A Few Cases Of Interest In Caddo District Court Today

Prosecutors say a Shreveport man will plead guilty as charged to aggravated battery and hate crimes Thursday in Caddo Parish District Court for a January, 2011 attack on another individual at a night club in the 400 block of Spring St. William David Payne II (d.o.b. 7-24-79) is scheduled to be in court at 9:30 a.m. to enter the plea before Judge Ramona Emanuel for the attack which seriously injured John Skaggs. Investigators say Payne struck Skaggs in the face with a pool cue.

Assistant District Attorney Aaron Crawford said a multiple offender bill will be filed against Payne in court Thursday. 

Other cases coming up Thursday, Oct. 20 in district court: 

Judge Mike Pitman

Christopher Brian Cope (d.o.b. 10-6-86) is scheduled to be in court at 9:30 a.m. for arguments and hearings on one count of first degree murder and one count of attempted second degree murder. Cope is charged with the October, 2010 shooting death of Shreveport police Sgt. Timothy Prunty at a convenience store in the 3300 block of Bert Kouns. Cope is also accused of firing a shot into a guard house in the 11000 block of Norris Ferry Rd. earlier that same evening. 

Judge Ramona Emanuel

Gary Leonard Vinson (d.o.b. 8-18-70) is charged with nine counts of simple arson, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of simple arson of a religious building in connection with a series of vehicle and structural fires in August, 2009. Vinson will be in court for further proceedings. A jury trial in Vinson’s case has been scheduled for Nov. 14.