Jury Finds Man Guilty of Aggravated Assault

Patrick L. Sherrell was found guilty of two counts of felonious aggravated assault by a Jasper County jury last Thursday, Feb. 24.
With Judge Hulane E. George, presiding, Mr. Sherrell was sentenced to 20 years on each count to run concurrent, and with 15 years to serve before possible probation. In addition, $3,137 in fines and fees were imposed on the defendant.

The trial began February 22, after the jurors were selected and sworn in, and continued into the third day. After deliberating for one hour and 20 minutes, the jury returned the guilty verdict Thursday afternoon.

Also, Magistrate Court held its criminal ordinance violation trials, and probation revocations last Friday, Feb. 25, with Judge Kenneth G, Jackson, presiding. The following are the results:
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•Jeremy Lee Simmons was found guilty of disorderly conduct, and sentenced to 12 months probation, 30 hours of community service, a fine of $210 and $275 in attorney fees.

•Robert Duckett was found guilty of disorderly conduct, and sentenced to 12 months probation, 40 hours of community service and fined $210.

•Rodney M. Digby, on probation for deposit account fraud citations, had his probation revoked for new charges, and was sentenced to 14 days in jail with credit for time served since February 18, and upon completion return to regular probation.

•James Sudduth, on probation for county ordinance violation, had his probation revoked for new charges, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail with credit for time served since February 18, and upon completion return to regular probation (sentence subject to revision upon payment or restitution).

Besides the above mentioned three-day trial and Magistrate Court, there was a lot of other judicial activity at the court house last week. On Monday, January 21, Judge George heard guilty pleas in the main courtroom, while Judge Linda Keller was holding traffic court in the small courtroom. While the jury selections were going on for the aforementioned trial, Judge James L. Cline was conducting Superior Court motion day. Juvenile Court was held by Judge Phil Spivey on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and a divorce hearing was held on Thursday, Jan. 24, by Judge Hugh W. Wingfield.

According to Clerk of Courts Dan Jordan, the economy hasn’t affected the activity of the court system, and the case load has increased over the past few years. Fines and fees are now back up to what they were prior to 2008, and activity at the courthouse last week actually broke records.