Judge sets court date for Ellard brothers

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 26, 2010

NATCHEZ — Criminal trials for Jason Ellard and Daniel Ellard are set for Sept. 22.

Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders ordered the trial dates at a Wednesday hearing for charges of simple assault of a law enforcement officer.

The charges are associated with an incident that occurred May 29, 2009, outside the bar Dimples, when Jason and Daniel allegedly fought with law enforcement, according to police reports.

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A federal investigation of the incident led to the recent indictment of Natchez police officers Elvis Prater and Dewayne Johnson on charges of civil rights violations and making false statements. Johnson also faces one count of conspiracy.

Jason Ellard filed a civil lawsuit on June 23 naming the City of Natchez, Johnson and at least five other defendants, Ellard’s attorney Hyde Carby said.

In an unrelated case from Wednesday’s hearing, John Stammereich pleaded guilty to child fondling.

Sanders sentenced Stammereich 38, 2 Longmire Road, to serve 10 years in prison and five years on parole for pleading guilty to fondling a 3-year-old child.