08:06 AM Court Cases With Jurors Kicks Off This Morning in Houston County

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Sep 23 2024 8:08 AM

HOUSTON COUNTY:    This morning kicks off a week of court cases in the Houston County Courthouse.

While the courthouse does not open until 8:00 AM people could be seen at the front door at 7:00AM awaiting the opening of the courthouse.

Houston County District Court Judge Benjamin Lewis kicks off at 8:30 AM with first appearances. This is people who have been arrested over the weekend and not made bond. There the judge will see themvia closed circuit TV from the jail to the second floor courtroom. Disstrict Court Judge Benjamin Lewis will advise those in custody of their rights, make sure their addresses are correct, advise them of the criminal charges, and if qualify appoint them an attorney. If the bond is unreasonable Judge Lewis will schedule a bond hering which is normally on Thursday.

From there Judge Lewis will enter into Misdemeanor trials. These arecases where the penalty is less than one year.

Jurors are present. Houston County Circuit Clerk of Court Carla Woodall meets with prospective jurors. Data is gathered and compiled to be distributed to the Judes, District Attorney and Defense Attorneys in preparation for striking jurrs.

The Circuit Judges of the 20th Judicial Circuit have criminal, civil and domestic cases. The Circuit Judges, Richardsoon, Binford, Steensland, Moulton and Derrick have between them 405 cases listed on the docket for today.

From Barbour County, Circuit Judge Burt Smithhart as a 1:00 Pm sentencing set for Mark Johnson. A trial before Special Appointed Circuit Court Judge Burt Smithhart who serves in Barbour and Bullock County, Johnson, a former law enforcement officer and prosecutor in the 20th Judiial circuit District Attorney Office under te D.A. Pat Jones tenure was indicted by the Alabama Attorney General Office. The conviction was during the week of August 22, 2024.

On conviction Johnson was taken into immediate custody. Johnson spent several days in jail on his conviction of Using Officer For Person Gain and Receiving Things of Value. Johnson was later released on existing bonds. The sentencing is scheduled today at 1PM.

Houston County District Judge Lori Ingram has juvenile cases scheduled. There is no public docket for juveniles as those cases are confidential.

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