Mesnard Sentencing Set for August 2

A sentencing hearing for Byron Mesnard has been set for August 2.  The date was set during a hearing Wednesday morning in Effingham County Circuit Court.

The 20-year-old Mesnard earlier pleaded guilty to aggravated discharge of a firearm in an incident last September in which a man was wounded.

The Wednesday hearing was the first appearance in the case for both David Rands of the State's Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor Service and for Lou Viverito who is representing Mesnard.  The changes were necessitated by Scott Ealy's departure as Mesnard's counsel to become Chief Assistant State's Attorney.

A status hearing in the case is set for May 8.