JUDGE PLEADS GUILTY, RESIGNS

Crystal Meth Possession Nets Sentence

BROOKHAVEN - Lawrence County justice court judge has pleaded guilty to
possession of crystal methamphetamine and resigned from office.

Robert C. "Bobby" Fortenberry Jr. entered the plea Monday in Lincoln County
Circuit Court. He stepped down from office in an agreement with prosecutors
and the court.

Fortenberry, 46, of New Hebron, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Mike Smith
to 20 years in prison with 16 years suspended. Fortenberry was fined $5,000
and ordered to pay $5,400 restitution to the Mississippi Bureau of
Narcotics. He also was ordered to pay court costs.

Smith ordered Fortenberry to complete the Therapeutic Alcohol and Drug
Program. Fortenberry was given five years' probation upon his release. An
additional charge of conspiracy to transfer a controlled substance was
dismissed, officials said.

Fortenberry was arrested March 26 at a truck stop in Brookhaven and charged
with possession and conspiracy after an undercover sting operation by law
enforcement agents who posed as drug dealers.

Fortenberry also worked full-time with Delphi Packard Electric Systems in
Brookhaven. He lost his job at Delphi Packard in May, also because of the
alleged drug activity.

Monticello attorney Bob Evans, who represented Fortenberry, said
Fortenberry intended to "take part of it back to a friend at Packard and
split it because they went together on the purchase. There would have been
no profit."

Fortenberry was being held Tuesday in the Lincoln County Jail.

Fortenberry, who won re-election to a fifth term last year, had not
presided over any cases for several months after being suspended in May.
Before the suspension, Fortenberry had voluntarily excused himself from his
duties as a judge pending the results of the trial.

Separate charges against Fortenberry for driving under the influence and
careless driving in Madison County are still pending. He is scheduled for
trial Dec. 2 in Madison County on those charges.