Woman Sentenced in Kidnapping Case

A 27 year old woman pled guilty to being an accessory to kidnapping Monday, September 14 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Judge David Patterson presided.
Samantha Devault received a six year TDOC sentence to run concurrently with a Davidson County sentence against her. She was given 344 days of jail credit.
Devault and three others were named in Grand Jury sealed indictments in December, 2013 for allegedly participating in the kidnapping and rape of a woman they thought stole money and Suboxone strips from them in October, 2013. The case was investigated by the Smithville Police Department.
Meanwhile, 20 year old Thomas Braxton Nix entered a plea by information to the charge of schedule II meth and violation of probation in a previous drug case. Nix received an eight year sentence in the meth case suspended to probation. However, the term is to run consecutive to a two year sentence in the previous conviction against him for possession of a schedule VI drug for resale. Nix’s probation in the previous drug case was revoked and though he was given jail credit of 55 days, Nix must finish the 180 day mandatory sentence through the 13th Judicial District Drug Court program.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, July 20 a sheriff’s department detective stopped a red Grand Am on Terrell Road after observing the car weaving on Highway 70 east. As he approached the vehicle, the detective noticed that the driver (Nix) was moving around inside. The officer asked Nix to exit the vehicle. When Nix got out of the driver’s seat, the detective spotted a cellophane pack containing four alprazolam pills. After Nix gave consent for a search of his person, the detective spotted a small piece of ICE (meth) on the ground and behind the vehicle was a baggie containing ICE (meth). Inside of Nix’s wallet were seventeen- 7.25 milligram Hydrocodone pills. During a search of the vehicle, the detective also found a blue and black bag that held two Mason jars. One of the jars was full of marijuana and the other had two marijuana buds. Two digital scales, several baggies, and a marijuana shredder were also found in the bag. Nix had a total of 23.4 grams of meth, 2.66 ounces of marijuana, four alprazolam pills, and seventeen hydrocodone pills along with $853 cash. Nix admitted selling meth and he was placed under arrest.
48 year old James Michael Tatum pled guilty by information to aggravated burglary and aggravated assault and received a four year sentence suspended to probation. He was given jail credit of 31 days.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, July 31 Tatum broke into a home at Wilson Hollow Road in Liberty and knowingly pointed a Glock .45 caliber handgun at the homeowner. Tatum camouflaged his face in an attempt to keep the victim from identifying him. Tatum was later arrested after an investigation by a sheriff’s department detective.
30 year old Ellissa Howard pled guilty to sale of a schedule II drug and received a three year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. She is requesting Judicial Diversion. Howard was fined $2,000 and given five days of jail credit.
24 year old Sonny Alan Stults pled guilty to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation.