Landscape contractor guilty of meth possession|’It’s tearing families apart,’ official says

Published 12:00 am Thursday, September 10, 2009

Jurors found Vicksburg landscaping contractor James Dudley Maynord guilty Wednesday of possession of methamphetamine and possession of precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture the drug, prompting court officials to decry the role the homemade drug is having in destroying lives.

The jury panel of nine women and three men deliberated less than two hours before ending the two-day trial in Warren County Circuit Court. Judge Isadore Patrick set Maynord’s sentencing for Sept. 25 at 9 a.m. The penalty could be 40 years in prison.

“This drug is tearing families apart,” said Brenda Theriot, the county’s victim assistance coordinator. “We have just got to stop it.”

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During his testimony, Maynord both admitted meth addiction and accused Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents of planting the drug on him.

Maynord, 35, lived at 1243 Chambers St. at the time of his arrest 22 months ago. He has owned a landscaping and lawnmowing business since he was 18, and is the father of three children.

Seated in the courtroom, Maynord’s wife, Marcia, who had testified in his defense, wept quietly as the verdict was read. His parents sat with their heads bowed.

Appearing stricken, Maynord was handcuffed by a bailiff and led out of the courtroom without looking back.

Maynord was arrested at Magnolia Commons Apartments, a large complex off Grange Hall Road. Three others were arrested with him — Christopher Jones, 34, 6223 Commons Circle; Johnny Anderson, 35, 4728 Nailor Road; and Angela Wright, 29, 112 Bering St. They are to be tried separately.

Assistant District Attorneys Dewey Arthur and Lane Campbell called witnesses who testified that meth was found in one of Maynord’s pockets, and a piece of aluminum foil, used to smoke the drug, was found in Maynord’s wallet and later tested positive for traces of meth.

Norman Harris, an agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, testified that a cooler containing “an active (meth) cook in progress” was found in the bed of Maynord’s 2006 F-250 pickup.

In his arguments, Maynord’s attorney, James “Buck” Penley, claimed that Anderson had been driving the truck for six days and that Maynord had no knowledge of the chemicals or portable lab. Penley also called into question the lack of fingerprint evidence.

Maynord testified he was searched twice at the apartment and the drug “turned up” after the second search, implying it had been planted there by an MBN agent. He said he was asleep in a back bedroom of the apartment with a headache and did not know the cooler was in the truck.

District Attorney Ricky Smith said he was grateful to the jury for its hard work on a difficult case. “We appreciate the verdict that they returned.”

Maynord, who admitted on the stand that he was addicted to meth, is the third Vicksburg defendant with a young family in recent months to face prison time because of the drug. In July, Charles Dudley White and Bethany White pleaded guilty to meth and precursor possession along with child endangerment after an October arrest in their home in a historic neighborhood on Cherry Street with two small children present. Charles White was sentenced to serve 31 years in prison, and Bethany White was sentenced to 29 years.

In addition, numerous arrests for meth possession and manufacture have been recorded in the city in recent months.

“Meth is a horrible drug,” Smith said. “It does break up good families and causes those who probably otherwise would be law-abiding citizens to become deeply involved in its manufacture and distribution. And that is what we are focusing and cracking down on — the manufacture and distribution.”

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Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com