A variety of crimes got grand jurors’ attention last week as 136new indictments were issued, court officials said.

Assistant District Attorney Diane Jones said indictmentsincluded robbery, sexual battery, fondling and some drug cases.

“We did have our count of drug and child support cases,” Jonessaid. “And we had several grand larceny cases.”

Jones also mentioned some cases involving personal injuries thatwere heard by grand jurors during the four-day term that ended lastThursday. Last week’s session was the last meeting for the Juneterm of the grand jury.

“The violent crimes and the sex cases are always a cause forconcern,” as are the burglaries and robberies, Jones said.

More than half the indictments returned, 71, involved bad checkcases. Officials with the district attorney’s office said that wasdue to a personnel transition in the office’s bad check unit thatresulted in no cases presented during the first meeting of the Juneterm.

Jones could not discuss details of any of the grand jury cases.Grand jury sessions are secret and indictments are not made publicuntil the accused with served with court papers.

On Friday, circuit clerk’s office employees were typingsubpoenas and other documents to be sent to the sheriff’s officefor deputies to serve the indictments.

“We’re working on getting them to them now,” said Circuit ClerkTerry Case Watkins.

Arraignment proceedings for individuals indicted last week areset for Oct. 29 before Judge Mike Smith.

During last week’s session, grand jurors heard from 85witnesses. In related activity, the grand jury chose not to issueindictments in 11 cases, continued 11 cases and returned six casesto a lower court for further disposition.

The grand jury also handled a number of otherresponsibilities.

“We wish to report that we toured the Lincoln County Jail andfound the prisoners to be securely housed and humanely treated,”grand jurors said in their final report on the term.

According to the report, Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop reportedthe county was in sound financial condition and that all moniesowed to the county had been paid. Jurors also expressedappreciation to Watkins and Smith for their roles in the grand juryprocess.