By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / March 13, 1999

EDGARD – Javor Johnson and Daryl Cook, both of Reserve, were indicted Thursday for second-degree murder in separate cases.

Assistant District Attorney Charles Lorio said Johnson, 18, was charged by the St. John Parish grand jury for the second-degree murder on Jan. 13of Dennis Mitchell, 22, also of Reserve. Mitchell was found in his frontyard after apparently being beaten to death by a tree branch. Johnson latersurrendered to authorities.

Cook, 35, was charged by the grand jury for the second-degree murder on Feb. 10 of his estranged wife, Vernetta Joseph Cook, 34, who had fileddivorce papers against him on Feb. 8. She was discovered by a passingmotorist on Louisiana Highway 3179 in Reserve after having been shot to death.

Cook surrendered to authorities in Los Angeles County and is awaiting extradition hearings. Lorio added that Cook’s attorneys have invoked theFifth Amendment, and Cook is not cooperating with detectives in the investigation.

In other court activity, according to Lorio, Curtis Green and Dionne Garrett, both of LaPlace, were each sentenced to length prison terms for repeatedly selling cocaine in separate cases.

Green, 36, a repeat offender, had two prior convictions. He pleaded guiltyin a third case and was sentenced to 20 years in state prison. His latestarrest came on March 9.

Garrett, 20, pleaded guilty in August 1997 and was just released from probation when, less than three weeks later, she was caught on videotape selling cocaine again. She pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine andwas sentenced to 10 years in state prison.

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