A Lincoln County Circuit Court jury returned a not guiltyverdict in a robbery case Tuesday.

Christopher Kelly, 24, of 910 Williams Street, Brookhaven,covered his face, holding back tears of joy and relief, when heheard the verdict read aloud late Tuesday afternoon.

Kelly faced a maximum of 15 years on the charge relating to analleged robbery at T & 0 convenience store on Hamilton Streetearlier this year.

In other court action, Kelly Thomas Melton, 18, of 1298 GeorgeTrail, was sentenced Tuesday to five years for conspiracy todistribute crystal methamphetamine, eight years for unlawfulpossession of at least 0.1 grams but less than two grams ofmethamphetamine, one year for unlawful possession of two dosageunits of Alprozolam, four years for unlawful possession of lessthan 0.1 grams of methamphetamine and six months for unlawfulpossession of less than 30 grams of marijuana.

“All of these are to run consecutive,” said Circuit Clerk TerryCase Watkins of the total 18 years. “He is to serve the first sixdays, which he already has, with the remainder on postsupervision.”

Melton had pleaded guilty to the charges Monday in circuitcourt.

Judge Mike Smith also ordered Melton to complete in-house drugand alcohol treatment at New Haven Recovery with a secondarytreatment at the Opportunity House for 60 days.

“Then he has to got to AA/NA (Alcoholics Anonymous/NarcoticsAnonymous) meetings once a day for 90 days,” Watkins said, addingthat Melton must also attend three meetings a week for twoyears.

Melton was ordered to pay court costs, a $2,000 fine, $60restitution and $750 in attorney’s fees as well.

Another drug case addressed Tuesday was Kendrick Ball, 20, ofJackson, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of at leastone-tenth gram but less than two grams of cocaine.

Ball received six years and was ordered to serve the first twoyears with the last four years on post release supervision. He willalso assessed court costs, a $2,000 fine, $20 in restitution and$750 attorney fees.

Johnny L. Crump, 24, of Hazlehurst, pleaded guilty to falsepretense. He was ordered to three years to serve the first weekwith the remaining in post release supervision. Crump will alsohave to pay court costs, a $1,000 fine and $250 to the crimevictims compensation fund.

In other cases, Brady Lance Rollins, 25, of McComb, wassentenced to six years, placed in the RID program for alcohol anddrug treatment and to pay court costs, a $2,000 fine and fullrestitution for a burglary charge he pleaded guilty to earlier.

Stacy R. Adams, 32, of Columbia, who pleaded guilty to feloniousbad checks, was sentenced to three years suspended for three yearsprobation. She must remain in a restitution center until all debtsare paid, including a $1,000 fine, court costs, $750 attorney feeand full restitution.