Vicksburg man could face life in prison|Court report
Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 27, 2010
A Vicksburg man was found guilty by a Warren County Circuit Court jury Tuesday of vehicle theft and burglary of a dwelling.
William Vinzant, 49, no known address, faces a possible sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole because his May 2009 indictment carried a habitual offender condition, said assistant district attorneys Dewey Arthur and Angela Carpenter, who prosecuted the case.
Vinzant was defended by Vicksburg attorney Jerry Campbell.
Vinzant had a previous armed robbery conviction in Warren County in September 1996 and a burglary conviction in Georgia that dates to 1991, Carpenter said. Jurors deliberated less than an hour, Arthur said.
Presiding Circuit Judge M. James Chaney set Vinzant’s sentencing for April 9.
He was being held in the Warren County Jail, where he had been since being transferred from Hinds County following the July 3, 2008, offenses, Arthur said.
Separately, Roosevelt Harris, 18, 270 Railroad Alley, was sentenced Friday by Chaney after being found guilty by a jury of selling cocaine.
Harris’ two-day trial ended March 16 with the jury verdict. Facing a maximum of 30 years in prison, Harris was sentenced to five years plus fines and court costs totaling $2,622.50, Arthur said. After release, Harris will be on probation for five years.
Harris, along with two other defendants, is also facing murder charges in the shooting death of Antonio Turner, 25, who was shot while in a car on Alcorn Drive March 15, 2009. That trial is scheduled for June 7.
Also in Warren County Circuit Court the week ending Friday:
• Damon Pierce Henderson, 19, 4602 Lee Road, was found guilty of violating probation and sentenced by Circuit Judge Isadore Patrick to the Ninth Circuit Court Drug Court Program, plus fines and court costs of $1,762.50. Henderson was arrested July 15, 2008, for felony malicious mischief.
• Kathryn Michelle Tuggle, 27, 162 Pecanwood Drive, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced by Chaney to five years in prison followed by five years of probation, plus fines and costs of $2,122.50. Tuggle was arrested May 12.
In Issaquena County Court:
• Derrick Barnes, 23, address unavailable, was found guilty of violating probation and sentenced by Patrick to two years in prison followed by three years of probation, plus fines and court costs of $1,582.93. Barnes’ arrest date for burglary of a dwelling was not available.