The Newport Plain Talk

NEWPORT-A Newport couple was arraigned before Circuit Judge Ben W. Hooper II on Monday on charges stemming from the death of their six-week-old daughter last November.

Among other decisions on arraignment day in Cocke County Circuit Court on Monday, Judge Hooper also set bond at $25,000 for a woman accused in connection with a shooting in March inside a local church.

Both Melinda Harris, 19, and Travis Spencer, 20, are charged with one count of criminally negligent homicide and one count of aggravated child abuse of a child less than six years old in a presentment returned a week ago by the Cocke County Grand Jury.

The presentments allege that the couple "did unlawfully, and with criminal negligence, kill" the child on November 11, 2007.

Newport police reported that six-week-old Sydney Spencer was found dead in her father's bed at Newport Terrace Apartments. Investigators said that Harris, who had reportedly received an order of protection against Spencer and had previously been living in another location, went to the Spencer apartment on the evening of November 10.

The next morning, the child was found dead in her father's bed, according to police reports. Spencer reportedly told police he awoke and found the child was not breathing and had blood coming from her mouth.

An ambulance was called, but the six-week-old could not be revived. An autopsy was ordered to determine the cause of death. University of Tennessee Forensic Pathologist Dr. Darinka Mileusnic is listed on the presentment as a witness in the case.

Judge Hooper appointed attorneys to represent each defendant. Bonds for Harris and Spencer are set at $100,000.

Judge Hooper also set a $25,000 bond for 52-year-old Janet Lee Compton, of 152 Circle Road, who is named on a five-count indictment in connection with a shooting incident inside Hilltop Baptist Church in March.

Compton is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment involving a deadly weapon, and evading arrest.

When the 9mm Ruger pistol was fired inside the church, the bullet hit the floor, a table, and then lodged into the pulpit at the front of the church. The pistol's clip, reportedly containing six live rounds, was found near the gun, which still had one bullet chambered and was ready to fire.

The victims of the two alleged attempted first-degree murder counts are listed in the grand jury's report as Michael Compton, of 1435 Mountain Ranch Road, the defendant's husband (the couple were reportedly in the process of divorce when the shooting occurred), and Cline Franklin, of 122 Brookfield Drive, who witnesses said was approaching the woman inside the church when the shot was fired.

After Compton pulled the telephone cord out of the church's wall, Michael Compton reportedly ran outside the church and his wife followed.

At that point, Janet Compton got into a 2004 Saturn VUE and headed west on Knoxville Highway. The car overturned in the Carson Springs community during a chase involving both police and sheriff's deputies.

Compton is scheduled to enter a formal plea in the case on June 16.

Subscribe to The Newport Plain Talk by clicking SUBSCRIBE. Sign up for Breaking News emails from The Newport Plain Talk by clicking EMAIL ALERTS and inputting your email address next to "Add Me" near the top right corner.