Court Briefs: Grundy County man has no luck with Latin removal

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

photo Jerral Parris speaks about how he believes the Latin language should be omitted from legal dealings within the U.S.
Arkansas-Memphis Live Blog

Grundy County man has no luck with Latin removal

The U.S. Supreme Court denied a Grundy County, Tenn., man's efforts to remove Latin from the American legal system.

Local developer Jerral Parris had appealed a lawsuit from the Florida state court system in which he represented himself and said he was treated unfairly when court officials used confusing Latin terms.

Parris claimed his due process rights were violated and asked the high court to hear his case and modernize the court's language.

Justices reviewed his petition along with others last Friday. The official denial was released Monday.

Bond denied for 2010 Hixson murder defendant

One of two men facing a murder trial in the 2010 slaying of Chance LeCroy in Hixson was denied bond Tuesday.

Patrick Carmody, 45, had requested the bond reduction. Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman denied the request. Court documents show that the trial is set for May 13 but a hearing next week could change that date.

Carmody had asked last year that his trial be separated from his co-defendant, Billy Bob Partin, 41. That request was also denied.

Police say the pair shot and killed 21-year-old LeCroy during a botched robbery on Sept. 9, 2010.

Ronald Lee Pittman, 44, has been free on bond while awaiting trial in the same incident. He is charged with facilitation of especially aggravated robbery and facilitation of first-degree murder.

Man pleads guilty to lesser charge in dog attack

The owner of a bull mastiff/pit bull mixed-breed dog pleaded guilty Tuesday to lesser charges in connection with a dog attack, moments before jury selection was to begin in his trial.

Eric Von Robinson agreed to plead to misdemeanor charges rather than face trial on felony charges of reckless endangerment and dog running at large.

On Nov. 25, 2011, Robinson was walking his two female mixed-breed dogs while the larger male dog was in a commercial-grade pen, prosecutor Bates Bryan said.

A 4-year-old neighbor boy was outside the 7354 Old Cleveland Pike home. The dog escaped its pen and attacked the boy. The boy's mother tried to pull the dog off and was bitten. The boy's father, Chris Binshaw, rushed outside, pulling out a knife and stabbing the dog 14 times before it relinquished the boy.

The boy since has recovered, Bryan said.

If convicted at trial, Robinson would have faced one to two years on the charges. He now faces less than one year and likely will receive diversion or probation at his June 9 sentencing date.

Compiled by staff writer Todd South. Contact him at tsouth@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347. Follow him on Twitter @tsouthCTFP.