Defendants Arraigned In Criminal Court

Defendants indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury this month appeared for arraignment Monday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
After entering not guilty pleas to their charges, defendants in most cases were ordered to return to court on October 27th or November 10th, by which time they must be prepared to settle their cases or have them set for trial.
Among those appearing were former county deputy David Sharp, indicted on two counts of rape and official misconduct, and one count of sexual battery and official oppression.
Sharp entered a not guilty plea and will be back in court October 27th.
Ceylon Eugene Taylor, Senior charged in a sealed indictment with aggravated rape of a child, was also arraigned. He is accused of sexually penetrating a four year old girl between November 2005 and March 2006.
Three others charged in sealed indictments, Marty Ray Jones, Troy Lynn Woodlee, and Richard Lee Fleisher, were arraigned on a charge of theft over $60,000. They are accused of obtaining or exercising control over property, including, but not limited to welding, wire, mufflers, and converters valued at over $60,000 belonging to Tenneco, with intent to deprive the owner.
Meanwhile, in another case, 46 year old Shirley Smith Zimmerman pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule III controlled substance. She was granted judicial diversion for a period of three years. Under terms of her probation, she must perform 100 hours of community service, pay a $2,000 fine and $45 restitution to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
Bond for 26 year old Tina Rose Bain, indicted in April on charges of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, felony murder, and theft over $1,000, was reduced from $2-million dollars to $1-million dollars following a hearing in criminal court.
A co-defendant ,33 year old Michael E. Johnson of Sparta, recently entered a guilty plea to first degree murder. Judge Leon Burns, Jr. gave him a life prison sentence under a negotiated settlement with state prosecutors.
Johnson and Bain were charged in the shooting death of 21 year old David Anthony Welch of Sparta and the wounding of 23 year old Heather Trapp of Smithville. Both Welch and Trapp were shot at Trapp’s home during the pre-dawn hours of January 6th on Webb Lane.
Trapp testified during the hearing Monday that Bain is the person who shot her.
Bain’s case is set for trial in December unless a settlement is reached before then.