From adultery arrests and a drunken, accidental sleepover to a sword-wielding robber, here are some of the high-profile local crimes that stood out in 2010:
n A rarely enforced state law reared its head in 2010 when Lashawn Williams, 33, of 294 Pilgrim Rest Road in Noxubee County and Roshanda Jackson, 30, of 183 Oliver Road, were arrested, July 1, when Williams” wife, Cortiga, pressed charges on her allegedly unfaithful husband and Jackson.
n Lashawn Williams and Jackson were charged with adultery and fornication, respectively; both crimes carry the same penalty, up to $500 and jail time up to six months. Both were released July 1 on $1,000 bond, according to the Noxubee County Jail. A Noxubee County Justice Court judge dismissed the charges.
n The Easter Bunny of Leigh Mall, portrayed by 22-year-old out-of-costume Tori Byrd, was arrested April 2 for disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, after she had an argument about her paycheck at the mall office.
n Two 15-year-old girls and a 16-year-old boy were charged July 19 with spray-painting vulgarities on the old Highway 82 bridge at the Riverwalk. They were arrested by Columbus police officers, who staked out the Riverwalk for three weeks dressed in full-body Ghille camouflage suits commonly used by military snipers. The Riverwalk spray painting also prompted the city to spend $18,000 on surveillance cameras for the walking trail.
n A senior prank went horribly wrong when half a dozen Caledonia teens found themselves being booked at the county jail, May 10, for their pre-graduation shenanigans. Caledonia High School 2010 graduates Kara Von Kanel, Sunnie Rushing, Amber Hankins, Stephanie Hopper and Kelsey Jones, along with 2009 Caledonia High graduate Patrick McIntyre, were arrested by the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office after zip-tying the high school lockers shut and spreading oil or soap on the floor of the commons area.
n O”Dell Stevenson Carter Jr., 43, of 114 Gaylane Drive, was charged with kicking in the doors of a woman”s house and bedroom in the 800 block of Alabama Street, then chasing her from the house with a sword, in October. Carter was apparently trying to steal the victim”s medication.
n David Arthur Gill, 72, of 7785 Gilmer Wilburn Road, was charged in August with the statutory rape of his 16-year-old granddaughter while her father was at work.
n Angela Marie Shoemake, 41, of 276 Wells Drive in Caledonia, was arrested Aug. 16 after her boyfriend found pornographic photographs of her 8- and 6-year-old boys on her computer. She pleaded guilty in federal court to taking and distributing the photographs.
n A masked man tried to rape an 85-year-old woman in the Northaven Woods neighborhood, off Highway 45 North just north of Wilkins-Wise Road, Aug. 19. She was able to escape and call 911 from a neighbor”s house.
n An intoxicated Robert Paul Cruthirds Jr. crashed his vehicle in the 2700 block of Highway 373 on Sept. 3 and wandered into a nearby house. The homeowners found him in the morning sleeping in a spare bedroom.
n Antonio Burgin, 25, and Quinton L. Erby, 20, were charged with shooting Hussein F. Alhajjaji while robbing his convenience store, A&A Deli Food Mart on North McCrary Road, Sept. 25. Alhajjaji returned fire with a handgun, injuring Burgin. Both men recovered from their injuries.
Anyone with information about unsolved cases should call Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151. Anonymous tips leading to an arrest could be worth up to $1,000.
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