Cheton County criminal docket: multiple pleas, sentences and trial dates set

The Cheton County circuit court ran a lengthy criminal docket this morning, taking arraignments, setting trial and status dates and accepting multiple pleas in cases ranging from drug offenses to alleged homicides.

Alejandro Hermesio pleaded guilty under a negotiated criminal information to multiple counts including attempt to possess a schedule I drug for resale and unlawful drug paraphernalia. The court imposed a combination of suspended sentences, a $2,000 fine, forfeiture of a firearm and concurrent probation terms as set out in the plea agreement.

In a case stemming from an overdose death investigation, Jerry Wayne Moore entered a no-contest plea to an amended charge of attempted second-degree murder. The judge accepted the plea and sentenced Moore to eight years with split confinement and credit for time served; the sentence carries an 85% release eligibility. The victim's father delivered a victim-impact statement in court.

Melissa Jean Clark pleaded no contest to especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor (count three) and solicitation of a minor (count four). The court sentenced her to 10 years and 6 years, respectively, to be served concurrent with credit for pretrial custody as reflected in the plea agreement.

Dallas Paul Hatfield entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of attempted child endangerment and received a two-year TDOC sentence suspended to supervised probation with requirements including parenting and anger-management classes; the court authorized removal of an ankle monitor as part of the disposition.

Several other defendants entered pleas or agreed to sentencing terms today. Mario Trinidad Casio pleaded no contest to aggravated assault and resisting arrest and received a suspended six-year term (with a six-month county-jail component credited to time served) and a restitution order; Shelley Jean Nolls pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received a four-year suspended sentence with supervised probation.

The court also set numerous status and trial dates, commonly using March 31, April 14 and July 14 as future check points for negotiations or final plea days. Judges repeatedly reminded defendants to stay in contact with counsel and noted that failure to resolve matters by the court's final plea day would result in trial settings.

The docket closed after the court addressed a string of at-large warrants and conditional bond forfeitures and recessed for lunch; several matters, including hearings on bond, forfeiture, and appointed counsel, were continued to set dates.

The court record shows these outcomes were the result of negotiated pleas announced on the record. Where plea terms specified suspended sentences, probation conditions, fines, or forfeiture of property, the court recorded the agreed factual recitations and imposed the sentences the parties negotiated.