The green-eyed leprechaun did it, or so claims a defendantaccused of aggravated assault during a February altercation.

Donald Blue Vance, 37, of 809 Dow St., put forth that defenselast week during arraignment hearings before Judge Mike Smith.

According to officials, Vance told the court the leprechaun washolding the lead pipe used during the incident, in which the victimallegedly was struck in the head and sustained a concussion.Vance’s accomplice, though, was not indicted.

“They didn’t indict the leprechaun because the defendant is theleprechaun’s master and is therefore responsible for its actions,”Smith said later.

The leprechaun was not present for the court hearing, but thejudge said Vance promised to bring him next time.

“I told him I wanted to talk with the leprechaun,” said Smith,who also indicated he may disregard courtroom camera prohibitionsto allow a picture of the little man.

Rebecca Taylor, a public defender appointed to represent Vance,planned to file a motion for a psychological evaluation. She saidit is quite probable Vance suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

“It’s very common with that disease that they hear voices orhave friends that they see,” Taylor said. “These voices or thesefriends tell them to do things, and they’re very persistent.”

During the hearing, Smith recalled a similar incident in which ared-eyed troll was involved in getting a Lincoln County man to leadauthorities on a two-hour, slow-speed chase throughout the city andcounty. Following his apprehension, the defendant in that caseeventually pleaded guilty to charges, was sent to Whitfield fortreatment and later transferred to Parchman.

“Trolls and leprechauns are only in Lincoln County,” said thejudge from Pike County. “You have to have an outstanding county fortrolls and leprechauns to want to live there, I guess.”

Vance was among 30 defendants facing arraignment last weekfollowing recent indictments. An indictment is not a statement onthe guilt or innocence of the accused, rather it represents abelief by the grand jury that there is probable cause to proceed totrial.

Defendants’ next court day is scheduled for Sept. 14. On thatday, defendants may accept a plea offer and sentencingrecommendation from the District’s Attorney’s office or they mayhave a trial date set.

Other defendants and their charges include:

* Gregory Webster, 40, of Woodville – Third offense DUI.

* Daniel Cannon, 35, of Millington, Tenn. – Touching, handlingor feeling a child for lustful purposes; contributing to thedelinquency of a minor.

* Nathan Schoonover, 22, of 2802 Loyd Star Lane – Unlawfultaking of a motor vehicle.

* Cornelius Bledsoe, 29, of 228 Gulledge St. – Third offenseDUI.

* Cammie J. Porter, 33, of North First Street – Third offenseDUI.

* Bruce Lyons, 31, of 2398 Morgan St., Bogue Chitto – Thirdoffense DUI.

* Timothy Ray Dunn, 43, of 646 Rollins Dr. – Unlawful possessionof cocaine.

* Albert C. Cole, 25, of Lottie Street – Two indictments: Onefor two counts of unlawful sale of cocaine and one count unlawfulpossession of cocaine and another indictment for unlawful use of amotor vehicle.

* Kessler Rockingham, 36, of 282 Springfield Road – Unlawfulpossession of cocaine.

* Bernard Bryant, 41, of 208 Adams St. – Unlawful possession ofcocaine.

* Joshua David Cole, 27, of 210 Lottie St. – Unlawful possessionof marijuana with intent to distribute.

* Tommie L. Campbell, 20, of 2094 Anderson Road, Wesson -Unlawful possession of cocaine.

* Christopher Gulotta, 33, of Kentwood, La. – Unlawfulpossession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of two ormore precursor chemical with intent to manufacturemethamphetamine.

* Kendrick Ball, 20, of 201 South Hamilton St. – Unlawfulpossession of cocaine.

* Eugene Matthews, 54, of Tylertown – Fourth offense DUI.

* Johnathan Wade Boswell, 18, of 1204 East Cherokee St. -Unlawful possession of at least four dosage units ofalprazolam.

* Keith D. Anding, 37, of 1549 Anding Circle -Failure to supportminor children.

* Tobias Dillon, 30, of 3709 Wosley Trail – Failure to supportminor children.

* James Weathersby, age unavailable, of 732 Brown Loop – Failureto support minor children.

* Eric Black, 27, of 2410 Fortune Road – Third offense DUI.

* Howard Kelly, 46, of 926 Ole Brook Road – Kidnapping, burglaryof a dwelling, attempted sexual battery and possession of a firearmby a convicted felon.

* Ladarius Powell, 17, of 1130 Ole Brook Road – Two indictments:One for attempted burglary and another for three counts of burglaryand conspiracy.

* Corey Burnett, 17, of Cloverdale – Three counts of conspiracyto commit burglary.

* Mark Pace, 32, of Monticello – Burglary of a dwelling andpossession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

* Lashandra Shoto Cooper, 20, of 309 Old Whitfield Road, Pearl -Two counts of uttering forgery and conspiracy.

* Antoine Brown, 26, of 833 Highway 475, Pearl – Two counts ofuttering forgery and conspiracy.

* Christopher Kelly, 23, address unavailable – Robbery.

* Tanzy Jordan, 29, of 635 Industrial Park Road – Welfarefraud.

* Elsie May Barton, 66, of 1305 Frances Ave., Magee – Two countsof fraudulent use of a Social Security number and two counts ofuttering forgery.