Jones County Circuit Court is not currently in session, but Judge Dal Williamson, District Attorney Tony Buckley and other court personnel were still busy yesterday getting prepared for some cases scheduled for the upcoming term.
The court set trial dates, accepted one plea and handled six cases involving defendants being brought before the judge on bench warrants.
Williamson ordered three defendants – Justin Ryan Underwood, Terry L. Mitchell and Larry Dale Evans – to stay in jail until their trial dates because they failed to appear for previously scheduled court hearings or trials.
Jones County authorities found Underwood in the state of Michigan. A warrant for his arrest was issued when he did not appear for an attorney status hearing on December 4, 2018. He must remain incarcerated until his trial, which has been set for January 23, 2020. Cruz Gray was appointed as his counsel. He is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.
Mitchell went missing for over two years, after a bench warrant was declared for his arrest when he did not stay in contact with his attorney. Mitchell’s request to bond out until his trial date on January 23, 2020, was quickly denied by the judge. “He’s not getting out. It’s taken two and a half years to find him.” Mitchell has been in custody of Jones County officials since October 7 and faces a felony fleeing allegation. Patrick Pacific was appointed as his attorney.
Evans, who was indicted in March for possession of meth, was brought before the judge because he didn’t show up for his trial on July 31. His new trial date was set for December 12, and Williamson ordered him to stay in jail until that time.
“Can I talk you out of that?” Evans asked the judge. The response was a firm no, as Williamson told him that county taxpayers have to pay for jurors to attend court, and he wasn’t willing to chance Evans not appearing again.
Charles A. McDonald and William A. Thomas were both sent to the Restitution Center to work off fines that were part of their plea deals. McDonald owes over $3,000 in court costs and fees, while Thomas owes nearly $1,500. McDonald, who has been living in Harrison County and who failed to appear for a May 22, 2018, post-release supervision status hearing, wanted the judge to give him just one more chance. He told the judge that he had a money order ready to pay his fines in May of last year, but he didn’t have a way to get to Jones County since he had quit driving after his felony DUI arrest. The judge replied that in a year and a half nothing was ever forwarded by McDonald to the court.
“Your actions are contrary to the words you are saying today,” Williamson stated.
In other cases, Starlette Carol Douglas will face charges of possession of meth and motor vehicle theft. Her trial date is set for January 29, 2020. Jon David Dobson was sent to Drug Court and ordered to pay $1,417.50 in courts costs as part of a plea deal.