Three Winona residents were in Winona Municipal Court on Jan. 12 facing charges.
Tommie Purnell is accused of pulling a weapon on Isiah Coker after a basketball game at J.J. Knox Gym on Dec. 2.
According to a statement given by Winona Municipal Court Clerk Kellie Fox, “Coker and his mother, [Michelle] Richardson, were both arrested and charged with simple assault with the intent to create fear after claims were made that Mr. Coker charged at Mr. Purnell, as well as claims against Mrs. Richardson that she attempted to strike Mr. Purnell with her vehicle on Dec. 2, 2022, at the time of the incident.”
Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer Adams-Williams said, “We’re asking to remand [both cases] for [Coker, Richardson, and Purnell] for a period of six months with a no-contact order, [including] no-contact through a third party.”
Purnell’s attorney, Payne Horan, specified that “there’s no reason why [Coker] should have any contact with [Purnell]. I just want to make sure that if it comes down to having any contact, that’s it’s not involving Mr. Coker around [Purnell’s] child.”
Horan explained that Purnell and his ex-wife, who is in a relationship with Coker, share the custody of a child, and asked that Purnell and Coker only make contact through a third party when involving Purnell’s child.
Judge Keith Stokes Roberts then had Purnell raise his right hand and swear that he hold to the stipulation regarding third party contact between Coker and himself. Purnell agreed to the stipulation.
Richardson then swore to the same stipulation as Purnell.
Judge Roberts asked Adams-Williams what her recommendation was for the defendants on the school premises.
“Mr. Purnell has been banned from all properties on Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District throughout the entire county. He is not allowed back on the property for the rest of his life. He has received that in writing, he is not allowed back,” said School Resource Officer Mac Burrell. Burrell spoke as a representative of the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District.
Purnell stated that he had not received a letter, to which Burrell stated “I told him verbally that he should have received a certified letter. He will receive it, I’ll make sure it is sent again.”
Judge Roberts clarified with Horan that Purnell understood WMCSD’s stance.
“Mr. Purnell, you are not to go back on the property of Winona Public Schools,” Judge Roberts told Purnell, “That’s permanent. If you go back on there, the charges will come back. We’ll bring these cases up within the end of the six-month period.”
Adams-Williams was satisfied with Judge Roberts’ clarification, and Judge Roberts stated “We just want everybody to lead a quiet and peaceful life. Let’s just refrain from having any communication whatsoever.”
The cases will come back up on the docket on July 13, and Judge Roberts expects everyone involved to “lead a quiet and peaceful life,” and that if “we get a call, it’s not going to be pretty.”
In a statement released to The Winona Times and The Conservative on Dec. 7, Dr. Teresa Jackson, WMCSD superintendent, said, the school district works diligently to ensure the safety of participants and spectators at every school event on each of our campuses.
“Faculty and staff have assigned duty posts and responsibilities at each event, and WMCSD School Resource Officers (SRO) and additional administrators or staff are assigned duties as needed,” said Jackson.
Safety of students, employees and visitors is of the utmost importance to WMCSD, she said. “Security plans are in place for events such as athletic competitions, concerts, meetings and other events,” said Jackson. “Any adult who makes an event or location unsafe by their actions may be banned from future events at the discretion of the school/district administrators.”
She went on to say, “I am thankful that WMCSD staff members are vigilant in our efforts to make every event safe for all attendees. I am also thankful for people who were willing to let school staff know what had occurred.”
