Justice Court Judge Keith Stokes Roberts heard two felony cases in Montgomery County Justice Court Tuesday morning, and both defendants were administratively bound over to the action of a Montgomery County Grand Jury.
Randy Burke, 34, of Duck Hill waived his right for a preliminary hearing for the felony charge of possession of methamphetamine. Public defender Lee Bailey was appointed to represent Burke.
Burke pleaded guilty to first offense driving under the influence (other substance), a misdemeanor charge, and a second misdemeanor of possession of paraphernalia was remanded to the file. He was fined $921 for the DUI.
Bond was originally set at $50,000, but Roberts ruled to lower the bond to $5,000 after a motion from the defense and no objection by County Prosecutor Ryan Taylor.
Burke’s charges stem from a December 15, 2019, stop by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department.
Also in court Tuesday, Thomas Casey of Winona waived his right to a preliminary hearing for the felony charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Bailey also severed as defense counsel for Casey.
Casey’s charge stemmed from a September 28, 2019, arrest by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department.
Initially, Montgomery County Justice Court released Casey on his own recognizance because the Mississippi Department of Corrections had a hold on him due to a previous conviction. However, he bonded out on the previous charge.
Roberts set bond at $5,000, and Casey was taken into the custody of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department.
