SUPERIOR COURT
A Jones County man entered a guilty plea to the charge of reckless conduct and received 60 days to serve in the Jones County jail after being charged for sharing what was suspected to be THC edibles with a 13-year-old.
Russell Vann Collins entered his plea Nov. 2 in Jones County Superior Court.
He received credit for time in custody from his Sept. 24 arrest.
District Attorney Wright Barksdale prosecuted the case. He told the court that Collins endangered the victim when he gave them candy laced with an unknown substance.
The plea was accepted by Superior Court Judge Alison Burleson.
A report of Collins’ arrest by Jones County Deputy Ayla Morris states she was dispatched to a residence on Morris Stephens Road in reference to an ambulance call. She said EMS arrived on the scene just prior to her arrival.
She said she made contact with Collins, who appeared under the influence of some substance. The officer said she asked him what happened, and he told her he got some “gummy candies” from a neighbor and ate two of them. He stated he also gave one to the 13-year-old.
Collins told the officer he did not suspect the candy contained an illicit substance. He told Morris that he had ingested marijuana before, but this was different. He said he did not feel well.
The officer said the victim’s mother handed her a clear baggie containing orange/yellow in color gummy candy and stated that was what Collins gave the juvenile. She questioned Collins further and he stated the candy received from the neighbor was repayment for a toolbox.
Morris made contact with EMS personnel, the mother and victim on the side porch of the residence. The victim’s pupils were dilated, and the mother said she had noticed strange behavior of the victim at dinner. The mother called for an ambulance after finding out the victim had eaten the gummies.
The deputy said EMS advised the victim could be left at home if monitored. She said Collins was evaluated by EMS and taken into custody.
Morris said the gummy candy was seized as evidence and she secured warrants against Collins for cruelty to children in the second degree and reckless conduct.
