrendered July 11 and was charged with an offense that took place four days earlier on Holly Street. No trial date was set.

Arraigned Thursday on July 2006 indictments of felony bad check were William, 53, and Cynthia Primer, 44, 4238 Meadowlark Drive. Both of their offenses occurred in June 2005 at Rainbow Casino, 1380 Warrenton Road. Both were arrested last week on outstanding warrants.

Indicted but waiving arraignment were Orlando Wesley, 17, 20 Fisher Ferry Road, simple assault on a law enforcement officer. The offense occurred Dec. 27, 2006, in the 300 block of Fisher Ferry Road and he was arrested later that day. Trial was set for June 23.

Warren County grand juries are chosen each January, May, July and October. Law enforcement officers present cases and jurors decide if there is enough evidence for a criminal trial. If so, indictments are issued and defendants, most of whom have been free on bond, appear at a formal arraignment to hear the charges they face. Most then remain free on bond pending resolution of the indictments through a trial or plea bargains.

This panel of grand jurors was scheduled to adjourn Thursday, releasing its report of local government operations to Warren County Circuit Judge Frank Vollor. However, District Attorney Rickey Smith said, due to the number of cases presented by the prosecution and the seriousness of some of the charges, the grand jury’s dismissal has been delayed.

“We’ve really been taking our time with a few of these cases, making sure the jurors know all the facts,” Smith said of the nearly 100 cases presented this week.

Smith said the panel should complete its work today.