WEST POINT — A 16-year-old boy who was recently convicted in Clay County Circuit Court of sexually assault a then-8-year-old West Point girl has “borderline intellectual function,” according to a court-ordered psychoanalysis.
Sixteenth Circuit Court Judge Jim Kitchens sentenced Zaccheaus Malick Vassar, of 1000 112th St. in Amory, to five years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections with five years of post-release supervision after he was found competent to stand trial.
Vassar, who just turned 16 this month, was also ordered to seek long-term alcohol and drug treatment and register as a sex offender.
On April 10, 2010, when the assault happened, Vassar was 14 and his victim was just 8.
That morning, her mother had dropped off her and her younger sister at their aunt”s house in West Point. There, they met Vassar — a troubled boy who had suffered an injury to the head when he was 10. Also there were her 6- and 2-year-old cousins.
Later that day, according to court records, Vassar choked her and took her to a nearby abandoned house, where he took off her clothes and assaulted her twice while threatening to kill her.
Other cases
During the Clay County Circuit Court July term, judges also handed down these sentences:
Judge Lee Coleman
n Tammy G. Stafford of 4198 Highway 45 N. in West Point pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine. Coleman suspended her eight-year sentence to the Mississippi Department of Corrections and ordered her to pay a $1,500 fine and undergo five years of post-release supervision.
n Janet Ewing of 312 W. Half Mile Road in West Point pleaded guilty to food-stamp fraud. Coleman suspended her three-year sentence to MDOC and gave her three months of probation. He also ordered her to pay $8,585 in restitution and a $500 fine, and forbid her from using food stamps for three years.
n Lamarcus Rupert of 302 Critz St. in West Point pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine less than 2 grams. Coleman sentenced him to four years in MDOC with four years of post-release supervision and fined him $2,000, to run consecutive with any other sentence he is currently serving.
n Ashley Ewing of 10701 Prairie Mills Road in Prairie pleaded guilty to prescription forgery. Coleman gave her a year in the pre-trail intervention program and ordered her to pay related fees of $1,320.
n Vakesha Rambus of 504 Center St. in West Point pleaded guilty to uttering forgery. Coleman gave her a year in the pre-trail intervention program and ordered her to pay related fees of $1,320.
n Kevin “K-man” Jefferson of 916 Hillside Park in West Point pleaded guilty to robbery. Coleman sentenced him to two years in MDOC with five years of post-release supervision, fined him $1,200 and ordered him to pay $33 in restitution.
n David Earl Cooperwood of 983 Redwine Circle in West Point pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine greater than 0.1 grams and was sentenced as a habitual offender. Coleman sentenced him to four years in MDOC without the possibility of probation or parole. He was also fined $1,200 and ordered to pay the District Attorney”s Bad Check Unit $1,048 in restitution.
n Yolanda Johnson of 1668 Kennedy Drive in West Point pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine. Coleman gave her a year in the pre-trail intervention program and ordered her to pay related fees of $1,320.
n Ethan Sherrill of 209 Oak St. in Houlka pleaded guilty to manufacturing meth and generation of waste. Coleman gave him concurrent sentences of 12 years in MDOC with five years of post-release supervision and fined him $5,000.
Judge Jim Kitchens
n Mary Beth Sullivan of 188 Hillcrest Road in West Point pleaded guilty to two counts of prescription forgery. She was placed in the pre-trial intervention program for a year and ordered to pay $1,320 in related fees.
n Christopher Pulliam of 216 Travis St. in West Point pleaded guilty to attempted burglary of a dwelling. Kitchens sentenced him to 10 years in the regimented inmate discipline program and fined him $500.
n Channing Clair of 305 County Road 123 in Houlka pleaded guilty to manufacturing meth. Kitchens sentenced him to eight years in MDOC with five years of post-release supervision, and fined him $5,000, to run consecutive to any other sentences he is currently serving.
n Lamont Darius Hurt of 4710 Lumary Drive in Huntsville pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine less than 2 grams. Kitchens sentenced him to two years in MDOC with five years of post-release supervision. He also ordered Hurt to pay $250 in restitution to the Clay County Sheriff”s Department and a $250 fine.
n Treca Coggins of 1600 Pine Acres in West Point, pleaded guilty to forgery. Kitchens suspended Coggins” 10 year sentence to MDOC and gave her five years of probation. He also ordered her to pay $1,913.45 in restitution and a $250 fine.
n Marvin Poole of 126 East St. in West Point pleaded guilty to simple assault on a law enforcement officer, Ray Darty of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Kitchens sentenced Poole to a year in MDOC with four years of post-release supervision, fined him $500 and ordered him to pay $2,109.05 in restitution.
n Kirby Ray of 2020 Lone Oak Circle in West Point pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling and was sentenced to five years in MDOC with five years of post-release supervision. Kitchens also ordered him to pay a $500 fine and $1,250 in restitution.
n David Hurst of 5314 George Road in Mantee pleaded guilty to burglary of a business, the Highway 50 East County Line Club. Kitchens sentenced him to six years in MDOC with a year of post-release supervision, and ordered him to pay a $500 fine and $460 in restitution.
n Resheda Edwards of 1545 Francis Cox Road in West Point pleaded guilty to forgery. Kitchens gave her a year in the pre-trial intervention program and ordered her to pay $1,320 in related fees.
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