Last week she waived her right to have her assault case heard by a grand jury and on Wednesday Tammy Howell waived her right to a trial altogether and just pleaded guilty.

Howell, 35, of

218 1/2 S. Fourth St., Ironton, told Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge D. Scott Bowling she was indeed guilty on a bill of information to the beating of elderly Carl Palmer in December at the apartment the they shared with another man, Charles Martin. She also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence.

Bowling will sentence Howell next week.

The incident happened Dec. 4, 2007. Howell first told police Palmer was injured when he fell but later admitted she beat him with her hands and fist. Palmer was taken by helicopter to

Cabell Huntington Hospital, but has since been released.

In another case Wednesday, Thelma Cade, of 25,

of 1115-1/2 S.Third St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal use of food stamps. Bowling sentenced her to three years community controlled sanctions under intensive supervised probation. She has already paid restitution and has completed an outpatient rehabilitation program.

Also Wednesday, a trial date was set for an Upper Township man arrested after an alleged standoff with police. Ronnie Rowe, 54, of 96 Private Drive 2562, will stand trial March 20 on two counts of felonious assault, each with a firearm specification, two counts of kidnapping, each with a firearm specification and one count each of improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, disrupting a public service and resisting arrest.

Authorities were called to the Rowe residence on Sisler Hollow Oct. 5 after it was reported a man was firing shots and making threats against people inside the house. Rowe was arrested after being tackled by a Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputy.