A Hillsboro man who Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David H. McKenna described as a “frequent visitor” was placed on electronic monitoring house arrest after appearing in the court on his third charge of driving on a suspension this year.
Billy Stone, 46, pled not guilty to the charge. The judge said Stone convicted of the same charge in August and in May.
McKenna then listed numerous suspensions on Stone’s driving record, including ones for child support, driving without insurance, and getting 12 points on his record. The judge also said that Stone has a 25-day jail sentence that was suspended last year on a conviction for fictitious license plates.
When asked, Stone said he had not completed previously ordered community service. He added that he is scheduled to work during the Highland County Fair.
A pretrial for Stone’s case is set for next month. He must observe a curfew and report to the probation department. He will be held in custody until his house arrest is arranged.
In other cases, Roger Smith, 34, Hillsboro, appeared in court after being dismissed from the Salvation Army program.
McKenna said that Smith was found guilty of a probation violation in March and a 63-day jail sentence was imposed. In 2011, he was convicted of first-degree misdemeanor purchasing an illegal amount of pseudoephedrine, according to records. Smith was later furloughed in April to complete the Salvation Army program, the judge added.
On Thursday, Smith said he was no longer in the program because he would not admit to allegedly “fraternizing with the girls up there.” He told the court that did not occur.
“If I’d admitted to it, I’d still be there,” he added.
Smith also said that he has been clean for six months and that he is a “better person” than he was when he was last in court.
The judge said he would not order the remaining 25 days on Smith’s sentence because he “self-reported” his dismissal and because he “came straight” to the court.
A review is set for October. Smith is on reporting probation.
“Make sure you stay clean and get everything taken care of,” McKenna told him.
Smith then asked to shake the judge’s hand, saying that he wanted to thank him.
As they shook hands, McKenna said Smith should instead, “thank the man in the mirror.”
Also on Friday, William Ewing, 67, Lynchburg, pled no contest and was found guilty of failure to control a dog, a minor misdemeanor.
The judge said a prior charge was dismissed earlier this year after a relative said she was the one responsible for the dogs. McKenna added that Ewing had also been facing “some health problems.”
The most recent case involved a black lab/pit mix, as described by the reported facts read by the judge on Thursday.
The facts added that the dog bit a girl, which resulted in a bruise, but no bleeding. The dog warden also reportedly described the dog as aggressive.
Ewing told the court, “I think that was greatly exaggerated, to be honest.”
He added that he has shock collars for both that dog and a brown lab/pit mix. Ewing said he is looking into finding a place in the country for the dogs.
“And what do you think the chances are of somebody wanting a dog with a history of biting children?” McKenna asked.
Ewing was fined $100. He must return for a review in November. At that time, Ewing must provide proof that the dog has been through obedience training, or that the dog is no longer in his household.
“I’m not going to wait until the dog chews off a kid’s leg,” the judge said.
A charge of attempting to purchase an illegal amount of pseudoephedrine was dismissed for Taylor Anderson, 19, Leesburg.
He previously pled guilty to the second-degree misdemeanor and sentencing was deferred to give him time to get an assessment and any recommended counseling.
As of Thursday, the court received proof that Anderson had been compliant and that no counseling was recommended.
Reach Sarah Allen at 937-393-3456, ext. 1680, or on Twitter @SarahAllenHTG.
