Of the 50 defendants called to appear for arraignment before Circuit Judge Isadore Patrick on Friday after indictments this week by a Warren County grand jury, just two showed up prepared.
Exactly half of the defendants called to appear before Patrick Friday had not hired an attorney or previously sought a court appointed attorney.
Some said they had not tried to hire a private attorney.
“How long ago did you get arrested?” Patrick asked those who told him they had never attempted to hire an attorney. “These are serious charges. You didn’t think you would need an attorney?
An additional five defendants showed up, but their attorneys did not.
Arraignments for those 30 defendants are set for Nov. 7.
“I need you to be back here next Friday at 9 o’clock,” Patrick repeated in some form to all 30.
Arrest warrants were issued for 12 defendants who were indicted this week by the grand jury but did not show up for court. Some of those warrants included secret indictments for which the defendant had never been arrested.
The rest of the 50 defendants whose names were called Friday are locked up in the Warren County Jail or at other jail facilities across the state.
Patrick set trial March trials for the defendants who showed up with their lawyers.
Terence Durell Judge, 48, 90 Winston Road, will stand trial March 23 for grand larceny. Judge, who is represented by Eugene Perrier, is accused of stealing a French horn that belongs to the Vicksburg Warren School District.
Patrick also set a March 23 trial date for Landrecase Gabriel Nicole Tarvin, 20, 24135 Mississippi 51, Crystal Springs, who is accused of receiving stolen property.
Tarvin, who is represented by Al Rhodes, is accused of receiving a stolen 2014 Chrysler 20 on July 6.