Cases Settled in Criminal Court Session

A criminal session of Jasper Superior Court convened Monday with Judge William A. Prior presiding. A number of cases were settled with pleas on Monday, and several trials were scheduled for the remainder of the week.

James Wayne Pope pled guilty to several counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated child molestation, and was sentenced to serve 40 years.

Robert Rosser was charged with trafficking in meth and possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to 20 years with 10 to serve.

Douglas Adam Moore was charged with two counts burglary, no proof of insurance, affixing tag to conceal vehicle identity. He was sentenced to seven years with two to serve.

Jack Warren Couch was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of schedule II drugs with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to serve 180-270 days in a detention center and seven years probation.

Other pleas are outlined below.

On Tuesday, January 24, a Jasper County jury found Tennyson Larry Knight innocent on all three charges against him.

Mr. Knight, represented by Ellis J. Millsaps, was on trial for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, and criminal use of article with altered ID mark.

The third charge came as a result of two handguns which had their identifying numbers and manufacturer removed, which is a felony.

The prosecution produced as evidence just over two ounces of marijuana, packaging materials, rolling papers and the two handguns. They also presented three witnesses.

The first, an investigator with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, testified that the evidence had been found inside Mr. Knight’s home in rural Jasper County and that during an authorized search it had been surrendered to him at that time by Angela Quarles, who lived in Mr. Knight’s house, and that Mr. Knight arrived approximately 45 minutes after this took place. He also testified that he had over $6,000 on his person and in his truck at the time.
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The second witness, another JCSO investigator testified that the suspected marijuana had been tested positive and was in fact marijuana.

Ms. Quarles, who was previously charged with possession and possession with intent, had the possession with intent dropped and is on probation for the possession charge, was the third witness for the prosecution. She testified that the marijuana and the handguns belonged to Mr. Knight.

The defense called just one witness, Mr. Knight. He testified that he only stayed at his house about half the time and stayed in a trailer at his junk yard in Covington the other half. He went on to explain that the large amount of cash he had was the nature of his business. He said that he didn’t smoke marijuana and had never handled it, and that it must belong to Ms. Quarles. He also testified that the two handguns belonged to her.

In the summation, the prosecution pointed out all the evidence that had been presented and the testimony of their witnesses.

The defense pointed out that the two handguns were a small derringer type and a small caliber 22, and didn’t look like a man’s guns at all. Mr. Millsaps also pointed out that Ms. Quarles had admitted the drugs were hers, had pled guilty, was on probation for it, and now she was saying they belonged to Mr. Knight.

He also pointed out that neither the drugs nor the hand guns had been found on Mr. Knight, and he was guilty by association only.

It took the jury less than an hour to acquit Mr. Knight.

As many as four other cases could be tried this week, with jurors expected to report to the Courtroom Wednesday afternoon.

Guilty charges were accepted with charges and sentences indicated below:

•Ian James Furgeson—false imprisonment. Sentenced to 12 months probation plus fines.

•Deloris Jean Potter—sale of marijuana. Sentenced to 12 months probation plus fines.

•Terrence Christopher Potter—sale of marijuana. Sentenced to 12 months probation plus fines.

•Zachariah Al Porter—driving while license suspended or revoked, giving false information, DUI alcohol, obstruction of officers. Sentenced to 24 hours jail time, 12 months probation plus fines.

•Kimberly McCoy Conley—possession of meth, possession of marijuana. Sentenced to five years probation plus fines.

•Jesse Lee Holt—burglary. Sentenced to 110 days detention, five years probation.

•Steven Daniel Myers—possession of meth, possession of alprazolam, possession of drugs within guard line of jail, driving on suspended license, possession of marijuana. Sentenced to 60-90 days detention, five years probation.

•Marcus Campbell—possession of meth. Sentenced to five years probation plus fines.

•Dewayne Keith Pruitt—simple battery, DUI alcohol, DUI less safe. Sentenced to 72 hours to serve, 12 months probation.

•Cindy Denise Tumlin—possession of meth. Sentenced to five years probation.

•Eddie James Horton—battery. Sentenced to 12 months probation plus fines.

•Billy Lynn Johnson—hindering apprehension or punishment of a criminal, theft by receiving stolen property. Sentenced to 12 months probation plus fines.

Bench warrants were issued for failure to appear on charges as follows:

•Thomas Davis Smith—simple battery.

•Jerry Alvin Ray—cruelty to children.

•Jerry Edgar McClain III—two counts of deposit account fraud.

•Joe Melvin Dempsey—possession of cocaine, DUI alcohol.

•Cedric Jerome Dudley—obstruction of officer.

•Michael Rutherford—obstruction of officer, battery.

•Stacey Eugene Watson—obstruction of officers, possession of meth, safety belt violation.

•Jennifer Jeannette Reynolds—disorderly conduct.

•Johnny Ray Durrance—fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, no proof of insurance, driving while license suspended or revoked, reckless driving, two counts of failure to stop for stop sign.

•Tameka Lachanda Pennamon—no proof of insurance.

•Shannon Lee Lane—possession of meth, no proof of insurance, improper tag, operating red light w/o permit, driving while license suspended or revoked, open container.

•David William Ellis—possession of meth, DUI meth, DUI marijuana, driving while license suspended or revoked.

•Natasha Chatman—four counts executing/negotiating/printing of checks and drafts.

•Craig Whitfield—theft by receiving stolen property, two counts altered plate, remove/falsify identifying number with intent to conceal.

•Chad Edward Morris—aggravated assault.

•James Lyman Harrell—possession of marijuana.

A continuance was granted in the following cases:

•Steven Richard Quillen—two counts of child molestation, two counts of aggravated child molestation, statutory rape.
•Roy Lee Ramey—arson first degree, simple assault on a peace officer.

•Ricky Daniel Still—three counts theft by receiving stolen property, possession of meth with intent to distribute.

•Melissa Justus-Campbell—possession of meth with intent to distribute.

•Ronnie Lee Bryant—burglary, possession of meth, marijuana less than 1 oz.

•Terry Lenwood Parker—aggravated stalking.

•Casey Anderson, three counts of child molestation, two counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of aggravated sodomy.

•Bonnie Tillman—obstruction of an officer.

•William Shawn Blackwell—two counts of cruelty to children, simple battery.

•Billy Gene Bell—simple battery, DUI alcohol.

•Michael Scott Bird—speeding, driving while license suspended or revoked.

•Otis Ammons—three counts of possession of cocaine, criminal damage to property second degree, disorderly conduct.

•William H. Fowler—aggressive driving.

•Ronqueize Lebrair Head—entering auto, theft by taking, criminal trespass.

•Walker Dewayne Williams—possession of cocaine.

•Casey Gene Gaug—DUI alcohol, DUI less safe, striking a fixed object.

•Kimbalie Blankenship—possession of meth, marijuana less than 1 oz.

•Harvey Humphries—possession of meth, marijuana less than 1 oz., open container.

•Alan West Cox—DUI alcohol, DUI less safe, striking a fixed object, failure to maintain lane.

•Jeffery Guy Alvarez—theft of services.

•Bryant Terrell Clements—weaving over roadway, duty to stop at scene of accident, failure to report accident, too fast for conditions, driving with license suspended or revoked, no proof of insurance.

•Raymond H. Carter—criminal trespass.

•Michael Edward Thomason—leaving the scene of an accident, DUI alcohol, DUI less safe, failure to maintain lane.

•Odis Ammons, Jr.—sale of cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine, simple assault, terroristic threats.

•Milissa Lynn Coleman—abuse/neglect/exploitation of elderly.

•Michael Burdett—theft by receiving, stolen property, altered plate, remove/falsify identifying number with intent to conceal.

•Matthew Donald Cox—burglary.

•Kelly Michelle English—burglary.

•Randall Ledbetter—seven counts cruelty to children second degree, burglary, two counts aggravated assault.

•Jane Walker Hasley—financial transaction card fraud.

•Jo Elmer Dawson—county ordinance violation.