BATESVILLE, Miss. — At the start of court Monday morning, the judge made an announcement saying that someone had snuck a phone into the courtroom in Batesville and snapped a picture of the jury.
“I’ve been informed a spectator in the courtroom yesterday slipped a cell phone camera in the courtroom and posted on Facebook last night,” Judge Gerald Chatham said.
No cell phones are allowed in the courtroom during the trial of Quinton Tellis who is accused of killing Jessica Chambers in 2014.
The judge was livid while speaking to those present.
“Direct violation of my court order. That person will be arrested and that person will face the maximum penalty that I am capable of inflicting. Now, fair warning: you get caught you’re going to do the time. Got it?”
Sources tell WREG the person who posted the photo or video is part of the Tellis family. And Sheriff Darby says the images show members of the jury. He says the person will be arrested.
But soon after he gave us that interview, the Batesville police chief told us a different information. They found the video or photos and they were actually taken outside of the courthouse.
He says the woman in question didn’t do anything wrong.
