Man Convicted in New Hope Teen's Death
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY FRIDAY | APRIL 21, 2017 Man convicted in New Hope teen’s death break-in on May decide today. that he had shot Stallings. Jury decides today between life sentence, 20, 2011. The jury’s verdict followed Taylor was one of five men “I feel like jus- two days of witness testimony, arrested in connection with the death penalty in capital murder case tice was served,” including Taylor’s ex-girlfriend, Stallings shooting. Brandon District Attorney Lacee Cox — who testified Tay- Brown, Cameron Merriweath- BY ISABELLE ALTMAN Joshua Taylor, 29, of Reform, Scott Colom said lor told her he shot someone er, Johnny Brock, Jr., and Rich- [email protected] faces life in prison without pa- after the jury — and three men charged as role or the death penalty fol- handed in the accomplices who placed Taylor ard Lee were all arrested and A jury from Marshall Coun- lowing his capital murder con- verdict. Taylor at the scene the night of the charged with capital murder ty handed down a guilty verdict viction in the death of William Taylor’s lead defense attor- murder. along with Taylor days after Thursday evening to an Ala- Stallings of New Hope. The vic- ney, William Stennett, declined Prosecutors also showed a the shooting in 2011. A grand bama man accused of shooting tim was shot dead while sleep- to comment until after Taylor’s video of Taylor confessing to jury indicted Taylor and Merri- a Lowndes County teen in 2011. ing on a couch during a home sentencing, which the jury will Lowndes County investigators See TRIAL, 6A STRING MUSIC Clay Co. man indicted for child porn Suspect was also plaintiff in federal lawsuit against employer in 2013 DisPatCH StaFF REPOrt A Clay County man has been indict- ed for possession of child pornography. Officers with the West Point Police Department arrest- ed Robert Antho- ny Swindol, 40, on Swindol Wednesday. Swindol was indicted by a Clay County grand jury on April 6. Ac- cording to the indictment, on or about Sept. 29, 2016, Swindol pos- sessed images of a child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Swindol was released Thursday from Clay County Detention Center after posting $50,000 bond. In 2013, Swindol filed a lawsuit against his former employer, Au- rora Flight Sciences, after he was fired for leaving a firearm in his locked vehicle in the work park- Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff Elizabeth Golden, 7, and William Golden, 7, practice the violin at the Rosenzweig Arts Center in Columbus on Thursday. ing lot. Though U.S. District Court Elizabeth and William have been taking lessons with Suzuki Strings for three years. The twins’ parents are Wes and Adrienne sided with Aurora Flight Sciences, Golden. The Suzuki Strings are rehearsing for a May 2 concert at First Baptist Church, a fundraiser for the Advanced Ensem- Swindol appealed the case which ble’s trip to Carnegie Hall this summer. See INDICTMENT, 6A Chamber hosts Tuition hikes to hit hard at The W, MSU BY Slim SmitH education awards [email protected] New Hope senior, Heather Evans drove up from her home in Kemper County to Columbus Columbus teacher earn Thursday to spend the day with her InsiDE highest honors daughter, Hannah, a ■ OUR VIEW: freshman at Missis- Tuition increases BY AleX HOllOWAY further evidence [email protected] sippi University for of misplaced Women. priorities, Cheyanne Allred was shocked to What she might Page 4A hear her name called. have heard back at Allred, a senior at New Hope home, she heard first on campus: High School, was named the over- Thursday, the Institutions of Higher all outstanding senior and recip- Learning announced tuition increases ient of a $1,000 scholarship from at all eight of the state’s public univer- the Golden Triangle Development sities, including a 9.1 percent increase LINK at the Columbus-Lowndes at The W, the highest percentage in- Chamber of Commerce’s Education crease among the eight schools. Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff Awards Program. The program, “I hate to hear that, but I’m not sur- Hannah Evans and her, mom, Heather Evans said they were disappointed but not sur- See AWARDS, 6A See TUITION, 3A prised by the tuition increase. Hannah is a freshman at MUW from Kemper County. WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What is the name of the Russian MEETINGS Today April 28: Lown- parliament? ■ Clay County Relay for Life: This 2 Which 19th century American des County Board American Cancer Society fundraiser is 10 songwriter is chiefly remembered for of Supervisors, a.m.-10 p.m. at Sally Kate Winters Park in his minstrel songs, but made only one 9 a.m. Lowndes visit to the Deep South? West Point. For information, contact Aman- 3 Which long-standing Prussian da Webb, 760-429-8161 or visit main. County Courthouse May 1: Lowndes Jack Browning military decoration was discontinued acsevents.org. in 1918 but revived by Adolf Hitler in County Board of Second grade, Annunciation 1939? Supervisors, 9 4 What is the name given to a written Today through Sunday a.m., Lowndes or pictorial symbol which represents a ■ “High School Musical”: Heritage Acad- High 86 Low 63 County Courthouse complete word? emy presents “High School Musical” in the Mostly sunny May 2: Columbus 5 In the plant world, what is “bug on HA Student Activity Building, 625 Magnolia Full forecast on a stick”? Lane, April 21 at 7:30 p.m.; April 22 at City Council, 5 page 2A. Answers, 8B 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and April 23 at 6 p.m. p.m., Municipal Tickets at the door are $10 ($8 students). Complex INSIDE ■ Championship tennis: Magnolia May 15: Lowndes Classifieds7B Obituaries 4A Tennis Club in Columbus hosts the USTA County Board of Comics 5B Opinions 6A Southern Adult 65 & Over Mississippi Lynn Hanson, 12, likes to play Supervisors, 9 Crossword 8B Religion 6B Championships. For more information, call basketball and softball and at- a.m., Lowndes 138TH YEAR, NO. 36 Dear Abby 5B 662-328-8909. tends Overstreet Elementary. County Courthouse DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “I felt like as he kept going and kept going, he started to reach that barrier where he might not be able to come back tomorrow.” UC Berkeley flip-flops on Ann Mississippi State baseball coach Andy Cannizaro, talking about lifting reliever Riley Self in the top of the ninth inning. Story, 1B. Coulter, proposes May date Friday Protesters forced the cancellation of a speech by former Breitbart News A THOUSAND WORDS editor Milo Yiannopoulos in February THE ASSOCIATED PRESS former Breitbart News ed- itor Milo Yiannopoulos in BERKELEY, Calif. — February. University of California, Dirks told a news con- Berkeley officials saidference that police have Thursday they have a “very specific intelligence “grave concern” of vio- regarding threats that lence on campus if Ann could pose a grave dan- Coulter follows through ger to the speaker,” her on her vow to speak next audience and protesters week at the university. if the event goes ahead Chancellor Nicholas B. next Thursday. He urged Dirks instead proposed an Coulter to speak at the lat- alternate May 2 date for er date instead, when the the conservative author, university can provide an reversing a decision from “appropriate, protectable a day earlier when officials venue.” canceled the event. The Berkeley Col- Coulter took to Twitter lege Republicans invited to reject the offer, saying Coulter to speak on the she will appear next Thurs- subject of illegal immigra- day as originally planned. tion. “I’m speaking at Berke- On Wednesday, UC ley on April 27th, as I was Berkeley officials an- invited to do and have a nounced they were calling contract to do,” tweeted off the event because of Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff Coulter, who was invited security concerns. Three empty chairs sat in front of constituents during a town hall meeting at the Oktibbeha County Chancery to speak by campus Re- “We have been unable Courthouse in Starkville Thursday evening, in what was meant to be a discussion between citizens and their publicans. In a separate to find a safe and suitable U.S. congressional delegation. Indivisible Golden Triangle staged the town hall, inviting Sen. Thad Cochran, tweet she said she’s not venue,” officials wrote Rep. Gregg Harper and Sen. Roger Wicker. All three declined. The questions constituents would have asked the free May 2. in a letter to the campus men were written down and will be delivered to their respective offices. Coulter’s rejection po- Republicans on Wednes- tentially sets the stage for day. “Given current active another political brawl at security threats, it is not Berkeley, where violent possible to assure that the protesters forced the can- event could be held suc- cellation of a speech by cessfully.” Busy year for protests CONTACTING THE DISPATCH could cost Washington millions Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 ‘It’s the nation’s capital. It’s where people come March on Washington, which drew hundreds of thousands of people HOW DO I ... Email a letter to the editor? the day after Trump was sworn in, n [email protected] to voice their grievances with the government. Report a missing paper? making it one of the largest demon- n 662-328-2424 ext. 100 Report a sports score? 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