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Court resumed at 9 a.m. Friday, with an attorney conference, and more witness testimony.

The prosecution rested shortly after 11 a.m., and Mr. Ammons defense rested just before noon, after Clanence Ammons’ testimony.

Defense for Alicia Ammons was presented starting right after lunch break, and rested slightly before 2 p.m., when jury instructions began.

At 2:30, closing arguments began with attorneys Zach Vaughn, Steven Porch, Joe Mazzanti, followed by Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Deen.  Closing finished around 3:30.

Jury deliberations began soon after.

At 4:55, the jury had reached a verdict of not guilty for Clarence Ammons on the charge of aggravated assault, and found his daughter, Alicia Ammons guilty of manslaughter.

Sentencing instructions began at 5 p.m., followed by Cortland Jones’ mother testimony, and 2 members of the Ammons family.

After sentencing closing statements, the jury was sent back to determine the recommended sentence Ms. Ammons is to serve, and came back 15 minutes later, recommending 10 years in ADC.

Judge Bynum Gibson imposed the jury’s sentence, and concluded by telling the victim’s mom, “your son was a good person, and he died for no reason.”

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The story below posted on January 15, 2008

Thursday evening trial update.

Jury selection began Thursday morning at 9 a.m., and the jury of 12, plus 2 alternates was selected by 11:15, when the court took lunch break.

The trial resumed just before 1 p.m., with opening arguments from Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Zach Vaughn, who outlined the state’s perspective of the events that took place that holiday evening of July 4, of last year.

Clarence Ammons (charged with aggravated assault) was grilling, and Alicia Ammons (charged with first degree murder) was sitting in a vehicle with her child, as they were spending the evening at a residence on Robinhood Drive, around 9 p.m. 

Around this time a group of teenagers came by, and allegedly shot bottle rockets or roman candles in the direction of the people in the yard, where the Ammons’ were.

Mr. Ammons approached the group, and told them to leave, which they did, but when they came back down the street later, he crossed the street to where the group was, this time with a knife in his hand.

Cortland Jones, age 16, was confronted by Mr. Ammons, and swung and hit Mr. Ammons in the face.

Ms. Ammons then came up behind Cortland, and stabbed him in the neck.

Jones was described by the state as spending the holiday with fireworks and friends, and Mr. Ammons was described as being “an accomplice” of Ms. Ammons, to which Mr. Ammons’ lawyer, Steven Porch objected.

Vaughn continued, adding that both of the Ammons’ had left the scene in different vehicles, and were soon located in the area.

To end his opening remarks, he told the jury that there would be 2 witnesses who Jones told, “Mot done it.”, when asked who had stabbed him.  Alicia is known by the nickname of “Mot”.

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Mr. Ammons’ attorney, Steven Porch, from the public defender’s office, was next, giving a slightly different description of the evening activities.

Porch described the group of “friends” as “gang” of 10-12 teenagers, who came into the family’s yard, where Mr. Ammons was B-B-Qing with his kids and grandkids.

Porch told the jury that Mr. Ammons asked them to leave, “but they came back, firing roman candles, aiming them at everyone” in the area.c

Porch continued, adding that one “ball of fire” landed near Ms. Ammons and her child.  She then went into the house and got a butcher kncife and a bread knife, and as she approached the group was screaming, “you hit my baby!”

Porch added that Mr. Ammons stepped between her and the group, and was trying to get the knife from her; and that Mr. Ammons was facing his daughter, not the group, when he was hit in the face.

Next, he described a comotion, and someone yelling, “she stabbed my homeboy!”

Mr. Ammons then, according to Porch, pushed Ms. Ammons back into the house, and told his grandson to take him home.  Porch then told the jury that Mr. Ammons has a criminal history, including felonies, and left because he didn’t think that the police would believe him.

Once again, the group of 14-17 year old boys was described as “being a gang” by Porch. adding that they had been yelling to Ms. Ammons, “what you gonna do, B*T@H“.

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Joe Mazzanti, also with the public defender’s office, spoke next, representing Alicia “Mot” Ammons,

Mazzanti told the jury that cases like this are difficult, because of a young victim, and also because one of the defendants is a 19 year old girl, with a baby, and one on the way.

He said the jury may ask themselves, “if Alicia Ammons cut the victim, why are we here?”  “Even if she was the one who cut Cortland Jones, the law provides for other lesser charges.”  He pointed out that she was at her sister’s home, enjoying the 4th of July, with nothing sinister going on, simply listening to the radio withher 8 month old baby, before the boys re-approached the scene.  He added that Jones had fired a roman candle near the face of Ms. Ammons.

She then, according to Mazzanti became hysterical, screaming,”they hit my baby!”, as things got out of hand, and Cortland Jones got cut.

He then defined “1st degree murder” as “with the purpose of causing Cortland Jones’ death,” and mentioned possible “lesser inclusive defenses.”

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The first witness for the prosecution was a 15 year old male, who was in the group of that included Jones.  He said that someone in the Ammons party had shot fireworks at the group first, and that they had simply fired back.  After Jones, who was closest to Mr. Ammons was confronted by him, the group left the area to visit a friend.  Since the friend was not at home, they were simply returning.  At this point, he said that someone in the Ammons party again shot fireworks at the group, and they again shot back. 

This time, Mr. Ammons approached the group with a knife, again confronting Jones.  Jones then punched Mr. Ammons in the face, causing Ammons to drop the knife.

When asked if he saw the person who stabbed Jones in the courtroom, the witness identified Ms. Ammons.

He then said that he didn’t see Mr. Ammons kick Jones, after the stabbing.

Mr. Porch then cross-examined the witness, and asked how many friends were in the group;  he responded 10.  He estimated that the group was gone from the Ammons family about 5 minutes, before returning from their friend’s home.

He then said that Jones did have a roman candle, and had been shooting it back at the residence where the Ammons’ were located.  When asked, he said that no one in his group was hit by fireworks shot by the people at the Ammons’ party.

He again said that Jones had hit Mr. Ammons in the face, causing Ammons to drop the knife.  He added that Mr. Ammons tried to swing back at Jones, but that Jones had already been stabbed before Mr. Ammons was able to hit him back.

When asked who stabbed Cortland Jones, the witness said “Mot”.

Mazzanti questioned the 15 year-old, and here are the replies:
Did your group shoot fireworks at people both times you went by?—Yes.
Did Cortland Jones have a roman candle?–Yes.
Did he hit anyone with it?–No.
Could he have hit someone?–Yes.
Do you know Alicia Ammons?–No.
Do you recall how she was acting?–Mad.  Screaming.
Hysterical?–Yes.

Again Prosecutor Vaughn questioned the witness, this time about a statement he had made to an investigator about having seen Mr. Ammons kick Jones, after the stabbing.  He admitted that he had seen Mr. Ammons kick Jones in the face, adding that he had told Porch that he hadn’t because he was “nervous.”

Porch asked the witness about where Mr. Ammons had kicked Jones, and he answered “in the face.”  Porch asked about an earlier statement where he had told someone that the kick had been to Jones’ leg, but he told Porch that he “didn’t remember.”

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Deputy Sidney Green testified about putting a knife from the scene into a bag, and then into a box, as evidence, and identified that knife for the court.

Monticello Police Sgt. Hank Hollinger then testified about putting another knife into a bag, and then into a cardboard box, to preserve it as evidence, and identified the knife for the court.  Hollinger had arrived at the scene of the vehicle that Mr. Ammons had been a passenger in, and had seen a black knife with a silver handle near the front passenger seat, where Mr. Ammons had been riding.

Hollinger told the jury that Mr. Ammons described the earlier events as, “knives were flying around, and that boy got cut.”

Hollinger also told about Alicia Ammons’ comments, upon her vehicle being stopped soon after the police arrived to the area, “That S.O.B. almost hit my child with a bottle rocket!

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When court resumed after a short break, Arkansas State Police Special Agent Rick McKelvey detailed the chain of custody of the evidence, from the scene, to the state crime lab.

He also said that he had spoken to Mr. Ammons about the confrontation that had taken place at the scene, but that Ammons didn’t go into details about the events that took place there.

McKelvey’s final question was about Alicia Ammons’ nickname.  He responded that she is known as “Mot.”

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4 members of the State Crime Lab testified about several items; including Cortland Jones’ autopsy, which showed no other injury, except the 3 inch long, deep stab wound, that entered Jones’ ear/jaw area, and caused his death.

A knife from the scene, and Clarence Ammons left shoe had blood on them, that was an declared to be Courtland Jones’ blood.  A latent print (fingerprint that can’t be seen by the naked eye) expert testified that the knife with the blood on it did not have any traceable prints.

The knife without blood stains contained prints belonging to Mr. Ammons.

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An EMT from MASI testified about the cut that ran from Jones’ left ear to his jaw, and about transporting him to Drew Memorial Hospital.

A DMH Emergency Room Registered Nurse told about the treatment and surgery that Jones received there, before being air-lifted by helicopter to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, in Little Rock. 

The state will continue to present their case, beginning at 9 a.m. Friday morning, turning the trial over to the defense sometime before noon.

The case is expected to reach a verdict before going home, Friday night. 

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The story below posted on Janurary 6, 2008.

Ammons & Ammons Hearing Sets Murder Trial for January 15.

Clarence and Alicia Ammons were in Drew County CirciutCourt Monday, and their murder trial for the death of Cortland Jones has been set to begin on Thursday, January 15.

A motion was made to postpone the trial date due to the defendants pregnancy, which was denied, and other details were discussed about witness transportation from DHS Youth Services, and the preliminary witness list.

The trial seems to be expected to last 2 days.

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The story below posted on December 2, 2008.

Father and daughter, Clarence and Alicia Ammonswere in Drew County’s Circuit Court Monday for hearings on their upcoming murder trials.  They are accused of causing the death of Cortland Jones on the night of July 4, 2008.

The Ammons will be represented by public defenders, Steven Porch and Joe Mazzanti.

A court date of January 5, 2009 was set for any future issues, with a jury trial date set for the week of January 13, 2009.

Judge Bynum Gibson told the attorneys that two jury panels will be called to insure that there will be enough impartial jurors to hear the case.

Questions were made about blood on a knife, and blood on clothing.

Other details covered Monday:  the victim’s mother was present for part of the hearing, sitting at the prosecutor’s table; and the defendant’s attorneys did not provide motions to separate the pair’s cases.

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The story below posted on August 20, 2008

Clarence and Alicia Ammons(shown here leaving the courtroom) were in court Monday for hearings on their upcoming First Degree Murder Trials.  The two are accused of causing the death of Cortland Jones on the night of July 4, 2008.

The class Y felonies that each of them face carry a sentence of no less than 10 years, and no more than 40 years, or life.

The cases were separated and both Ammons were given different attorneys.  Defender Steven Porch mentined the possibility that the defendants may end up ”pointing fingers at each other” to Circuit Judge Bynum Gibson.

Arkansas State Police Investigator Rick McKelvey told the court that both defendants had made statements at the time of their arrests, and that there was a “dying declaration” also to be included as evidence.

Judge Gibson instructed McKelvey to get the investigation files to all 3 attorneys this week, in an attempt to get the case completed this year.

Other items that may be included as evidence include 2 knives, DNA testing, clothing, and prints.

The next court date will include pre-trial motions and an omnibus hearing date will be in late September.

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The following story posted on July 8, 2008.

Double $100,000 Bonds Set for First Degree Murder of 15 Year Old Stabbing Victim

Clarence Ammons, Sr. (age 48 ) and his daughter, Alicia Ammons (age 18, of McGehee) both went before Monticello District Judge Ken Harper Monday afternoon. 

When Judge Harper asked the state for bond recommendations, Arkansas State Police Investiator Rick McKelvey told the judge, “it’s hard to put a value on human life.”

Bonds were set at  $100,000 each, with both of them being charged with first degree murder, as well as their current charge of aggravated assault.

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The following story posted July 7, 2008, a.m.

15 Year Old Stabbing Victim Dies from Injuries

According to reports, the 15 year old stabbing victim in the story below passed away Sunday.

A father and daughter, Clarence Ammons, Sr. and Alicia Ammons, will be charged with 1st degree murder, as well as their current aggravated assault charges.

Their first appearance and probable cause hearings will be held today, according to Arkansas State Police Investigator Rick McKelvey.

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The following story posted July 5, 2008.

15 Year Old Stabbing Victim Being Flown To  Little Rock

Around 9 p.m. Friday night, reports indicate that a stabbing took place on Robin Hood Drive, just off of North Cooper Street.

The victim is an unidentified 15 year old male, who was scheduled to be flown to Little Rock, after coming out of surgery, here, in the early morning hours.

A father and daughter, Clarence Ammons, Sr. and Alicia Ammons, have been arrested by Monticello Police, charged with aggravated assault, and are being held for further questioning.

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