Harris sentenced to 75 years for sexual battery

Published 7:25 pm Tuesday, October 9, 2018

A Warren County man has been sentenced to a total of 75 years in prison after his conviction in Warren County Circuit Court on three counts of sexual battery on a victim under the age of 14.

Circuit Judge M. James Chaney sentenced Justin Chance Harris, 27, after a pre-sentence investigation following his conviction. Harris was sentenced to 30 years with 25 years to serve on the first count, and 25 years each on the second and third counts. The sentences will be served consecutively, meaning they will be served one after the other for a total of 75 years with five years’ post-release supervision. He was ordered to pay $5,384.50 in fines, court costs and fees.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

In another case, Amanda Combs, 32, of Brandon was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty in Circuit Court to three counts of embezzlement in theft of $45,000 from the Public Employees Retirement System between Dec. 20 and 29, 2016.

Chaney sentenced her to 10 years with five to serve on each count to be served concurrently, meaning all served at the same time for a total of five years, with five years’ post-release supervision. She was also ordered to pay $17,927.12 in fines, fees and restitution.

In other cases:

• David Maurice Evans,32, no address listed, received a suspended sentence and placed on five years’ probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime, vehicle burglary and possession of a weapon after felony conviction. He was ordered to pay $1,584.50 in fines, fees and court costs.

• Chaney revoked the suspended sentence of Tavares Deshone Ross, 21, no address listed, and sentenced him to five years in prison with three to serve with five years’ post-release supervision for violating the terms of his post release supervision by committing a new felony crime.

• Charles Carter, 23, pleaded guilty to credit card fraud and sentenced to three years in jail with two to serve, placed on one year post-release supervision. He was ordered to pay $1,584.50 in fines fees and court costs.

• Billie Kay McGuffie, 31, 421 Gibson Road, pleaded guilty to vehicle burglary and was seven years in prison with 50 days to serve with five years’ post-release supervision. She was ordered to pay $2,513.29 in fines, fees and court costs.

• Colby Michael Ashley, 31, 1025 Walnut St., was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to grand larceny and non-residential burglary with five years’ post-release supervision. He was ordered to pay $19,384.40 in fines, fees, costs and restitution to the victims.

Chaney also revoked two suspended sentences because Ashley violated the terms of his post-release supervision.

• Phillip Proeger, 34, no address listed, was sentenced to eight years in prison with five years’ post-release supervision after pleading guilty to two charges of possession of methamphetamine and ordered to complete the Mississippi Department of Corrections long-term alcohol and drug program.

He was ordered to pay $1,884.50 in fines, fees and costs.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

email author More by John