A 26 year old Smithville man, named in an April grand jury sealed indictment charged with child abuse of a youngster under age six, has been granted judicial diversion.
Kenneth Brian Ring appeared before Judge Leon Burns, Jr. Monday in DeKalb County Criminal Court. Judge Burns granted Ring’s petition for judicial diversion for a period of two years, all suspended to probation. Under terms of the judicial diversion, Ring must report to the Tennessee Department of Corrections Board of Probation and Parole and obey all requirements of this board; complete fifty hours of community service; complete and alcohol and drug assessment and follow any recommended treatment; and he must compete the SAV program GED classes, and Mediation.
The indictment against Ring alleged that “On or about December 18th, 2010 Ring intentionally and knowingly did, other than by accidental means, treat a fifteen month old child, in such a manner as to inflict injury, constituting the offense of child abuse.”
The case was presented to the April term of the grand jury by Detective Matt Holmes of the Smithville Police Department.
Judicial diversion is a type of probation. Under terms of judicial diversion, defendants agree that they are going to be convicted of the crimes for which they are on probation. Should the defendants not complete the probation, they in effect have a conviction hanging over their heads while they are on probation, and if the defendants fail at probation, then it becomes a conviction, and the judge can have a sentencing hearing and sentence the defendants to jail. Should the defendants complete the probation they are eligible to have their entire record cleared of the charges.
39 year old Donald Perry, Jr pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule II controlled substance and received a six year sentence in community corrections, a type of probation. He was given jail credit of 110 days and fined $2,000.
37 year old Andre Wakefield, charged with sale of a schedule II controlled substance, pleaded guilty and received a six year sentence, all suspended but ninety days to serve with the remainder on state probation. He was fined $2,000.
33 year old Samuel W. Walker pleaded guilty by information to one count of burglary, one count of theft under $500, and one count of theft over $1,000. Walker received a four year sentence in two of the cases and 11 months and 29 days in the other. All three sentences are to run concurrently and all suspended to time served since April 13. He must also make restitution of $2,000.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Walker was arrested on Wednesday, April 13th charged with taking four shotguns from a residence on Maple Lane without the owners consent on January 1st. The stolen guns were then sold.
Meanwhile in a separate case, Walker is alleged to have committed an aggravated burglary of a residence on Cripps Lane with the intent to commit a theft on August 29th. Entry was made through a back door. He allegedly took four shotguns and several other items from the home with a total value of $5, 575
37 year old Sharon Groshon Malone pleaded guilty to three counts of delivery of a schedule II controlled substance. She received a three year sentence in each case all to run concurrently with each other. She is to serve a total of 110 days with the balance on probation. She was also fined $2,000 and must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment. The sentence is also to run concurrently with a violation of probation in General Sessions Court. Malone was given jail credit since April 6.
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