By Michael Copley
Staff writer

Joseph Parrish Jr., 17, appeared in Powhatan General District Court on July 16 for a juvenile detention hearing.

Parrish, his cousin Ethan Parrish, 24, and Stephanie Reynolds, 19, are charged with the June 24 murder of 18-year-old Tahliek Taliaferro.

Unrelated juvenile charges were also brought against Parrish Wednesday, including a larceny charge.

Parrish’s parents told Judge Valentine Southall Jr. that they are in the process of hiring new legal counsel.

Attorney Jason Moore is currently serving as counsel for the juvenile.

A preliminary hearing for Ethan Parrish and Stephanie Reynolds had previously been set for August 27. Joseph Parrish will be in Circuit Court on that date to face the same murder and felony firearm charges as the codefendants.

The new unrelated charges will also be heard on that date.

Other court news

Erania Covington Smith of Hampton, Va. appeared in Powhatan Circuit Court Tuesday on a charge of cocaine possession, a schedule two drug that carries a maximum sentence of ten years.

She pleaded guilty to the charge after previously withdrawing appeals on misdemeanor charges of DUI and driving on a suspended license. Smith was arrested March 30, 2008 after a Virginia State Trooper determined that she was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Upon searching Smith’s belongings at the Sheriff’s Office, the officer found a small quantity of cocaine.

Smith was taken into custody after court for the two misdemeanor charges and received deferred disposition on the charge of cocaine possession. The drug charge will be readdressed in one year after Smith has completed the specified terms of the program.

Stephen Freeman, 20, appeared in Circuit Court Tuesday for violating the probationary terms of a six month suspended sentence for grand larceny of a firearm. Freeman was arrested in Cumberland County and charged with DUI and driving on a suspended license.

Judge Thomas V. Warren remanded Freeman to jail for three months and suspended the remaining three month sentence.

“It’s time for you to go to jail, just like I said would happen,” he said.