Guilty Pleas Accepted in Newberry’s General Sessions Court
NEWBERRY — In a recent session of the General Sessions Court, Circuit Court Judge Frank R. Addy Jr. accepted several guilty pleas from individuals facing various charges. This session addressed serious offenses, followed by respective sentences that ranged from jail time to probation. Here’s a summary of the cases that were heard.
Domestic Violence Cases
In cases of domestic violence, Tomeze Mondale Wise, age 39, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree domestic violence. He is required to serve 30 days initially, with the rest of his sentence suspended and probation for three years.
Another individual, Keith Levar Joiner Jr. (age 38), also faced charges of second-degree domestic violence. His sentence included a three-year prison term, which is mostly suspended after serving 76 days in jail, with supervision for two years following his release.
Controlled Substances and Possession Charges
Jessica Marie Kelsey, 41, pled guilty to her first offense for possession of a controlled substance and received a sentence of four days in jail, which she has already served.
Michael Seth Horton, age 33, was convicted for first-degree domestic violence and received a significantly heftier sentence of nine years in prison due to a probation violation. Horton is credited with 115 days served.
Additionally, several other offenders received sentences related to drug possession. John Austin Jackson, 33, was sentenced to nine days in jail for possession of methamphetamine, while Robert Antonio Marshall, 65, received 22 days in jail for possession of crack cocaine, both of which were marked as first offenses.
Traffic Violations and Other Offenses
A critical traffic violation case involved Mykari Rashad Means, 28, who was sentenced to three years in prison for failure to stop for a blue light. He serves 52 days before the remainder of his term is suspended with probation.
Reginald Wade Mayers, 30, received a sentence of 53 days in jail for breaking into a motor vehicle, with time served given the current jail time completed.
Assault and Harassment Cases
Rondarius Rasheed Davis, age 25, faced a conviction for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. His sentence was impressive, featuring 20 years in prison, but with part of it suspended. He is also credited with 686 days of jail time.
Michael Robert Benton, 38, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for second-degree harassment, with his time already served.
Fraud and Theft Charges
In cases dealing with fraud, Tiewanna Nesha Cromer, age 44, pled guilty for using a vehicle without permission and financial transaction card fraud, resulting in a sentence of 216 days in jail, with her time also served.
Myron Lee Gallman, age 49, was sentenced to a five-year prison term for transportation or possession of stolen nonferrous metals; he will initially serve two days with the rest of his sentence suspended.
Conclusion
These proceedings reflect serious concerns surrounding domestic violence, substance abuse, and other crimes within the Newberry community. With the judge’s decisions, many offenders will enter probationary periods post-jail time, marking a potential turning point in addressing their behaviors moving forward. The court continues to emphasize accountability as a component of their sentencing to promote rehabilitation.
