Violent crimes down for grand jury

Published 9:44 am Monday, January 26, 2015

Crime Photo

A downtown robbery is expected to be one of just a handful of violent crime cases presented this week to the Warren County grand jury, which convenes Monday.

The robbery case against Jerald Smith and Johnny Hicks is among about 100 cases that will be presented to the grand jury this week, District Attorney Ricky Smith said.

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Jerald Smith, who was 21 at the time of his arrest, and Hicks, who was 15, are accused of robbing a woman at gunpoint in the 1300 block of Washington Street in July, police have said.

The vast majority of other cases to be presented this week involve drugs or property crimes, Smith, the district attorney, said.

“This is the third grand jury that has been lower on the number of violent crimes that have been presented,” he said.

Vicksburg and Warren County combined for a single homicide in 2014, making it the lowest combined murder rate in at least 20 years, and other violent crime has also continued to decline.

In the past few grand juries, Smith said, the amount of cases presented have been particularly light.

“This one at least in numbers has gone back to the normal caseload,” he said.

The panel of 18 grand jurors will be chosen from a pool of about 250 registered voters and sworn in by presiding Judge Isadore Patrick. They will review criminal cases and issue indictments if there is enough evidence to go to trial. If indicted, defendants will be arraigned, or formally advised of the charges against them and given a trial date, beginning Friday in circuit court.

In addition to reviewing evidence in criminal cases, jurors will tour the Warren County Jail, Youth Court and Children’s Shelter and meet with Judge Johnny Price and other county officials. They will also prepare a report of recommendations for the Board of Supervisors.

A new Warren County Jail has been on the list of grand jury recommendations for at least 20 years.