Seventy-four indictments have been returned by the LincolnCounty Grand Jury, but court officials said fewer of those involveviolent crimes.

“All crime is serious, but especially violent crime,” saidAssistant District Attorney Jerry Rushing while discussing lastweek’s June term. “I was happy to see not as many of those.”

In a departure from some more recent grand jury terms, Rushingsaid he was glad to see there were no murders or death cases duringthe term.

“I thought that was good,” Rushing said.

Also popping up less frequently on the grand jury radar screenwere third offense DUI cases. However, Rushing said they remain aproblem.

“I’m still concerned about that,” Rushing said. “Even oneDUI-third is too many.”

There were quite a few drug cases, which covered two days of thethree-day term, court officials said. Assistant District AttorneyDiane Jones said the cases were mostly for sale or possession ofcocaine or marijuana.

“The grand jury has done its job,” Jones said. “Now its in ourhands.”

Rushing said the grand jury did a great job in handling thecases and returning 74 indictments. The sheriff’s department is inthe process of serving the indictments, which are not made publicuntil the accused receives a copy of the court papers.

Circuit Clerk Terry Lynn Case said court arraignments arescheduled for July 7 before Judge Mike Smith and omnibus hearing,motions and plea day is set for Aug. 4. Trials in cases where thedefendant does not plead guilty should be held in September,Rushing said.

Rushing complimented judges and other court officers for theirefforts in keeping the docket clear. He said there very few casesthat have to be carried over from one court term to the next.

In other grand jury action, four cases were returned to a lowercourt for further disposition and 15 were continued for moreinvestigation.

Sixteen cases were brought up, but no indictments were issued.Rushing cited insufficient evidence in those cases.

During Smith’s recent court term, three defendants weresentenced after pleading guilty to their offenses.

* Randy McCall, 23, of 616 Brister Trail – unlawful possessionof 1.3 grams of cocaine. He was ordered to serve the first fouryears of a six-year sentence, with the last two suspended for fiveyears probation. He was also ordered to obtain alcohol and drugtreatment and his GED in prison, to pay a $5,000 fine and $240restitution.

* Tony A. Stewart, 39, of 133 West Piazza St., Crystal Springs -felonious shoplifting. He was sentenced to five years, suspendedfor five years probation; a $500 fine and $250 to the Crime VictimsCompensation Fund.

* Bobby Kelly, 37, of 213 Broad Road – Failure to support minorchildren. He was sentenced to three years suspended for five yearsprobation upon successful completion of the Regimented InmateDiscipline program. He was ordered to pay $5,580 in back childsupport, plus $109 per month in current child support, to one womanand $2,331 in back child support, plus $111 per month currently, toa second woman. In addition, he was to obtain his GED at therestitution center, pay a $500 fine and $500 in attorneys’fees.