News Briefs From Across The State
By Monica Land
Prosecutors said Weaver had oral sex with 8 and 9-year-old
A former Boy Scouts of America volunteer has been sentenced to serve 25 years in prison on two counts of having sex with boys.
Donnie Weaver of Okolona pleaded guilty on Nov. 7 in Lee County Circuit Court to two counts of sexual battery.
Authorities say the incidents occurred during camping trip during the summer of 2010.
Circuit Judge Thomas Gardner III sentenced the 49-year-old Weaver to two terms of 40 years in custody with 15 years suspended. The sentences will be served at the same time.
Prosecutors say Weaver, a former truck driver, had oral sex with the boys, ages 8 and 9.
Biloxi repeat felon pleads guilty in cocaine case
A 31-year-old Biloxi man faces a maximum of 30 years in prison as a habitual offender who has pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine.
The Sun Herald reports Marcus Andraius Michael pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
He entered his plea in Harrison County Circuit Court before Judge Lisa Dodson, who set sentencing for Dec. 10.
Michael has two prior felony convictions from 2003 for the sale of cocaine, and is being prosecuted under the state's habitual offender laws.
The latest conviction came from his arrest April 7, 2011, when narcotics officers with the Biloxi Department said they found Michael with 58 grams of cocaine.
Southern Miss suspends 2 players for 1 game
Southern Miss running Desmond Johnson and quarterback Arsenio Favor have been suspended for the team's game against SMU on Saturday for “violations of team rules.''
The school made the announcement on the morning of Nov. 7 and said first-year coach Ellis Johnson would have no comment.
Johnson leads the Golden Eagles with 460 rushing yards this season. He's averaging 5.6 yards per carry and has two touchdowns. Favor is one of five quarterbacks that Southern Miss has had to use after a rash of injuries and inconsistent play. He's 14 of 27 passing for 193 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Southern Miss is in the midst of a disastrous 0-9 season, one year after finishing with a school-record 12 victories.
Tishomingo County tourism tax defeated
Voters in Tishomingo County defeated a proposed 1 percent additional tourism tax.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that complete but unofficial returns on election day showed 4,158 people voted against the measure to 3,268 in favor.
Supporters proposed the tourism tax as an economic and job development engine for the county. It would have imposed an additional 1 percent tax on restaurants with 25 seats or more.
The county currently has a 2 percent tourism tax that applies to hotel and motel rooms, and supports efforts of the Tishomingo County Tourism Council in marketing and promoting the recreation areas and other attractions available to visitors in the county.
