Virginia woman in Onslow County jail for contempt of court

A Virginia woman traveled to Jacksonville on Monday to see the murder weapon supplier in her brother's 2007 homicide locked up. She also ended up in jail herself after arguing with the presiding judge.

Lisa Cook, of Martin Road in Danville, Va., was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Benjamin G. Alford to remain in the Onslow County Jail until Saturday morning at 7 a.m.

Several members of the Spicer family traveled four hours from Danville to Jacksonville to be present for the sentencing of Anthony Wiggins, who gave an illegally shortened sawed-off shotgun to then 17-year-old Casey Tyler who used the weapon to kill Timothy Spicer, Cook's brother.

While waiting for Wiggins' hearing, the Spicer family was talking amongst themselves in Courtroom No. 4, apparently trying to decide whether Fred Spicer, the victim's father, should remain in the aisle in his wheelchair or be moved to a seat.

Alford, who was hearing other cases, told the family they were too loud and asked Ellis Spicer, the victim's mother, to approach the bench. Cook joined her.

Alford told Cook to return to her seat, and she "willfully refused to obey an order of the court to remove herself from inside the bar area of the courtroom and told the court it would have to take her to jail," according to Alford's contempt of court order he signed to place Cook in jail.

Cook was led away to jail by bailiffs, and Alford recused himself from the case.

Superior Court Judge Jack B. Jenkins heard the case later in the day and sentenced Wiggins to 15 to 19 months in prison for possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

The Spicer family declined comment earlier in the week and could not be reached Wednesday.

Theresa Pressley, a Yanceyville lawyer, filed a motion on behalf of Cook on Tuesday asking that Cook be released Wednesday so she could return to her job as a postal worker. The motion stated that Cook might lose her job if she did not return Thursday and Friday. The motion also said that Cook's husband had just had surgery.

Alford could not be reached for comment, but a clerk at the Courthouse said the order for Cook to remain in jail until Saturday had not been changed late Wednesday afternoon.

Contact Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read his blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.