Jeffery Stovall

A 25-year-old Marion County man pleaded guilty to one count of statutory rape this morning in Circuit Court.

Jeffery Stovall pleaded guilty to having sex with a 12-year-old female child in April of 2008. He will be sentenced Aug. 4 in Lamar County and faces 20 years to life in prison.

Because he is charged with a sex offense he will not be eligible for parole and will have to register as a sex offender.

In another matter from Circuit Court this morning, Terez Lee, 31, of Columbia, was sentenced to seven years in prison as a habitual offender for burglary and 15 years with five years to serve for a charge of sale of a controlled substance, cocaine. The sentences will run consecutive to one another.

The Honorable Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell presided over Lee’s sentencing and Stovall’s plea.

Johnny Glen Edwards exits Circuit Court.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

A man admitted to the Marion County Informer today that he snatched a woman’s purse and broke into a vehicle to get money to purchase drugs.

“I was messed up on drugs and snatched a woman’s purse,” said the suspect, Johnny Glen Edwards, after his initial appearance in Marion County Circuit Court this afternoon.

Edwards, 33, said he was under the influence of crack cocaine, and when he realized what he had done he turned himself into law enforcement the next day. “I’m very sorry for what I did,” said Edwards, adding that he hopes there is “some kind of program I can go through” in lieu of a heavy prison sentence.

Edwards, whose mother attended the court appearance with him, said he has never been in trouble before the incident. He said the drugs made him commit the crime and lamented that he will have to live with what he has done for the rest of his life.

Edwards was arrested July 2 on an indictment for robbery and auto burglary. The robbery indictment alleges that Edwards approached a woman from behind and jerked her purse of her arm on Dec. 21, 2007 in Marion County.

The indictment for the auto burglary charges that Edwards broke into a vehicle the same day in Marion County. Edwards admitted that he committed the two crimes within one hour of each other.

Nicholas Medious and Chassie Medious, both of 2403 Highway 13 South, Columbia, also appeared in Circuit Court this afternoon for their initial appearances. Chassie Medious is charged with murder and burglary of a dwelling, and Nicholas Medious is charged with aggravated assault and burglary of a dwelling. The indictment states that Chassie Medious shot and killed Gregory Jerhome Murphy on July 29, 2009 in Marion County. Nicholas Medious allegedly caused serious bodily injury to Murphy by shooting him, the indictment charges. Both Nicholas and Chassie Medious broke into Murphy’s residence to assault him, the indictment adds.

Chassie Medious, 42, is out of jail on $250,000 bond while Nicholas, 38, remains in Marion County Jail on $50,000 bond. As he exited the courtroom today Chassie Medious told the Marion County Informer that he is not guilty. He offered no other comment.

Willie Smith of Marion County is charged with five counts of sexual battery and five counts of statutory rape.

In another case, Willie D. Smith of Marion County also had his initial appearance on five counts statutory rape and five counts of sexual battery. The indictment alleges that Smith, 52, began having inappropriate sexual contact with a girl in 2002 when she was 11-years-old and continued to do so until March 2009 when she was 17.

Smith had no comment for the Marion County Informer.

In this Informer file photo from April, Greg Elkins is led out of Marion County Justice Court by a detention officer.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

A former Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy and Columbia Police Department captain had his probation revoked this morning in Circuit Court and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Greg Elkins was convicted in 2006 of manslaughter for shooting and killing Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Hooper and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with only two years to serve and five years on post release supervision.

Elkins’ probation was revoked this morning because he was arrested in April on charges of DUI, reckless driving, felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by convicted felon. Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell sentenced Elkins to serve 18 years in prison.

On a recorded 911 call, Elkins could be heard saying that his wife was “messing around” with Hooper, according to court documents. Elkins later admitted to shooting Hooper and placing a gun in Hooper’s hand after the incident, the court documents state.

Elkins, 42, was arrested in April by the Sheriff’s Office after he was pulled over and found to be in possession of approximately .27 grams of meth on Highway 98 East in Columbia, according to the affidavit. Elkins has yet to be indicted on the charges he was arrested on in April.

According to the court file, Elkins worked as a captain for the Columbia Police Department from 1992-2002 and as an investigator for the Sheriff’s Office from 2002-2004.

Jimmy McCraw, 26, is charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing a utility trailer in Marion County on Dec. 10, 2009. He is also charged with burglary of a dwelling for allegedly breaking into a home at 229 Hutson-Morris Road on Aug. 24, 2009.

George McCraw, 26, is charged with receiving stolen property for allegedly possessing someone else’s utility trailer on Dec. 4, 2009. He is also charged with another count of receiving stolen property for allegedly possessing someone else’s metal break bender on Dec. 3, 2009.

The suspects, Saleem Noorani, 40, and his wife, Robina Noorani, 36, both of 1700 Ridgewood Drive, Columbia,  are currently being held in Marion County Jail with no bond. Marion County tax records list the owner of the business as SRS Noorani Inc,, but a store employee said Saleem and Robina Noorani own the establishment.

The indictment states that between April 29, 2009 and Dec. 7 2009 Saleem and Robina Noorani vended forged or counterfeit merchandise from their business located at 350 Broad St. The value of the merchandise exceeded $1,000 in value, the indictment adds.

According to Mississippi Code, the charge is a misdemeanor and punishable by up to three months in jail and a fine up to $500.

Dorian Harrell of Kokomo stands outside the trailer where he says he was shot and stabbed by Curtis Husband of Foxworth last August.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Dorian Harrell stirred a cup of coffee as he thought about the night last August when he was allegedly shot in the head and stabbed in the stomach.

Ever since the alleged assault, Harrell, 36, said he has been unable to hold down food, cannot sleep well because of nightmares and has trouble hearing.

“That man messed up my whole life, and I don’t was his to be pleasant,” said Harrell as he walked by the trailer where the incident allegedly occurred last Aug. 25. “He tore me up. I can’t work.”

Harrell was referring to Curtis Husband, 26, of Foxworth, who was arrested last week after being indicted on two counts of aggravated assault for the alleged attack.

In an interview this morning with the Marion County Informer, Harrell went into detail about the incident as he sat at the kitchen table of his grandparents’ house on Taylor Cutoff Road in Kokomo.

“It shouldn’t have happened,” said Harrell of the incident. He added that he still has bullet fragments on the side of his brain from the incident. Since the alleged attack he has had memory problems and goes to Pine Belt Mental Health for treatment. He said he can’t afford all the doctor’s visits and medications he needs and is always throwing up after eating because of the stab wounds to his stomach.

Harrell’s grandfather, A.C. Smiley, thinks Husband was trying to kill Harrell, saying, “Anytime you shoot someone in the head,” the goal is to take the person’s life.

Harrell remembered back to the night of the incident and said he and his sister were living together in the trailer behind their grandparent’s house. Harrell came home about midnight and he and his sister, Tamika, who is Husband’s girlfriend, got into argument over him coming in late.

Eventually, Harrell just lied down on the couch to watch TV, and he said Husband came out telling him to leave. Harrell was angry that Husband was telling him to leave his own residence. After all, Harrell said, it was Husband who was not supposed to be at the residence as he had been evicted.

Curtis Husband was arrested last week afrer being indicted on two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly shooting and stabbing Harrell.

Husband took away Harrell’s blanket and continued telling him to leave. At that point Harrell said he jumped on Husband and began punching him. Harrell said he couldn’t even feel Husband stabbing him.

Husband left the residence, and Harrell thought everything was over and started making coffee. But Husband entered the residence again and shot Harrell in the head, according to Harrell.

Harrell hit the floor, and Husband fled the scene in a vehicle but was stopped by police just down the road from the house, Harrell noted. Harrell managed to pick himself up off the floor and walked to his grandparents’ house, which was just a few yards away, and his aunt drove him to Marion General Hospital where he was airlifted to Hattiesburg.

Harrell lifted up his shirt to reveal to the Informer where he said the knife entered his body in three places. He is unclear what kind of knife Husband allegedly used but thinks it was a hunting blade used for cleaning rabbits and deer. Harrell noted that he was told by a doctor that pieces of animal meat from the blade were in his body after the stabbing.

When he was walking out of the residence after being stabbed and shot, Harrell said he could hear his sister saying, she was “sorry.”

Harrell said Husband had “no business” getting in the middle of the argument between him and his sister. “No one said anything to him,” Harrell added.

Harrell’s sister is still dating Husband after everything that has allegedly happened. Despite the fact that Tamika is still dating the man accused of stabbing her brother, Harrell said he still loves his sister.

Harrell’s grandmother, Annette Smiley, said she can’t believe that Tamika is still dating Husband after what happened. “That’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard,” Annette Smiley said.

Tamika and Husband have a 6-year-old child together.  Two of Tamika’s other children (not Husband’s) witnessed the assault, said Harrell. “They saw everything,” said Harrell. “It’s a shame.”

Harrell said after he was shot he fell on the floor, and he could hear his two young nieces yell, “You shot my uncle!”

Harrell said Husband, who he still sees occasionally in the community and at church, has not apologized. “When I see him he’s got a look on his face that he’s the king,” said Harrell.

Harrell has not forgiven Husband, but his grandmother said he needs to, adding, “You can’t go to heaven hating anybody.”

Harrell said he plans on attending Husband’s trial, saying, he needs to be punished. “You don’t shoot someone in their own house. If you let him go, he’ll think he can do that to anybody.”

In the meantime, Harrell said his condition “gets worse every day” and he is just trying to “beat the demons.”

Husband could not be reached for comment.

Curtis Husband- Indicted on two counts of aggravated assault

A Foxworth man accused of shooting and stabbing a man last year was served with an indictment and arrested Wednesday on two counts of aggravated assault.

Curtis Husband, 26, 20 Harvey Lane, Foxworth, allegedly shot and stabbed Dorian Harrell, 34, of Kokomo, on Aug. 25, 2009 at a residence on Taylor Cut-Off Road in Kokomo.

Harrell’s grandfather, A.C. Smiley of Kokomo, told the Marion County Informer this morning that it took too long for Husband to be indicted.

Asked what punishment he would like to see dealt to Husband, Smiley said, “You reap what you sow.”

Marcus Woodward

A Marion County man has been indicted on a charge of statutory rape.

The indictment alleges that Marcus Woodward, 20, had sex with a girl on or about Feb. 25, 2009. Woodward was 19-years-old at the time of the alleged incident, and the girl was 13, according to the indictment on file in Marion County Circuit Court.

Woodward was booked into Marion County Jail on Thursday and bonded out the same day. Woodward could not be reached for comment.

Debra Hibley

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Three defendants pleaded guilty to crimes today in Marion County Circuit Court.

Kimberly Henry, 46, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to uttering forgery. According to the indictment, on Aug. 23, 2003 Henry and Kristi Kelly made out a forged check to Harry Taylor Discount Building Supply Inc. of Columbia.

Debra Hibley, 20, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to fraud in the acquisition of a controlled substance. The indictment states that on Feb. 1, 2007 Hibley altered a prescription in an attempt to obtain Lortab from Sherpard’s Pharmacy in Columbia.

Joe Glen Lowe, 71, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to sale or transfer of a controlled substance. The indictment states that Lowe sold or transferred 10 units of hydrocodone on Nov. 21, 2008.

The Honorable Judge R.I. Prichard III will sentence the defendants on June 4 in Marion County Circuit Court.

William Eisworth- Sentenced to prison for manufacturing meth

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

A Marion County man today pleaded guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine and was sentenced to prison.

William Eisworth, 36, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with seven years to serve and the remaining 13 suspended. Once he gets out of prison, he will be on probation for five years. Eisworth was also sentenced to three additional years in prison for revoking his probation from a previous possession of methamphetamine charge. Therefore, Eisworth has a total of 10 years to serve in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Eisworth was sentenced in Lamar County Circuit Court by the Honorable Prentiss Harrell. Eisworth was arrested in February after authorities with the Pearl River Basin Narcotics Task Force, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at 71 H.K. Watts Lane and located an active meth lab. Another suspect, 17-year-old Forrest Dixon, 642 Gobler Head Road, Poplarville, was also arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine and manufacturing methamphetamine.

After the raid, agents reported seizing 73 grams of “meth oil,” an active meth lab, three rifles, a shotgun and a pistol. Methamphetamine was in the process of being made when agents entered the residence, according to officials. According to agents, the ingredients used to make meth were also found at the residence including fertilizer, hydrochloric acid, pseudoephedrine, lantern fuel and lithium batteries.