From Court Reports

William Harris Sr., who Assistant District Attorney called a known drug dealer in Sharkey County, was convicted by a jury Tuesday of sale of cocaine and will be sentenced Oct. 8.

“We’re very pleased,” Carpenter said. “This conviction shows this will not be tolerated in Sharkey County. If you get caught, we will prosecute you.”

Harris, 56, 370 Widow Bayou Road, Anguilla, was arrested after an informant for the county was able to buy cocaine from Harris at his business, L&B Groceries, 220 North St., Anguilla.

“We were told we couldn’t be able to convict this guy due to his contacts,” said District Attorney Ricky Smith. “This conviction speaks highly of the jurors and their desire to make Sharkey a better place. Anguilla is a small community, and it is difficult for jurors to convict somebody they probably know.”

The case marks the 10th trial in 2008 for Warren County prosecutors. Of those trials, eight ended with guilty verdicts and two ended in hung juries and will be retried.