Four Sentenced in Criminal Court

Four persons were sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday on charges ranging from the sale of drugs to auto burglary and theft.
Judge David Patterson presided.
20 year old Jessie Herman pled guilty to two counts of auto burglary and received a two year sentence in each case to run concurrently with each other all suspended to supervised probation. He is seeking judicial diversion. Herman was given jail credit from April 27 to July 21.
Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said that on Sunday, April 27 police were dispatched to NHC Healthcare Center concerning two cars that had been burglarized. After the incident, Herman was observed on foot in the area. Police were notified and confronted Herman on White Street. He was allegedly found with items taken from the vehicles and placed under arrest.
19 year old Brittnay Lykins pled guilty to two counts of theft under $500 and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run consecutively for a total of almost two years but all suspended to supervised probation. She is seeking judicial diversion. Lykins was given jail credit from June 27 to July 10.
Lykins and 32 year old Crystal Deweese were each charged by Smithville Policefor the recent theft of two television sets from Walmart. Deweese is also charged with criminal trespassing and evading arrest.
According to Police Chief Caplinger, Lykins picked up Deweese at her home on Friday, June 27 and went to Walmart. While in the store, Deweese allegedly stole two television sets and took off running when confronted by Walmart employees. Deweese left the store and ran toward West Broad Street. She was found behind the Tannery building. As police tried to arrest her, Deweese ran toward Duncan Street but the officer caught up with her. She was handcuffed and brought to the police department. When questioned by police Lykins said she and Deweese had entered Walmart together and that she knew Deweese was going to steal the TV’s. Apparently because of her history, Deweese had previously been warned several times to stay away from Walmart stores.
29 year old Donald “Ricky” Atnip Jr. of Natchez Lane, McMinnville pled guilty to two counts of attempted delivery of a schedule II drug. Atnip received a three year sentence in one case and two years in the other to run consecutively for a total of five years. He was given credit for 91 days of time served from January 15 through April 16 and he will be on state probation. Atnip was fined $2,000. His five year sentence is also to run consecutively with a sentence he is currently serving in another case.
36 year old Jessie Eugene Thomas pled to sale of a schedule II drug and was granted judicial diversion for a period of three years. He will be on supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 and must make $30 restitution to the sheriff’s department. Thomas was given three days of jail credit from January 15 to January 18.
Both Atnip and Thomas were among sixty four persons named in sealed indictments by the DeKalb County Grand Jury on Monday, January 13 after a three month undercover drug investigation by the Sheriff’s Department. Atnip was indicted at the time for 1 count of Sale and Delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone) and 1 count of Sale and Delivery of a Schedule II drug (Opana). Thomas was indicted on 1 count of Sale and Delivery of a Schedule II drug (Percocet) and 1 count of Drug Free Zone.