Ross hears 39-person docket

A 39-person docket was heard Tuesday by Judge Larry Ross in General Sessions Court, including a man who the judge said was getting a sweetheart deal in light of his lengthy criminal record. ‘You don’t seem to qualify for anything but looking out from between bars,’ Ross said to John Lillard Jr. in agreeing to a plea agreement which has him serving 48 hours of an 11-month, 29-day sentence for domestic assault and driving on a suspended license. ‘You must like jail.’ Lillard entered his plea for assaulting a female friend, a plea Ross questioned, calling it a ‘sweetheart deal,’ but noting the facts in the case must have been weak against Lillard to prompt prosecutors to offer the deal. However, Ross said he is confident Lillard will not keep out of trouble for a whole year. ‘If your record is any indication, you’ll be back up here before long,’ Ross said. ‘And, I assure you, that if you get caught so much as running a stop sign, you’ll go to jail for a year. That’s how bad your record is.’ In other court action Tuesday: ‘ Kenny Smith was bound to the grand jury on the charge of domestic assault. ‘ Randall Trice was given an 11-29 sentence and released on time served for domestic assault. ‘ Eric McDaniel was given an 11-29 probationary sentence and must pay $50 plus costs for assault. ‘ Blake Campbell Raper was bound to the grand jury on three counts of burglary, three counts of theft, and single counts of vandalism and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. ‘ David Watkins was directed to serve five days of an 11-29 sentence, pay $250 plus costs and perform 16 hours public service work for simple possession of drugs. ‘ Regina B. Benton was ordered to serve 60 days of an 11-29 sentence and make restitution to E-Z Pawn for theft. ‘ Tiffany Reed was directed to serve 10 days of a six-month sentence for harassment by phone. ‘ Jason Johnson was fined $50 plus costs and must perform 16 hours public service work for consumption of alcohol under the age of 21. ‘ Christopher Baril was bound to the grand jury on the charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. ‘ Louis Raper was fined $60 plus costs and must perform 16 hours public service work for public intoxication and violation of the open container law. ‘ Jarvis Trapp was instructed to serve 48 hours and pay $50 plus costs for public intoxication and failure to appear in court. ‘ Carrie Rangel was fined $50 plus costs for contempt of court. ‘ Jesse Judkins must serve the balance of his sentence for violation of probation.