Grand Jury returns 52 True Bills of Indictment

Published 7:44 pm Friday, May 15, 2015

The May 2015 term Decatur County Grand Jury returned 52 True Bills of Indictment this week, including three cases of child molestation, arson and insurance fraud.

Tony Lamar Byrd was charged with two counts of child molestation and one count of enticing a child for indecent purposes. On or about Jan. 2-3, Byrd is accused of committing immoral acts with a child under 16.

James Earl Jenkins was indicted for child molestation. Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 10, Jenkins committed indecent acts in the presence of a child under 16.

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Benny Lee Myrick III was the third individual charged with child molestation. On or about Jan. 24, Myrick performed indecent acts with a child under 16 with the intent to arouse himself.

James Leroy Ward, Jr. and Anthony B. Hall were individually and collectively charged with insurance fraud. The two made a false and fraudulent claim on damage done to a Heartland Camper. The duo said the damaged was accidental during the insurance claim, saying a tree limb accidentally fell on the vehicle and further damaged was caused from rain.

The false claim resulted in a payment of $55,323.70 from Auto Owners Insurance Company.

Also receiving and indictment was Brandi Renee Gaddis, a woman accused of setting a house on Planter Street on fire. While Bainbridge Public Safety was fighting the fire, Captain Shannon Dunaway was injured by falling debris.