Published: July 23, 2008 03:01 am      

Two indicted by grand jury for beating

PALESTINE — Two Palestine men accused of badly beating a 19-year-old local man this past spring have been indicted by an Anderson County grand jury.

On July 10, Anthony Lamont Clerkley, 19, and Tyrone McCray Price, 20, both of Palestine, were indicted on the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from an incident last March during which they allegedly beat 19-year-old John David Rodriguez Jr. of Palestine.

Around 9:30 a.m. on March 16, Rodriguez was discovered badly beaten in a ditch on CR 421 near the Palestine Municipal Airport by a passing motorist, authorities have said.

Rodriguez ultimately ended up in the intensive care unit of a Tyler hospital where he remained “for several days” with head injuries, according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor.

Rodriguez has told authorities that prior to being assaulted he had been confronted by a black male inside a Palestine nightclub, Taylor said. After walking outside the club with that individual, Rodriguez has said he was “jumped” by multiple persons.

Other indictments handed down by the grand jury earlier this month included:

Forgery of a Financial Instrument

Jeremy Allan Robbins, 26, Elkhart, date of alleged offense, May 15, 2008.

Dennica Raelynn Henley, 18, Palestine, date of alleged offense, May 15, 2008.

Baron Todd Spencer, 40, Grapeland, date of alleged offense, May 7, 2008.

Karen Sue Crowley, 37, Palestine, date of alleged offense, May 12, 2008.

Jason Alexander Gochnour, 24, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Oct. 25, 2007.

Burglary of a Habitation

Raymond Dudley Smith, 23, Palestine, date of alleged offense, June 2, 2008.

James Louis Beam, 51, Palestine, date of alleged offense, June 6, 2008.

Theft of Property

$1,500-to-$20,000

Jodee Shane Utley, 27, Palestine, date of alleged offense, May 28, 2008.

Jason Alexander Gochnour, 24, Palestine, date of alleged offense, May 28, 2008.

Theft Less Than $1,500

Nancy Jamesetta Walton, 48, Palestine, date of alleged offense, June 13, 2008 (two or more convictions).

Sexual Assault of a Child

Charlie Lingo, 24, Elkhart, date of alleged offense, May 2, 2008.

Theft By Check - Aggregation of Amounts $1,500-to-$20,000

Freeman Smith, 58, Palestine, date of alleged offense, July 21 , 2003.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com