Jones County’s Grand Jury met last week and brought back true bill indictments on all but one of the items considered.
Jury members considered 21 bills of indictment and true billed 20 of the charges presented at the Aug. 3 session. The cases were presented to the jurors by officers with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Gray Police Department and the Jones County District Attorney’s Office.
Six of the cases presented involved drugs, seven assault charges, five included firearm charges, two hit and runs, and one arson charge.
Gary Paul Plummer was indicted for multiple charges beginning with battery. His other charges are possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, terroristic threats and acts, obstruction of law enforcement officers, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Plummer was arrested on the charges May 27 by JCSO deputy Thomas Morgan. The deputy was dispatched to the call in reference to a domestic incident involving firearms. When the suspect decided not to comply with the officer’s instructions, a second officer assisted in controlling him.
A recording of Plummer by the victim resulted in the terroristic threats charge.
Don Edward Smith was indicted for charges of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery and another count of simple battery. He was arrested June 4 by JCSO Deputy Chris Shurley. The officer was sent to the residence on Virginia Avenue in reference to an assault between two men. The weapon used was a hammer and the victim was unresponsive when Shurley arrived.
Haja Terell Dowdell and Rodriquez S. Richardson were indicted for multiple charges including drugs and firearms. The charges resulted from a May 31 incident involving the two men and a female who was waiting for a tow truck following a deer accident.
The men’s vehicle was searched after both were in custody, with narcotics and two firearms located inside. The firearms were an AR-15 with a 60-round magazine and a Taurus 9mm handgun.
Michael Youngblood was indicted for charges of aggravated battery family violence, two counts of aggravated assault family violence, attempt to commit arson and criminal damage to property.
Youngblood was arrested May 26. The report of his arrest by JCSO Lt. Travis Walker states the initial check of the area following a Rapid SOS ping May 25 did not net any information. But a later 911 call resulted in contact with the victim who reported the offender had been terrorizing her throughout the night, and she had been hiding in the woods.
The lieutenant said the victim told him Youngblood slammed her head into the wall and attempted to set the bed on fire. He said he observed swelling and injuries to the victim’s forehead and underneath her eye.
Walker said he later learned the victim had been admitted to the ICU as a result of her injuries.
Youngblood was ultimately arrested by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Task Force.
Landon Kenneth Gunnels was indicted on charges of aggravated battery family violence and aggravated assault family violence. Gunnels was arrested June 25.
Morgan’s incident report states he was dispatched to a residence on Chapel Hill Circle in reference to a stabbing. He said the victim was located in a bedroom inside the home.
Before entering the home, Morgan said he was told by Gunnels the victim fell on the knife. The deputy said he observed what appeared to be five stab wounds on the victim, and he attempted to render aid.
When the victim was transported for treatment, a pair of scissors were found underneath him.
The deputy said he contacted investigations.
The indictments include two cases of child molestation, Ethan Christopher Gardner and Jake Ryan Mitts and one felony charge of sexual exploitation of children, Micah Barron Wheeler.
A complete list of the Aug. 3 indictments may be found in Open Records on page A8 in this week’s edition.
