A 24 year old man looking for help to get his vehicle out of a ditch following a minor traffic accident Thursday, showed up at a residence and apparently helped himself to several items that didn’t belong to him.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Edward Lee Judkins Jr. of Jefferson Road, Smithville was charged with burglary, theft of property over $500, and theft of property over $10,000.
According to Sheriff Ray, after being involved in a minor traffic accident, Judkins went to a residence on Jefferson Road to ask for help in getting his vehicle out of a ditch. When the home owner did not answer the door, Judkins allegedly entered a shed and took a chainsaw, leaf blower, bolt cutters, and other tools valued at over $500. Judkins then allegedly loaded the stolen items into a 2005 Ford F-250 4×4, belonging to the resident, (valued at over $10,000) and then left. He drove to Smithville and sold the tools. Afterwards, Judkins went to Whispering Pines Road where the owner of the truck and another man confronted him. Judkins ran into the woods and was arrested a short time later by detectives. Sheriff Ray says Judkins admitted to all the crimes and detectives retrieved all of the stolen items. Judkins’ bond was set at $40,000 and he will appear in court on January 8th
Meanwhile on Tuesday, detectives went to the home of 47 year old Kenny Ray Herman and 28 year old Felicia Ann Murphy located on West Main Street in Smithville after receiving tips that the two were selling narcotics out of the apartment. After observing several individuals going into the residence and staying short periods of time, detectives received from the owners, consent to search the premises and found a lock box that contained a pill bottle belonging to an individual who did not live at the West Main Street address. Inside the bottle were 56 hydocodone pills, which is a schedule III narcotic. Also found was a pill bottle with Murphy’s name on it. The bottle called for hydrocodone pills, but detectives discovered that the pills in the bottle were different than what the prescription called for. Both Herman and Murphy were arrested for possession of a schedule III drug (hydocodone) for sale and delivery. Bond for both was set at $40,000 and they will appear in court on January 8th. Detectives also seized $433 from Herman. The cash is believed to be proceeds from illegal drug sales.
49 year old Kenneth M. Sweeton of Highland Drive, Sparta was arrested Tuesday for driving under the influence after deputies were summoned to a fight call at a business on Sparta Highway. Officers found Sweeton in his vehicle with the motor running and he was in an intoxicated state. After performing poorly on his sobriety tasks, Sweeton told the deputies that he had too much to drink. Sweeton’s bond was set at $1,000 and he will appear in court on January 8th.
25 year old Ricardo Gutierrez of Campbell Road, Smithville was stopped Tuesday on Short Mountain Highway for weaving. Detectives found that Gutierrez had been drinking and they asked him to perform field sobriety tasks which he failed. A drivers license check revealed that Gutierrez’s license had expired. A knife was also found in the passenger’s seat in plain view. The knife had a blade exceeding 12 inches. Gutierrez was arrested for driving under the influence, no valid driver’s license, and possession of a prohibited weapon. His bond was set at $3,000 and he will appear in court on January 8th.
31 year old Alton Brian Bundy of East Main Street, Dowelltown was arrested Saturday after deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle call on Holiday Haven Road. When officers arrived they found Bundy and his vehicle in the roadway. They also noticed Bundy’s speech to be slurred and he was very unsteady on his feet. Bundy was asked to perform field sobriety tasks which he failed. Bundy was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and his bond was set at $1,000. He will appear in court on January 8th.
28 year old John Corey Vickers of East Main Street, Smithville was stopped Monday on Highway 70 for a traffic offense. Vickers was driving on a suspended driver’s license. Upon making an inventory of Vickers’ vehicle, deputies found a rifle behind the seat. Vickers was charged with driving on a suspended driver’s license and unlawful possession of a firearm. Sheriff Ray says Vickers is a convicted felon and is not allowed to own or possess any firearms. Vickers’ bond was set at $6,500 and he will appear in court on January 8th.
Archived News & Obituaries