The court appointed attorney for a man charged with first degree murder in the beating death of another man last summer on Center Hill Lake wants out of the case.
Attorney Hilton Conger, recently appointed by the court to represent 38 year old James P. Vernon, has filed a motion asking that he be allowed to withdraw from the case due to a conflict.
The court may have a hearing on Conger’s motion next month.
Vernon is charged in the death of 24 year old David Joseph Clark who was severely beaten during an attack on a houseboat at Center Hill Lake July 7th, 2009. He later died from his injuries at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Meanwhile, several other cases were resolved Wednesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court under negotiated settlements.
Judge David Patterson presided.
22 year old Troy Cunningham pleaded guilty to several charges including burglary of an auto, burglary other than habitation, vandalism over $1,000, vandalism over $500, vandalism under $500, theft over $1,000, theft over $500, theft under $500, and sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance. Cunningham received a total sentence of six years split confinement with one year to serve and the rest on probation. He is to undergo an alcohol and drug assessment, make restitution to the victims, and pay a $750 fine. Cunningham was given jail credit of 300 days.
21 year old Priscilla Leann Roberts pleaded guilty to an amended charge of simple possession and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation. She was fined $750.
20 year old Thomas Bagnell pleaded guilty to auto burglary and vandalism under $500. He received a two year sentence on the auto burglary, all suspended to supervised probation except time served. Bagnell received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in the vandalism case, suspended to supervised probation except time served. The sentences are to run concurrently. Bagnell is to pay $500 restitution to the DeKalb County jail and $100 to the economic crime fund. He was given jail credit of 188 days.
32 year old Aron Ponder was granted judicial diversion on a charge of driving on a suspended license. Facing a six month sentence, Ponder will be on unsupervised probation for one year.
46 year old Denise Jauregui pleaded guilty to theft over $1,000 and received a three year sentence, all suspended to probation. The sentence is to run consecutive to a criminal court violation of probation or any other violation of probation against her. She must make restitution of $1,172. She was given two days of jail credit
36 year old Jorge Luis Ramirez pleaded guilty to driving without a license and received a sentence of 48 hours with six months probation.
23 year old Brian Bly pleaded guilty to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation. He must forfeit a shotgun and attend anger management classes.
40 year old Jeffery Taylor pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to supervised probation except for 48 hours to serve. He will lose his license for one year and he must pay a fine of $365, attend an alcohol safety education program, and undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
61 year old James B. Metcalf pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended except for 48 hours to serve. He must pay a fine of $360 and complete and alcohol safety education program.
28 year old Jose Gerarvo Carillo pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to CPS probation except for 48 hours to serve. His license will also be revoked for one year. He must pay a fine of $360. Carillo was given four days of jail credit.
33 year old Marco Perez pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving on a revoked license. He received a six month sentence, all suspended to supervised probation except for two days to serve. He will lose his license for a period of time and he must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
23 year old Nathan Farris pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended except for 48 hours to serve. He will lose his license for one year and he must attend an alcohol safety program. Farris must also pay a fine of $365.
24 year old Christopher Brian Deal pleaded guilty by information to charges of reckless driving and speeding. He will be on good behavior probation for 11 months and 29 days after serving 10 days. Deal was fined $350.
19 year old Michaela Bilbrey charged with two counts of theft under $500 was granted pre-trial diversion under a memorandum of understanding for a period of 11 months and 29 days. She must pay restitution of $80 and perform 40 hours of community service.
22 year old Billy Douglas Ferrell pleaded guilty to driving without a license and having a prohibited weapon. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to supervised probation.
22 year old James Edward Gilles pleaded guilty to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to probation. He must also attend anger management classes. The sentence is to run concurrent with a violation of probation he is now serving.
26 year old Joseph Merriman pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended except for 48 hours to serve. He will then be on supervised probation. Merriman must pay a $360 fine and he will lose his license for one year. He must also undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and follow any prescribed treatments.
34 year old Billy Paul Mooneyham pleaded guilty to burglary and received a sentence of two years and one day, all suspended to supervised probation except for time served. The sentence is to run concurrently with a violation of probation he is now serving.
20 year old Cody Murphy pleaded guilty to retaliation for past action. He will be on probation for one year and he must complete anger management.
30 year old Crystal L. Thompson pleaded guilty to simple possession of a schedule II controlled substance and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to probation except for eight days to serve. She was fined $750.
19 year old Christopher J. Garrett, charged with theft of property over $1,000, was granted pre-trial diversion under a memorandum of understanding for a period of two years. He must perform 100 hours of community service work as part of his probation.
38 year old Tina Beth Young pleaded guilty to a first offense of driving under the influence. She received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve 48 hours and then be on probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with a probation violation in another case. She was fined $360 and her drivers license has been revoked for one year.
Meanwhile the case against 36 year old Tonya Page, a former circuit court clerk bookkeeper, indicted for theft of property over $1,000, is set for trial April 13th. Motions in the case are scheduled to be heard April 5th.
Nick Robinson, recently convicted after a jury trial on a charge of theft of property over $1,000, was sentenced after a hearing on Wednesday. Robinson received a three year sentence, to serve 60 days, and then be on probation. He must make restitution of $7,000 to the victim.
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