2 attempted murder cases on docket

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 16, 2013

There are two attempted murder cases, as well as a host of sexual abuse and drug-related cases, on next week’s criminal court docket – including the case against an illegal alien who allegedly shot his estranged girlfriend three times in April 2011. The docket also includes the case against a local man accused of breaking into his girlfriend’s Red Oak home and shooting her then-boyfriend.

Raul Mariano Del Torro is charged with first-degree kidnapping, attempted murder, sodomy, sexual torture and third-degree domestic violence. Star-News archives show the shooting was the result of an alleged two-day domestic dispute, which ended behind Ashley Furniture Store.

John David Hughes is also charged with attempted murder, first-degree burglary and reckless endangerment for the May 2012 incident.

Both men have remained in the Covington County Jail since their arrests and each case is set to be heard by Circuit Judge Lex Short. Also on Short’s docket, which includes 15 criminal cases and an assortment of misdemeanors, is the case against former Gantt mayor Tommy Glidewell. Glidewell is accused of pointing a scoped rifle at his Deer Run Road neighbor and his/her toddler and was charged with menacing and reckless endangerment.

There are also 15 criminal cases set on Circuit Judge Ashley McKathan’s trial docket, including three sex abuse cases. Among those is the case against a 56-year-old man is accused of the rape of a 15-year-old in the Rose Hill area. Court records show Russell S. Griggs is charged with second-degree rape, enticing a child, third-degree sexual abuse and failure to register as a convicted sex offender.

Trial week is set to begin at 9 a.m. Monday.