Indicted suspects arraigned; 12 cases will not go to trial

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Additional indictments by the Warren County Grand Jury were released Monday by the District Attorney’s Office following arraignments.

Defendants hear the formal charges against them at arraignments, and also have a trial date scheduled. An attorney is assigned to the case if a defendant cannot afford to hire one.

The panel of 19 grand jurors was sworn in Oct. 26 by presiding Circuit Judge M. James Chaney. The grand jury reviewed evidence in 98 cases against 118 individuals, returning indictments in 79 of the cases.

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In addition, 12 defendants were no-billed, meaning the evidence was insufficient to pursue prosecution.

During its term the grand jury also toured the Warren County Jail, reviewed various aspects of law enforcement in the city and county and issued a report with recommendations before concluding service Thursday.

Those arraigned, the charges and date of offense were:

• Earnest Atkins, 18, 2934 Park Ave. — robbery, Aug. 2.

• Sherman Ray Brewer, 29, 119 Lovers Lane — escape from confinement, Aug. 11.

• Antonio D. Brown, 20, 112 Maple Circle — statutory rape, victim under age 14, April 12.

• Alton Andre Burden, 39, 1635 Crawford St. — burglary, nonresidential, and grand larceny, March 26.

• Delisa L. Butler, 30, 1607 Military Ave. — public assistance fraud, January 2007 through October 2008.

• Joshua R. Coffee, 17, 241 Demby Drive — robbery, Aug. 2.

• David Dillon, 29, 1110 Fayette St. — possession of a weapon after felony conviction, June 9.

• Roosevelt M. Harris, 18, 270 Railroad Alley — sale of controlled substance, June 9.

• Christopher Hayes, 22, 101 Wayne Drive — burglary of a dwelling and grand larceny, June 10.

• Fredrick Hill, 27, 1720 Martin Luther King Blvd. — vehicle burglary, two counts, both April 2.

• Cairo P. Howard, 29, 2908 Green St. — possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute, July 29.

• Dewayne C. James, 37, 1411 East Ave. — uttering a forgery, Aug. 21.

• Michael W. Kerns, 33, 46 Nebla Drive — possession of a weapon after felony conviction, Sept. 11.

• Daniel Kersh, 25, 824 Lawrence Road, Jackson — armed robbery and possession of a weapon after felony conviction, July 24.

• Joseph C. Lane, 18, 733 Johnson St. — robbery, Aug. 2.

• Bruce E. Lewis, 50, 251 Whatley Hollow Road — possession of a controlled substance and possession of precursor chemicals, Dec. 19.

• Eddie Miller, 48, 1507 1/2 Lane St. — attempted robbery, July 25.

• Ronnie Earl Newsome, 26, 1313 Walnut, Room 15 — fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer, Sept. 21, and possession of a controlled substance, May 6, 2008.

• Ronnie Kurt Nichols, 38, 713 Monroe St. — domestic violence, third offense, Aug. 29.

• James Earl Nowell, 28, 2939 Scott Road — burglary of a dwelling and grand larceny, June 10.

• Mary Nell Patterson-Alexander, 26, 1099 Copiah St., Pattison — forgery of counterfeit instrument, July 15 and 17.

• Jermaine Sims, 25, 1001 First East St. — domestic violence, third offense, Feb. 24.

• Joseph Smith, 22, 102 Jeffery Lane — burglary of a dwelling and grand larceny, June 10.

• Demika Chantey Thomas, 27, 1901 Grove St., Apt. C — possession of a controlled substance, Sept. 16.

• Kathryn M. Tuggle, 27, 162 Pecanwood Drive — possession of precursor substances and possession of a controlled substance, May 12.

• James D. Whatley, 27, 110 Clinton St., Tallulah — possession of a controlled substance, July 24.

• Kim Whatley, 45, 251 Whatley Hollow Road — possession of a controlled substance and possession of precursor chemicals, Dec. 19.

• Theapolis Williams, 27, 4907 Halls Ferry Road — identity theft, April 2009.

Those no-billed were:

• Jackie Brown — aggravated assault.

• Cody Butts — accessory after the fact.

• Jimmy Lee Hill — robbery.

• Terrance L. Jackson — aggravated assault and shooting at a motor vehicle.

• Derrick Leon Johnson — simple assault on a police officer.

• Jerrod Lee — aggravated assault and possession of a weapon after conviction.

• Denise Ann Love — receiving stolen property.

• Troy Nugent — sexual battery.

• Johnnie Ross — statutory rape.

• William Taylor — aggravated assault.

• Thodis Tompson — abuse of vulnerable adult.

• Fadell Wilson — felony child abuse.