Drugs and drunk driving charges highlight the latest list ofgrand jury indictments currently being moved through Lincoln CountyCircuit Court.

Defendants in the new cases were arraigned last week beforeJudge Mike Smith. Most waived the formal reading of the charges andwill proceed to July 26 omnibus hearings.

The omnibus hearing date is the deadline for a defendant toplead guilty and have prosecutors make a sentencing recommendation.Otherwise, a trial date will be set or a defendant may plead guiltywith no sentencing recommendation.

Circuit Clerk Terry Case Watkins said last week’s proceedingswent smoothly, due in part to a short grand jury session thatproduced only 40 indictments.

“We didn’t have a lot of indictments because we only had twodays of the grand jury,” Watkins said.

Watkins said trial scheduling limited the length of the grandjury session. Grand jurors are scheduled to return later this monthto hear a few more days of testimony, she said.

An indictment is not a statement on the guilt or innocence ofthe accused. It represents a belief by the grand jury that there isprobable cause to proceed to trial in a particular case.

Those facing charges include:

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

* Michael W. Mitchell, 33, of 474 West Lincoln Dr. – DUI thirdoffense.

* Larry L. Rials, 45, of 2418 Highway 583 – DUI fourthoffense.

* Harry E. Bates, 43, of Bogue Chitto – DUI fourth offense.

* C.L. Sanders Jr., 31, of 112 Amite Road – DUI thirdoffense.

* Dempsey Eugene Clark, 30, of 925 Williams St. – DUI thirdoffense.

* Steven R. Wages, 44, of 1021 Fifth St., Wesson – DUI thirdoffense.

* William E. “Bill” Cannon, 44, of 434 Greenwood Lane – Fiveseparate indictments: two for conspiracy to distributemethamphetamine; unlawful possession of methamphetamine; unlawfulpossession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; andunlawful delivery of methamphetamine with intent to distribute andunlawful possession of methamphetamine.

* Kelly Melton, 28, of 1298 George Trail – Two separateindictments: conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; two countsof unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession ofalprozolam and unlawful possession of marijuana.

* Romney F. Comner, 31 of Houston, Texas – unlawful possessionof marijuana with intent to distribute and unlawful possession ofcocaine with intent to distribute.

* Orlantha Randora Washington, 27, of 809 Avenue E, McComb -unlawful sale of cocaine and unlawful possession of cocaine withintent to distribute.

* Betty Diane Franz, 31, of 2553 Jackson-Liberty Road – unlawfulpossession of oxycodone.

* Michael R. Newell, 45, of 1013 Enterprise Road, Bogue Chitto -unlawful possession of oxycodone.

* John E. Brothern, 22, of 141 Cedar St. – DUI thirdoffense.

* Clarence Cowley, Jr., 48, of Fort Worth, Texas – possession ofstolen property.

* Brandy Harris, 19, of 537 St. Charles Place – unlawfulpossession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

* Timothy Dupuis, 48, of Bogue Chitto – two separateindictments: sexual battery; and touching, handling or feeling achild for lustful purposes.

* Mario Smith, 19, of 2136 Oil Field Lane – robbery.

* Aza Banks, 19, of 317 East Congress St. – robbery.

*Bradley D. Jackson, 20, of Meadville – two counts of burglaryof an automobile.

* Cedric Dixon, 22, of 311 Truvillion St. – credit card fraudand conspiracy.

* Thomas Hardy Little, 45, of 205 Natchez Ave. – conspiracy tocommit first degree arson.

* Mark Thomas, 33, of 344 Catalpa Lane, Bogue Chitto – thirddegree arson.

Some indicted defendants are in the process of being served.Indictments are not public record until the accused is served withcourt papers.

One defendant pleaded guilty last week to two counts of utteringforgery.

Gary Lee Knapp, Jr., 29, of McCall Creek, was sentenced to sevenyears and given the opportunity to earn probation throughsuccessful completion of the Regimented Inmate Discipline (RID)program. Knapp was also to serve a term at the restitution center,obtain his GED and alcohol and drug treatment, pay a $1,500 fineand $500 to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.