By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
In the matter of the State vs Jocelyn Ellis, Ellis plead guilty to one count of felony shoplifting, 3rd offense as part of a plea deal. Ellis appeared Friday December 13th in court along with her attorney Tim Gentilozzi.
As a part of the plea deal, Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney Savannah Hull Wilkins requested Ellis be restricted from owning firearms as a felon, pay $50 in restitution and serve her time in home confinement.
Gentilozzi said he wanted to waive the pre trial and that Ellis’ mother would assist her in being successful in her rehabilitation and to pay for the costs of her home confinement.
The plea agreement was signed in court and Ellis was sworn in to enter her plea. Judge Courrier explained her rights and options. He said the charge came with a mandatory one to ten year sentence. Wilkins added that after a year, Ellis could ask for parole.
Wilkins described to the court the events of the case. On Saturday, July 20th, a complaint was made at the Shop-n’-Save of shoplifting in which some wine and groceries had been stolen. The license and registration of the car was tracked to the residence of Ellis, according to Wilkins. Wilkins also stated that Ellis had far more than two prior offenses and that she simply did not bother to count them all. The defense agreed to the facts as Wilkins laid them out.
Judge Courrier agreed to the home confinement. “I will agree to the home confinement, but I probably won’t give her a whole lot of leeway,” Judge Courrier said. “We are talking about a bottle of wine, but I will give her an opportunity.”
Ellis was sentenced to one to ten years, suspended for home confinement with typical rules and costs, supervision and testing, as well. She was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and $50 restitution, attorney fees, court costs and fees. “Take advantage of this,” Judge Courrier said. “You are going to be on a short leash with the prosecutor’s office.”