Ex-dispatcher found guilty of molestation, enticement
Published 12:30 am Saturday, April 9, 2011
A Vicksburg man and former E-911 dispatcher was found guilty this week in Warren County Circuit Court of molestation and enticement of a child to meet for sexual purposes.
Glen Westbrook, 56, 3011 Washington St., will be sentenced April 22 by presiding Judge M. James Chaney after jurors returned the guilty verdicts following about two hours of deliberation Wednesday.
Westbrook, who is being held in the Warren County Jail, faces up to 35 years in prison and fines ranging to $50,000, said District Attorney Ricky Smith.
Westbrook had originally been indicted by a grand jury on the charges in October 2005, Smith said. He pleaded guilty in January 2006 but later filed an appeal, charging that the indictment was “fatally flawed” because the enticement charge left out the words “to meet.”
Former Circuit Court Judge Frank Vollor granted the appeal and overturned the conviction in 2009. Smith, who took office in January 2009, did not oppose the ruling, he said, but presented the evidence to another grand jury for a new indictment.
Smith and Assistant DA Dewey Arthur prosecuted the trial which began Monday with selection of the five man, seven woman jury panel, initial statements and some testimony.
The victim, who was between 14 and 16 when the molestation and enticement occurred, testified for the prosecution, as did family members, police and 911 officials, Smith said.
Westbrook, who did not testify on his own behalf, was defended by Olive Branch attorney Linton Kilpatrick. Defense witnesses said Westbrook tried only to be a father figure to the child and there was no sexual contact.
“We’re very happy with the verdict,” Smith said. “The citizens of Warren County that served on the jury helped up take a child molester off the streets. This was even more important to us because this defendant had actually pled guilty before and the conviction had been set aside.”
In a second trial in Warren County Circuit Court this week, jurors found Tallulah resident Kenny Rone not guilty of felony shoplifting.
Rone, 46, 403 S. Walnut St., had been accused of taking more than $500 in designer eyeglass frames from 20/20 Eyeworks on Pemberton Square Boulevard, Smith said.
The jury of four men and eight women deliberated for about an hour before returning their verdict.
Rone did not testify in his own defense, said Smith. He was represented by Vicksburg attorney Toni Terrett.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant DAs Angela Carpenter and Lane Campbell, and prosecution witnesses included Rone’s co-defendant, Shellie Wilbon, who is expected to plead guilty in the case.
The eyeglass frames were recovered and returned to the store by the Vicksburg Police Department the same day Rone and Wilbon were arrested, said Smith.
“We believe we did prove our case, but obviously the jury was not convinced,” Carpenter said. “It’s unusual for us to try a shoplifting case, but this defendant had multiple prior felony convictions.”
Those included uttering a forgery, felony bad check and other charges against Rone in the state of Michigan, Carpenter said.
Also in Warren County Circuit Court for the week ending Friday:
• Jalila M. Barnes, 19, 1512 Spring St., was found guilty of violating probation and sentenced by Chaney to six years in prison including drug and alcohol treatment, plus $3,122.50 in fines, restitution and costs. Barnes was arrested Dec. 29, 2008, for uttering a forgery.
• Kodey Goulette, 18, 107 Warren St., pleaded guilty to non-residential burglary and possession of burglar’s tools and was sentenced by Patrick to five years of probation plus a $165 fine, $835 in restitution and $322.50 in costs. Goulette was arrested Dec. 30, 2009.
• Linda Hernandez, 56, 48 Gastrell Lane, was found guilty of violating probation and sentenced by Chaney to two years in prison followed by three years of probation, plus $1,472.50 in fines and fees. Hernandez was arrested Aug. 9, 2009, for possession of cocaine.
• Stephanie Hutson, 24, address unavailable, was found guilty of violating probation and sentenced by Patrick to the Ninth Circuit Court Drug Court Program for a period not to exceed five years, plus $5,742.50 in fines and costs. Hutson was arrested in 2008 for possession of precursor chemicals.
• Roosevelt Qualls, 29, 310 Bayou Blvd., was found guilty of violating probation and sentenced by Chaney to three years in prison including drug and alcohol treatment, plus $1,612 in fines and fees. Qualls was arrested in 2007 for possession of cocaine.
• Brandon Tilley, 22, 106 Columbus Road, pleaded guilty to four counts of shooting into a dwelling and was sentenced by Patrick to 10 years in prison followed by five years of probation, plus a $1,000 fine and $322.50 in costs. Tilley was arrested July 31.
• Victoria Wheeler, 23, 1101 Bowmar Ave., Apt. 2, was found guilty of violating probation and sentenced by Patrick to two years in prison followed by three years of probation, plus $300 in fees. Wheeler was arrested Feb. 5, 2007, for felony eluding.
In Sharkey County for the week ending Friday:
• Brandon K. McDaniel, 19, 127 Lyndale Road, Rolling Fork, pleaded guilty to two counts of non-residential burglary and was sentenced by Patrick to the Drug Court Program for a period not to exceed five years, plus a $1,000 fine, $838 in restitution and $1,370 in costs. McDaniel was arrested Nov. 11.