A Newton County man who was facing charges of aggravated assault after an October 2020 incident in which he allegedly stabbed and slashed a man with a machete entered a plea deal that will send him to the drug court program.
According to an order signed by Circuit Judge Mark Duncan on Oct. 19 during court in Neshoba County, Christopher Boose pleaded guilty to felonious malicious mischief. He received a five-year sentence in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, but the sentence will be suspected pending the completion of the Eighth Circuit Drug Court’s FED-UP program and pay a fine of $2,500.
Boose, who was indicted on May 24, 2021, was accused of attacking and injuring Russell Holified “with a deadly weapon, to-wit: a machete, by stabbing and slashing … being means to produce death or serious bodily harm…”
The plea deal was reached and entered on Oct. 19.In addition to the fines, Boose will also not be allowed to leave the state of Mississippi except with the permission of the program supervisor. He will also have to regularly report to the judge on a weekly basis and be on call for the Intervention Court supervisory personnel.
The suspect cannot possess any alcohol, drugs, marijuana, narcotics, other controlled substances, firearms or other deadly weapons. He is also not allowed to visit gaming establishments or “associate with persons of bad reputation.”
Members of the FED-UP programs must maintain a job and must keep his supervisor up-to-date on their residences and employment within two days of any changes. They must also pay a $100 per month fee for being enrolled in the program and any fees associated with being admitted to Weems Community Mental Health Center if needed. They will also be subject to drug screenings or breathalyzers, in addition to other regulations associated with the program.
If the suspect completes the program and pays all fines, the sentence will be suspended.
