Pubdate: Sat, 03 Dec 2005
Source: Meridian Star, The (MS)
Copyright: 2005 Meridian Star
Contact:  http://www.meridianstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1698
Author: Suzanne Monk/ managing editor
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials.

CIRCUIT COURT LOGS RECORD NUMBER OF CASES

Defendants indicted in November by a Lauderdale County grand jury 
made their initial court appearances, and entered pleas, Friday 
morning during "arraignment day" in Lauderdale County Circuit Court.

Judge Robert Bailey presided over the three-hour session. After it 
was over, circuit court officials said 2005 had broken the record for 
the number of new felony cases logged in Lauderdale County in a 
single year - 1,077. The previous record was 932 in 2002.

District Attorney Bilbo Mitchell attributed the increase to unusually 
high numbers of indictments for illegal drugs: "I think there were 
more drug cases than I've ever seen, especially in the November grand 
jury session."

Mitchell said the number of cases this year, 1,077, is actually 
deceptively low. A single felony case can include more than one 
defendant allegedly acting in concert. Or, Mitchell said, a single 
defendant can be indicted for more than one count of an alleged 
offense; perhaps the best example of this is a defendant arraigned 
Friday for 51 counts of check fraud under five different case numbers.

Here's a look at some of the more notable indictments released into 
the public record on Friday. [Name redacted], 21, and [Name 
redacted], 18, were indicted for looting after they allegedly broke 
into a home compromised by the hurricane and stole a computer hard drive.

Mitchell said Friday he expects to present more Hurricane 
Katrina-related cases to grand juries in 2006.

In a separate indictment, the grand jury alleged that [Name redacted] 
forged 18 checks in June stolen from another victim.

Eighteen-year-old [Name redacted], also known as Michael, was 
indicted in connection with all 14 incidents. [Name redacted], 23, 
who also uses the first name Gregory, was indicted in connection with 
nine of the cases. A third defendant has been indicted in some of the 
incidents but has not been arraigned.

The places burglarized included Ebenezer Baptist Church, where two 
Peavey speakers were stolen, and The Montgomery Institute, where the 
losses included electronics, computer equipment and a basket of candy.

Two Trials

The jury deliberated for seven hours before declaring itself 
deadlocked. Assistant District Attorney Lisa Howell said a new trial 
date will be set next week.

The defendant did not dispute that one leg was shorter, but argued 
this is not uncommon in hip replacement surgery. The defense attorney 
asked for a "directed verdict" in his client's favor; Bailey granted 
it and instructed the jury to find in favor of the surgeon.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman