A man who drove a school bus for West Lincoln Attendance Center was recently indicted on a charge of touching a child for lustful purposes.

Charles R. Davis was indicted Nov. 20 for the offense of touching, handling, etc. a child for lustful purposes. The indictment states that “on Sept. 19 in Lincoln County, Davis, a person over 18 years, did handle, touch or rub with his hands a female child under the age of 16 years for the purpose of gratifying his lust or indulging his depraved licentious sexual desires…”

Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing said the victim’s parents reported an alleged incident between Davis and the child on Sept. 18. Per a recommendation from the District Attorney’s Office charges were filed and a warrant was issued for Davis, 68, of 660 Alderman Lane SW, who was arrested and released on Sept. 25. Davis drove a route for West Lincoln Attendance Center.

An indictment is a formal charge or accusation of a crime, as opposed to an informal charge at the time of an arrest. A grand jury decides that there is or is not enough evidence to proceed with the charges brought upon the defendant, not whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

The grand jury returns a “true bill” for cases about which the grand jury agrees that the evidence is sufficient to proceed to trial. When the evidence is not sufficient to establish commission of a crime, a “no bill” is returned. Even if a jury does not indict, the prosecutor can return to the same grand jury and present additional evidence, get a new grand jury or even file criminal charges regardless.

About a dozen indictments handed down by the grand jury in the November and December sessions of Lincoln County Circuit Court have recently been served. The indictments are not made public until the accused have been served.

• Robert E. Smith aka Bobby Smith, 68, of 3755 Nola Road NE, was indicted Nov. 20 for the offenses of sexual battery (two counts). His indictment alleges he engaged in sexual penetration with a female child under the age of 14 on June 28, 2013, and May 28, 2015.

• Randy Horton aka Randy Allan Horton, 58, was indicted Nov. 20 for the offense of welfare fraud (three counts).

• Christopher Laderrian Coleman, 24, of 401 Industrial Park Lot 20, was indicted Nov. 20 on two counts of burglary of an automobile and resisting arrest.

• James C. Cannon, 30, of 833 Benton Trail, Bogue Chitto, was indicted Nov. 20 for grand larceny.

• Brittney Cordon, of 7322 Palmetto Lane, was indicted Nov. 20 for the offense of driving under the influence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

• Amber Ard, 38, of 1042 Highway 51 SE, Brookhaven was indicted Nov. 20 for the offenses of burglary and conspiracy.

• Corey Andrew Smith, 21, of 2131 Big Ern Trail was indicted Nov. 20 for the offense of unlawful possession of less than one-tenth gram of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of more than one-tenth but less than two grams of methamphetamine.

• Sedrict C. Maxwell, 33, of 801 Ole Brook Road was indicted Nov. 20 for the offense of unlawful possession of more than one-tenth but less than two grams of methamphetamine and more than one-tenth grams but less than two grams of cocaine.