Many Are Arraigned; Few Plea

Carl Johnson pled not guilty to the charges of homicide by vehicle-second degree and reckless driving, when he was arraigned before Judge Hugh V. Wingfield, III, in Jasper County Superior Court on Tuesday, June 13.

The charges came as a result of a two vehicle collision on July 4 of last year on Hwy. 212 as reported by The News last July 7. Brenda D. Washington died from injuries sustained in the accident.

After an investigation the case was presented to a Grand Jury, accusing Mr. Johnson with driving his vehicle in a reckless disregard for the safety of the deceased by failing to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign.

A Grand Jury indictment does not indicate guilt, it merely affirms there is enough evidence to bring charges. The case is scheduled for trial during the criminal court session set for August 28.

The following other individuals, with charges as indicated, also pled not guilty at their arraignment on Tuesday, and will also be scheduled for trial in August if their cases are not settled or continued prior to that date:

·Dwayne Williams—two counts rape, incest, enticing a child for indecent purposes, three counts child molestation.

·Joseph Paul Williamson—two counts child molestation, aggravated child molestation, five counts sexual exploitation of minors.
{{more}}
·Jessica Marie Fitts—theft by taking.

·John Gregory Branham—simple assault, obstruction of officers.

·Debra Leigh Thomason—simple battery.

·Dennis Earle More, Jr.—simple battery, criminal damage to property.

·Eric Daniel Wilson—simple battery, criminal damage to property.

·Bart Wesley Ray—possession of meth with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, tampering with evidence, obstruction of officers.

·Carey Ross—battery.

·Tony Ross—driving while license suspended or revoked.

·Luke Stephen Ruckel—simple battery, interfering with 911 call, cruelty to children 2nd degree.

·Rita Melissa Garmon—giving convicts items without consent.

·Brandon Ross—battery.

·Kerry Whitley Cherry—abandonment of dependent child.

·Lydia Goolsby— marijuana less than 1 oz., operating vehicle without valid tag.

·Terry McCullers—simple battery.

·Anita Maria Middlebrooks—false report of a crime, allowing unlicensed person to drive.

·Arthur Doran Hunter—simple battery.

·Marty Ray Kirby, Jr.—theft by taking, criminal trespass.

·James Ross Johnson—theft by taking, criminal trespass.

·Randy Castillo—obstruction of officers.

·Percy Chadwick Taylor—felony escape, obstruction of officers.

·Jon Daniel Keele—interference with custody, contribute to the delinquency of minor.

·Tony Andrews—statutory rape.

·Jerri Dale Williams—possession of meth.

·Dennis Ray Thompson—possession of meth.

·William W. Parker—dumping dead dog on public property, cruelty to dogs, discharge of firearms on property of another.

·Peter Bolling Withers—simple assault.

·Marvis Wyman—simple battery.

·Richard Jack Pitman—habitual violator, DUI alcohol, DUI less safe.

·Travis Lee Caldwell—possession of firearms by convicted felon, marijuana less than 1 oz.

·Steven Floyd Adcock—theft by deception.

·Teresa Deanne Dailey—giving convicts items without consent.

·John Jackson Jr.—driving while license suspended or revoked.

·James Oliver—DUI alcohol, operation of vehicle without revalidation decal.

·Cherie Ann Dockery—simple battery, criminal trespass, marijuana less than 1 oz.

·Javier Lopez-Perez—felony escape, obstruction of officers, interference with government property, DUI less safe.

·Marlon Thurman—duty of driver to stop at scene of accident.

·Tyrone Thurman—aggravated assault.

·Jessie James Gude—burglary, obstruction of officers.

·Mark David Ray—aggravated assault.

·Joe B Myricks, Sr.—aggravated assault.

·Richard Lee Williams—theft by receiving stolen property, conducting a chop shop, obstruction of officers.

·Bridgette Greene—theft by taking.

·Danny Lee Brantley—aggravated assault.

·Joshua Craig Howell—burglary.

·Mike Randall Cantrell—battery.

·Marquis Dejuan Jackson—possession of marijuana, driving without insurance, operation of unregistered vehicle.

The following individuals pled guilty to the charge of simple battery and were sentenced to probation plus fines: Pamela S. Gilroy, Angela L Thompson, and Krista Wojcik.

A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of the following individuals who failed to appear in court to answer charges as indicated:

·Novsakie Jermaine Wells—driving while license suspended or revoked.

·Richard David Hill—theft by taking.

·Dexter Lane—possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

·Chad Edward Morris—theft by receiving stolen property, possession of motor vehicle with identification removed.

·Tiffany Kelly Ray—cruelty to children in the 1st degree, interfering with 911 call, simple battery.

·Ricky Daniel Still—forgery 1st degree.

·Larry Dumas—obstruction of officers.

·Patricia Horton—reckless conduct.

·Michael Edward Thompson—simple battery.

·Troy Edgar Whitehead—reckless conduct.

·David Issac Stroud—theft by taking.

·James Oliver—DUI alcohol, operation of vehicle without revalidation decal.

·Mario Mderono Mejia—possession of meth, marijuana less than 1 oz.

·Tavares Jackson—obstruction of officers.

·Shannon Tiese Downs—possession of propoxyphene, marijuana less than 1 oz, obstruction of officers, pedestrian under the influence.

·Dale Wesley Dockery—marijuana less than 1 oz.

·Terry Ray Drake—possession of marijuana, driving while license suspended or revoked, giving false name, operation of unregistered vehicle.

The following individuals, with charges as indicated, are currently incarcerated and will be arraigned at a later date:

·Christopher Charles Farrar—possession of cocaine, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, simple battery, interfering with 911 call.

·Bobby Gene Strickland—aggravated assault.

·George Alvin Walker—burglary.

·Kori L. Lowry—simple battery.

·Ellis Demonte Ammons—possession of cocaine, obstruction of officers.

·Joseph Lawrence Parr—theft by receiving stolen property.

·Jarvis Jenkins—aggravated assault.

The following cases were nolle prossed (charges dismissed):

·Daniel W. Fessenden—DUI, no proof of insurance.

·Charles R. Smith—battery.

·Angela Benton—alcohol sales to persons under age.

·Marty L. Bilbrey—battery.

There was also a motion day calendar on which the probation was revoked in the following three cases:

·Shannon Lee Lackey on probation for the charge of burglary—sentenced to five years of which 280-365 days must be served before possibility of parole.

·Wesley Donald Stephens on probation for the charge of aggravated stalking—sentenced to five years of which 120-180 days must be served before possibility of parole.

·Shane D. Herrin—probation revoked with details unspecified.