By By Marianne Todd/The Meridian Star
Dec. 2, 2000
The Lauderdale County grand jury concluded its November session Friday after reviewing 328 cases and issuing 424 indictments.
Grand jury members chose not to indict in 19 cases.
Jury members also toured the Lauderdale County Detention Facility, the Lauderdale County Criminal Investigations Division, the Mississippi Crime Lab, the Lauderdale County Juvenile Center and the Lauderdale County Courthouse.
Included in the cases presented were one murder case, nine sex offense cases, 120 bad check cases and a number of burglaries, kidnappings, embezzlements, armed robberies, felons in possession of firearms, uttering and forgeries, false pretenses and grand larcenies.
A list of those indicted will be available after indictments have been served, probably around the first of the new year.
A Lauderdale County Detention Facility report issued Friday afternoon mimicked those of previous grand juries citing poor surveillance systems, a lack of video cameras, areas of poor visibility and peeling paint as major problems with the jail.
The grand jury issued a similar report on the Lauderdale County Juvenile Center, citing the need for immediate expansion and remodeling. The report also details exposed wiring, water damage and poor lighting as problems with the juvenile facility.
A courthouse report cited a lack of room in the offices of the tax collector, the circuit clerk, the district attorney and the worthless check unit.
Marianne Todd is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at mtodd@themeridianstar.com.