The number of defendants remaining in a 2009 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act stands at 12 out of 39 as of last week.

The sentences of the defendants vary in relation to their involvement in the drug trafficking case and range from 20 years with 10 to serve for the leaders and major distributors to five years probation for lesser offenders.

The case was indicted by a grand jury Feb. 1, and a majority of the defendants were arraigned March 16.

Eric Joseph Batchelor pled guilty May 20 to the charges under the RICO Act and received 10 years. The following Monday, May 24, was a Plea Day in Jones County Superior Court, and nine more defendants pled.

Cassie Sherie Pickett, Krystal Dawn Evans, Megan Victoria Pierce, William Lewis Dekle, Rhonda Leah Patton, and Glenn Owen Martin all pled guilty and received five year probation sentences for their charges.

Ronnie Royce Knight received seven years probation, and the other two pleading guilty that day received time to serve in addition to probation.

For more, read the e-Edition at http://ee.jcnews.com or subscribe to the newspaper at http://subscribe.jcnews.com

---