A Dade County grand jury on Thursday issued 27 true bills, or indictments, including one for Charles Kevin Wooten (left) for theft by receiving stolen property and criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark.
Wooten, who faces trial in October in three different drug cases, was last arrested in January when the Dade Sheriff’s Office recovered a stolen Silverado truck from outside his Porter Road residence. Parts of other possibly stolen vehicles were also found nearby, and though Wooten was arrested not for theft at that time but for traffic offenses and drug charges in connection with methamphetamine found at the home, Sheriff Ray Cross discussed the possibility Wooten was running a “chop shop” for stolen cars.
But Dade Chief Investigator Don Hicks said last week’s indictment was not for stolen cars but for stolen Sea-Doos found in Wooten’s possession in September of 2016 when he was a fugitive and deputies had tracked him down at his brother’s house. No charges have yet been filed in the January incident.
Grand juries are bodies of citizens who hear law enforcement’s case against a defendant in order to determine whether there is enough evidence to prosecute. They do not hear evidence on the defendant’s side. That comes later in the judicial process. Indictment does not prove guilt and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Also indicted Thursday were Louis James Holland and Kathleen Michelle McCord for five counts of cruelty to children in the second degree and five of contributing to the deprivation of a minor. Thomas Earl Harvey, Bridget Gail Land and James Darin Sanford were indicted for burglary.
Craig Avery Carrell was indicted for aggravated assault on a peace officer and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer as well as drug and traffic charges.
Jimmy Dewayne Morton was indicted for six counts of terroristic threats and bringing stolen property into the state as well as well as traffic charges, DUI and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. James Thomas Williams also faces fleeing or attempting to elude charges as well as DUI, open container and traffic charges.
Of the remaining true bills, many were for methamphetamine charges.
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