Lewis Rounsaville was directed to Drug Court Thursday after pleading guilty to stealing aluminum bleachers from Merchants Park in Ellisville and the Sportsplex in Laurel. Rounsaville must complete all Drug Court requirements and the stipulations of his probation terms plus pay about $11,000 in court fines and restitution. If he does not fulfill the terms laid out by District Attorney Tony Buckley and approved by Circuit Court Judge Dal Williamson, Rounsaville could face up to 20 years in prison.
Rounsaville was charged with conspiracy and two counts of grand larceny for his part in stealing the bleachers. The bleachers were sold to local scrap yards.
In another case Thursday, defendant Charles Darby appeared in court to enter a guilty plea on charges of conspiracy and armed robbery. However, when Darby stood before the judge he changed his mind and said he wanted to go to trial.
Burglary suspect Roger Collins came before the court on a mental evaluation hearing. Judge Williamson asked him why he didn’t communicate with Dr. Beverly Smallwood, a psychologist, when she came to see him previously.
“I probably was asleep at the time,” answered Collins.
Judge Williamson continued his probe with more questions and discovered that the defendant had not been taking his prescription medications. The court will schedule an evaluation for Collins with another doctor. Judge Williamson told the defendant’s attorney that he wanted the evaluation completed so that the case can move toward a conclusion.
James T. Lowery, who had been charged with failing to register or re-register as a sex offender, had the charge against him dismissed because he complied with the court’s instructions. Judge Williamson told him to continue his good behavior.
“Based on the fact that you lived up to what you said you would do, I’m going to dismiss these charges,” he noted.
The judge also took under consideration a motion by attorney Cruz Gray to suppress evidence against his client, Uloni Randolph, who faces charges of conspiracy and accessory before the fact. Gray is concerned that evidence used against other defendants in the consolidated trial could be injurious to Randolph. He presented several Supreme Court rulings as precedent cases for the court to peruse before ruling on the motion.