By Monica Land
News Briefs From Across The State
A fourth accomplice to stand trial next month
A Gulfport man has been sentenced for his role in the death of Courtney Beavers nearly two years ago.
Prosecutors say Alfred Darnell Newsom was sentenced to life in prison Friday in Harrison County after pleading guilty to murder.
Authorities said the home-invasion style crimes took place on July 2, 2010. Police said three people forced their way into Beavers’ home while the prosecutor stated Beavers was shot when no drugs or money were found in the home.
The final defendant in the case, Kewan Hosey, is set for trial on a capital murder charge May 14.
Nicholas George Lydie and James Goodman, are each serving 35-year prison terms on guilty pleas to murder and armed robbery. Prosecutors said Lydie was the lookout while Goodman said he was the getaway driver.
No court dates have yet been set.
Accident reports available on Internet
Reports on accidents investigated by the Mississippi Highway Patrol can now be purchased over the Internet.
Public Safety Commissioner Albert Santa Cruz said the system underwent several weeks of testing and went live April 2.
He said the records are accessible with the case identification number or using other criteria.
The records may be downloaded from www.reportbeam.com. Select the public access option and follow the prompts. The fees will be transmitted with a credit/debit card through a secure portal.
According to state law, accident reports can only be accessed by the crash victim, the victim’s family or the victim’s representative.
Violators can be fined up to $2,500 and/or six months in jail.
Man killed in Guntown motorcycle accident
A 59-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle accident near Guntown on March 28, WCBI reported. Lee County Coroner Carolyn Green said the victim was pronounced dead at the North Mississippi Medical Center about 7:30 p.m.
The single vehicle crash happened on County Road 341, near Highway 348. The name of the victim was not being released until all family members had been notified, authorities said.
Lee County deputies are investigating the accident.
Baby found unharmed after Georgia Amber Alert
Two people remained in the Marshall County jail after they were arrested on an Amber Alert from Georgia. Georgia authorities issued the alert after the eight-month-old baby went missing from his home in Dodge County, Ga., on March 22.
Authorities said the vehicle with the couple and the baby inside was pulled over the next day on U.S. Highway 78 near the Red Banks exit in north Mississippi. The baby was not harmed.
Authorities arrested the child’s 20-year-old mother, Taylor Nicole Maskill and her boyfriend, 47-year-old Johnny Douglas Johnson.
Sheriff’s spokesman Jimmy Warren said the baby was taken into custody by the Department of Human Services and later taken to Birmingham. Ala., where his grandparents picked him up.
Woodville Police Chief convicted of simple assault
The Woodville Police Chief has been convicted of a simple assault charge against him, Attorney General Jim Hood said.
Chief Jessie Stewart, 62, of Woodville, was convicted in a bench trial of simple assault before Justice Court Judge Roger Arnold. Stewart was ordered to pay a $500 fine and $127.50 in court costs for slapping a probation officer on the buttocks while she was at the police station.
The case against Stewart was investigated by Investigators Crystal Tillman, Larry Ware, Christopher Watkins, and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Stanley Alexander of the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Division after the Prosecutors and Judges of Wilkerson County recused themselves.
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