27 year old Eric Wayne Tramel pleaded guilty in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday, July 22 to two counts of aggravated burglary.
Judge Leon Burns, Jr. presided.
Tramel was sentenced to six years in each case to run concurrently with each other. He must serve at least 35% of the sentence before his release eligibility date. Tramel must make restitution in one case of $234 and in an amount to be determined in the other case. He was given jail credit from November 11, 2012 to July 22, 2013.
Tramel and two other people were accused of using a credit card, taken from the home of a person on the Old Blue Springs Road on September 28, 2012. According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, while at the residence, one of the defendants left a window unlocked to allow Tramel to enter and steal some items from the residence. Tramel allegedly stole two laptop computers, valued at $2,000 along with assorted jewelry, valued at $3,000. Sheriff Ray said the three defendants participated in using the stolen credit card over a three month period to purchase an assortment of items.
In a separate case, Tramel was arrested by Smithville Police on Sunday, November 11, 2012 after investigating a reported burglary in progress. Police spoke to the victim who said that a man had forced his way into the residence, chased his wife out the back door, and then locked them out. During the police investigation, central dispatch received a call of a man fitting the same description at another residence down the street. The officers ran down the street and made contact with the man, later identified as Tramel. Police ordered Tramel to remove his hands from his pockets. Tramel complied but acted as though he was pointing a gun. Tramel was told to get on the ground but as more commands were given, he got up to run. After he refused police commands to stop, Tramel was tased. Found in his pocket were a box cutter and pills. Tramel had no gun.
40 year old Art Dawson pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and received a three year sentence. He was given jail credit of 215 days. The term is to run concurrently with another sentence against Dawson.
Dawson was originally charged by Smithville Police with aggravated burglary, domestic assault, and aggravated assault upon his arrest after an incident Saturday, October 1, 2011 at a residence on Oak Street.
According to Chief Randy Caplinger, Dawson entered the Oak street home uninvited where his ex-girlfriend was staying and allegedly assaulted her. Another man, who was also there at the time, intervened telling Dawson that he would have to leave. Dawson then turned on the man allegedly beating him severely about the face with his fists. Dawson also allegedly struck him with a tall lamp and coffee table. The man was later taken to the hospital. Dawson fled before police arrived.
19 year old David Tyler Hutchins pleaded guilty to burglary of a non habitation and received a sentence of three years suspended to supervised probation. He is seeking judicial diversion. Hutchings is to make restitution of $1,342 to the victim in the case.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, October 12, 2012 Hutchins allegedly broke into an outbuilding on Green Hill Road in Liberty by kicking in the front door. He allegedly stole a chainsaw, leaf blower, a cordless screw driver set, battery charger, and various other items including a 1997 Honda Four Wheeler, all valued at over $1,000.
32 year old Eddie D. Farris pleaded guilty to two counts of vandalism over $10,000 and one count of vandalism under $500. He received a four year sentence in the first two cases and 11 months and 29 days in the other. All three sentences are to run concurrently with each other for a total of four years, suspended to supervised probation. Farris is to make restitution in the amount of $2,487 to two of the victims, $500 to the City of Smithville, and an amount to be determined to two other victims.
Farris was arrested by Smithville Police on Sunday, February 24, 2013 after he allegedly rammed his truck into several parked vehicles, pushing one of them up against a house on Wade Street and damaging a city sidewalk.
Farris was originally charged with five counts of felony vandalism and reckless endangerment. Chief Randy Caplinger said that officers were dispatched to Wade Street where numerous witnesses stated that Farris had rammed several parked vehicles with his truck. He also pushed one of the vehicles through a yard with his truck, striking a house. Victims stated that they were in the door way when the vehicle was pushed into the front of the house. Damage was also done to the sidewalk in front of the residence.
The warrants against Farris alleged that:
Felony Vandalism over $10,000: Farris intentionally drove (his truck) into a 2011 Chrysler several times causing over $10,000 in damage.
Felony Vandalism over $1,000: Farris did intentionally hit a 1991 Chevy S10 pickup and pushed it into the house at 406 Wade Street. He hit the vehicle (with his truck) several times causing over $1,000 in damage.
Felony Vandalism over $1,000: Farris did intentionally hit a 1995 Suzuki several times (with his truck) causing over $1,000 in damage.
Felony Vandalism over $1,000: Farris intentionally pushed a vehicle into a house (with his truck) doing over $1,000 in damage to the house at 406 Wade Street.
Felony Vandalism over $500: Farris did intentionally damage a side walk belonging to the City of Smithville by pushing vehicles into the side walk (with his truck) causing over $500 in damage.
Reckless Endangerment: Farris put the lives of several people inside the house at 406 Wade Street in danger when he intentionally pushed a vehicle into the house with his vehicle.
32 year old Robert Menzie pleaded guilty to a second offense of driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to supervised probation after he serves 45 days. Menzie was fined $615 and he will lose his driving privileges for three years. Menzie must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and attend an alcohol safety education program.
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