An 18 year old Smithville man has been charged with theft of several road signs belonging to the county and the cities of Smithville, Alexandria, and Dowelltown.
Robert Karl May of Allen Ferry Road is charged with theft of property under $500 ( four counts). His bond totals $4,000 and he will be in court February 9.
Following an investigation of stolen road signs from the county, City of Alexandria, City of Smithville, and City of Dowelltown, Sheriff Patrick Ray said that detectives of his department found signs in an outbuilding belonging to May on Allen Ferry Road. The discovery was made on Monday, January 9. May was in possession of the following signs: Indian Mound Road, Big Woods Road, Sink Creek Road, Lowery Road, Cordell Love Road, McGinnis Road, Herman Road, Creek Road, Peeled Chestnut Road, and Davis Road belonging to DeKalb County; a Skyline Drive sign taken from the City of Alexandria; Morgan Drive, Holmes Creek Road, Miller Road, and Golf Club Drive signs from the City of Smithville; and a Bank Street sign from the City of Dowelltown. The signs are valued at $75.00 each.
Meanwhile, 24 year old James Edward Gilles of Bell Street Apartments, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court on February 9
Sheriff Ray states that an officer responded to a fight on Nashville Highway near Dale Ridge Road on Tuesday, January 17. Upon arrival, the deputy was met by Gilles and Nathaniel Tippins. According to Tippins, he stayed at Gilles’ house the night before and that Gilles got mad accusing Tippins of taking his girlfriend’s medications. Tippins also reported that Gilles had told him to remove his clothes so he could search him. When Tippins refused, Gilles became more upset and tried to strangle him, which was apparent by the marks on Tippins’ neck. Tippins reported that he got away from Gilles and into a vehicle. The two met up again at the location on Nashville Highway where the fight occurred.
41 year old Charles Christopher Bates of Washington Street, Sparta is charged with a third offense of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. His bond is $7,000 and he will be in court on February 9.
According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy went to the Cookeville Highway area on Saturday January 21 in response to a complaint of a reckless driver who had struck a guardrail near a bridge. The officer spotted a vehicle matching the description and caught up with it at Mapco Express. The deputy saw the driver get out of the automobile at the store and noticed that he was very unsteady on his feet. The officer approached and began speaking with the man, Bates, who had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Bates admitted that he had been drinking and that he had hit the guardrail while driving, which apparently caused the bumper to come off the vehicle. Bates placed the bumper in the automobile with him and then left the scene. Bates submitted to but performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood alcohol test. His prior DUI convictions were in Putnam and White counties.
34 year old Brady Gordon Cunningham is charged with introduction of a controlled substance into a penal institution where prisoners are quartered. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on February 2.
Sheriff Ray said that Cunningham was arrested by the Smithville Police Department on Saturday, January 21 and brought to the sheriff’s department. While correctional officers were searching Cunningham, they found on him a prescription bottle that contained three yellow pills believed to be Hydrocodone with Ibuprofen. These pills were in a bottle that did not belong to Cunningham.
43 year old Theodore William Faulkner of Indiana is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on February 2.
According to Sheriff Ray, deputies responded to a physical domestic at Floating Mill Campground on Saturday, January 21. The officers spoke with a female who said that her husband, Faulkner, became violent and assaulted her by throwing dishes and a fruit cup at her. He also allegedly chest bumped her. The officers spoke with Faulkner, who had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Faulkner admitted to having been drinking and that he and his wife had been arguing. It was determined that Faulkner was the primary aggressor.
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