In Montgomery County Justice Court Tuesday, three people were bound over to the action of the Montgomery County Grand Jury in three unrelated cases, and a woman was prohibited from owning or possessing dogs or cats for five years.
Zachery Spaulding was bound over on a charge of grand larceny, Leon Butts was bound over on a charge of driving while under the influence- third offense, and Tyler Jackson was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance.
All were charged by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department and were all represented by public defender Lee Bailey.
All went before Judge Keith Stokes Roberts who was filling in for Judge Larry Bamberg.
Spaulding had his bail of $100,000 reduced to $50,000 because of priors that he has in Florida and a warrant that he has out of Tennessee.
Jackson was also charged with possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, which were remanded to the file.
Also in Montgomery County Justice Court:
• Becky Melton was charged with violating the dog and cat protection law under Mississippi Annotated Code 97-41-1. According to the Animal Legal and Historical Center website, Mississippi’s law states “…that any person who intentionally or with criminal negligence overrides, overdrives, overloads, tortures, torments, unjustifiably injures, deprives of necessary sustenance, food, or drink, cruelly beats, or needlessly mutilates any living creature is guilty of a misdemeanor. The cat and dog cruelty provision, 97-41-16, was significantly amended in 2011. This section, known as the "Mississippi Dog and Cat Pet Protection Law of 2011," makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally or with criminal negligence wound, deprive of adequate food, water, or shelter, or carry or confine in a cruel manner, any domesticated cat or dog. Aggravated cruelty occurs when a person with malice intentionally tortures, mutilates, maims, burns, starves or disfigures any domesticated dog or cat.”
Roberts ordered that Melton not own, possesses, preside (or being near or around) a dog or cat for the next five years.
• Jarquez Duren pleaded guilty to telephone harassment against Winona Municipal Court Clerk Kellie Fox.
The case was sent to the Montgomery County Justice Court because Municipal Court Judge Alan D. Lancaster is employed by the city, along with Fox, which is a conflict of interest.
The tickets written by a former Winona Police Officer were dismissed because he no longer works for the department. Duren apologized to Fox for the way that he treated her. He said he was frustrated and took his frustration out on her and acknowledged his actions were not right.
• Delrentis Eden had a grand larceny charge dismissed because the affiant, Keith Bland, did not appear in court.
• Jose Oscar Maradiaga, who was represented by Tark Townsend, pleaded guilty in his absence to a charge of possession of marijuana less than an ounce.
• Timothy Evans, represented by Glenda Horne, also pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana.
