Man arrested just before release from county jail

BY VICTOR INGE

THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

Thurston Baynes actually tasted freedom Tuesday, now it may be a while.

As he was being released from the Dallas County Jail, state prosecutors arrived charging Baynes with two counts of capital murder. Now he is held without bond in connection with an October 2005 double murder.

Held as a material witness since Aug. 29, 2007, in a capital murder case Baynes was reluctant to testify in, now he&8217;s charged with the crimes.

Baynes, 26, of 818 Minter Ave., was charged with the deaths of Ernest Harrell, 56, and Philip Coleman, 28, killed just before midnight on Oct. 28, 2005. Both victims were found dead at Harrell’s Duke Street home.

They had each been shot multiple times, and according to prosecutors, evidence points to more than one killer. They believe the motive was robbery.

Johnson Woods, 24, of 824 Small St., pled guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit murder instead of standing trial this week for two counts of capital murder. He had been in jail since his November 2005 arrest.

Judge Jack Meigs accepted Woods&8217; plea agreement that included two 31-year sentences, to run concurrently.

Investigator Tim Barnhill and Jim Ransom, assistant DA, arrived at the jail before Baynes could leave charging him with the crimes.

Prosecutors said Baynes was charged as a result of information received in building the case against Woods. Additional arrests in connection with the deaths of Harrell and Coleman may be forthcoming, prosecutors said.