By MONROE ROARK
Staff Writer

A pair of convictions were handed down by juries Tuesday in two separate criminal trials in Fayette County Superior Court.

Robert Michael Gonsalves was convicted of entering an auto with intent to commit theft and acquitted of posession of marijuana. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Richard Louis Trammell received consecutive 10-year sentences, with 18 years to serve, for two counts of forgery in the first degree and driving while his license was suspended.

Gonsalves was arrested Mar. 20. Prosecutors said that he stole a purse which was seen in his possession by witnesses just after the incident and found in the same place where he was the next day.

The defense raised the question that no fingerprints were found in the car Gonsalves allegedly broke into. Prosecutors responded that even the car owner's fingerprints were not found there.

Prosecutors also pounded at Gonsalves' alibi, saying that two people he claimed to have been in contact with were “phantom people.”

In Trammell's trial, a man testified that the defendant paid him with money orders for some yard equipment he was purchasing in Tyrone. The man acknowledged that he thought it suspicious, since the money orders were for approximately $3,000 and $5,000.

An employee of a convenience store in Jonesboro testified that Trammell bought a money order from him for only $1.50, which he found strange because the fee for each purchase was 99 cents.

Prosecutors said that Trammell bought two money orders and forged them to purchase the equipment. They showed the jury videotape taken from the store's security camera when Trammell made the purchase in July of 1998.

Frederick Mandrillan Coleman pled guilty to burglary and received 10 years to serve. He faced a number of burglary charges in Fayette County and was already is jail for armed robbery in Clayton County.

David Edmund Badders was convicted last week of criminal armed robbery and battery. He was sentenced Monday to five years and two to serve.

Sonya Eyvette Ponder pled guilty to forgery in the first degree and giving a false name. She received four years to serve on each count, running concurrently.

Torien Berell Watson, charged with possession of cocaine, received a directed verdict of acquittal.

Winfred Marion Bowan pled guilty to possession of marijuana and methamphetamine. He was sentenced to two years to serve.

Koa Garlanda Grover pled guilty to receiving stolen property, failure to signal when changing lanes and driving without a license.

Robert Shane Jarrard pled guilty to theft by receiving stolen property. Randy Wayne Abercrombie pled guilty to habitual violator.

Calvin Leon Terrell pled guilty after his trial had already started last week. Felicia Levette Cunningham, charged with a number of forgery and theft counts, pled guilty and received probation and time in a diversion center.