The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has picked up two more defendants, charged in sealed indictments, as a result of the recent undercover drug investigation.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Nick Hollingsworth is charged with two counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid) and Berna Dean Barnes is charged with possession of a schedule IV controlled substance (Valium) and possession of a schedule II controlled substance (Methadone)
All those indicted by the Grand Jury will appear for arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday, April 16th at 9:00 a.m.

Sergeant Steven Leffew has been named Smithville Police Officer of the Month
The commendation, presented to Sergeant Leffew by Police Chief Tom Stufano, Mayor Taft Hendrixson, and Police Commissioner Aaron Meeks, states that “On behalf of the City of Smithville Police Department I would like to commend you for your recent actions and diligent efforts in your capacity as Police Sergeant. Your determination and efforts for the months of March and beginning of April regarding the restructuring of the Police Evidence & Property room has streamlined our evidence procedures. Your tireless efforts in this endeavor coupled with your assigned patrol supervision duties has shown that you have exceeded this department’s expectations in quality service to our citizens and your fellow employees.”
“Due to your professional training, the many hours of dedicated service on your own time and the professionalism displayed know that you are making a difference for the citizens of Smithville in our joint efforts to protect and serve our community. Your professionalism enabled the citizens of Smithville, your fellow co-workers and guests of our area to know that the Smithville Police Department is always striving for quality service and protection. You have served with distinction and are a credit to your professionalism as a Smithville Police Officer.”
“Additionally, your work ethic and tenacity during the month of March/April has shown your true commitment to the citizens we serve and your fellow officers.”
“I appreciate your input and current performance and for that you are hereby formally recognized and commended with a copy of this Commendation becoming apart of your permanent personnel record for all to see.”
“Congratulations on a job well done!”

Members of the Grand Jury toured the DeKalb County Jail last week and issued a brief report complimentary of Sheriff Patrick Ray.
The report, signed by all members of the Grand Jury, states that “On April 3rd, 2007, we, the Grand Jury found the condition of the county jail to be adequate or better. Sheriff Patrick Ray is changing things at the jail for the better. He is using his resources wisely. We would like to see that the county commission continues to support Sheriff Ray in his efforts.”

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made two arrests in connection with recent thefts at local marinas.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 25 year old Jennifer Brazle of South Cedar Street, Gainesboro is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $500 and 23 year old Derrick Stafford of Goad Lane, Gainesboro is charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and two counts of theft of property over $500. Bond for Brazle is $30,000 and Stafford’s bond is $30,000. Both will appear in General Sessions Court on the charges April 26th.
Sheriff Ray says on February 14th, Brazle went to Center Hill Marina, broke into a houseboat, and stole a generator, four fishing rods, and other miscellaneous items.
On March 5th, Sheriff Ray says Stafford went to Cookeville Boat Dock, broke into two houseboats, and stole two generators, fishing equipment, and other miscellaneous items.
More arrests are forthcoming.

Home ownership will soon become a reality for Smithville resident Felicia Gibbs. The DeKalb County native and her two small children were just named the second Partner Family by Dekalb County?s Affiliate Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Construction on their Adams St. home should begin within months.
?I?m just overwhelmed and grateful,? said Gibbs after being informed of her selection. ?This is the kind of blessing I?ve prayed and prayed for…When I signed the agreement, I felt like I was signing for the beginning of my life.?
For the past two years Gibbs, a divorced single mother, has been working at Bumpers in Smithville to support daughter Dasia, 4, and son Tristan, eight months old.
She is a 2001 graduate of DeKalb County High School, and daughter of Lisa Cox and Terry Gibbs. Felicia learned of Habitat?s commitment to help deserving candidates become homeowners through local officials and Denise Perry, head of Habitat?s first partner family here.
?I never dreamed I?d be selected,? Gibbs says. ?Now I am just so grateful and excited, and eager to get started.?
Nolan Turner, president of the local Habitat affiliate describes her as an outstanding candidate for home ownership. ?She?s cooperative and humble, and her eagerness to work stand out as qualities we look for in partner families.?
Gibbs? and her children met all three criteria used by Habitat for Humanity to identify the best candidates for success: demonstration of need, ability to pay and willingness to partner with Habitat to realize their dreams of home ownership.
Recipients of Habitat-built homes are required to come up with a down payment, and put in many hours of ?sweat equity? before construction begins. Once the home is completed, the partner family assumes a 20-year interest-free mortgage for the purchase price, based solely on the cost of materials and related services. These costs are projected to be in the $40,000 to $45,000 range, with monthly payments ranging between $200 and $300.
With their second partner family selected, local Habitat members must address their next challenge, raising that money. Planned efforts include a county-wide outreach to churches; a campaign to establish a Habitat for Humanity donor club; and the opening of a local Habitat Restore for the sale of donated building supplies and materials.
Anyone interested in donating money, materials or tools to the DeKalb County Affiliate Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, or volunteering for a construction crew, should call 215-8181. Please leave a voicemail message with your contact information and a board member will get back to you.
The local Habitat affiliate is one of more than 2100 Habitat for Humanity chapters operating in more than 100 countries. Since the organization?s start in 1978, local chapters have built or renovated housing for more than 30,000 American families, and 175,000 families throughout the world.
Each Habitat affiliate chapter operates as a self-sustaining non-profit organization, committed to Habitat?s faith-based initiative. Habitat for Humanity International defines itself as a non-profit ecumenical Christian organization founded on the conviction that every man, woman, and child should have a simple, decent and affordable place to safely live with dignity.

After over six months of intensive undercover investigations and surveillance by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Patrick Ray says that the illegal drug business here has taken a hard hit with the arrest of numerous defendants, charged in 164 count sealed indictments returned by the Grand Jury this week
Sheriff Ray says the investigation, which began shortly after he took office last September, is in keeping with his pledge to the public that he and his administration would target dealers who are putting drugs out on our streets.
Sheriff Ray says these defendants are accused of selling undercover operatives various types of drugs. “In our investigation, we bought prescription drugs such as Hydrococone, Dilaudid, Xanax, Valium, Oxycontin, and also Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Marijuana.”
According to Sheriff Ray, he has also received assurances from the District Attorney General’s Office, that they will recommend to the court that these defendants receive stiff penalties and not just a “slap on the wrist”, upon conviction. “All of these defendants are considered active dealers in our communities.”
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department spent the day Friday rounding up the following defendants with still more arrests forthcoming:
Lisa M. Porterfield- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid)
Travis Tramel- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Oxycontin) and Sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance ( Hydrocodone)
Ginger Trapp- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Cocaine)
Samantha Devault- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Cocaine)
Carrie Devault- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Cocaine)
Mark West- Sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (Hyrdrocodone) and Sale and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax)
Josh Beaty- Sale and delivery of a schedule VI controlled substance over one half ounce (Marijuana)
Russell Blackwell- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (3 counts) (Dilaudid)
Harold Blackwell- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (3 counts) (Dilaudid)
Danny Lee Burnett- Manufacture of a schedule VI controlled substance (Marijuana)
Darryl Cantrell- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid) and sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (Hydrocodone)
Nickey Reece Cantrell- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid)
Michael L. Davenport- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Morphine)
Tammy M. Davenport- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Morphine)
Art Dawson- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid) and sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance over .5 grams (Cocaine)
Scott Ferrell- Sale and delivery of a schedule VI controlled substance over one half ounce (2 counts) (Marijuana)
Steve Mabe, Jr.- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Oxycontin)
Jeanna Snow Bain- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Dilaudid)
Wayne Hicks- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid) and sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance over .5 grams (3 counts) (Cocaine)
Amanda M. Hicks- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Cocaine)
Elizabeth Chalfant- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid)
John Braswell- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Dilaudid)
Sabina Solano- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (3 counts) (Dilaudid)
Chad E. Knowles- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Dilaudid)
Vickie Cantrell- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Dilaudid)
Eddie Lattimore- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Dilaudid)
Robin Lawson- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Dilaudid)
Christopher Martin- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Cocaine)
Danny Ray Murphy- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (2 counts) (Dilaudid)
Willie Murphy- Sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Morphine) and sale and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance (Valium)
Sandra Ramsey- Sale and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax)
Darrell Ramsey- Sale and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax)
John Knauer- Sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (Hydrocodone)
Patricia Durham- Sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (Hyrdrocodone)
Meanwhile Max Teeples was arrested on a state warrant charging him with simple possession of marijuana.
Doug Judkins was picked up on a state warrant charging him with simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Marijuana)
Wilburn Estes was arrested on a state warrant charging him with possession of a schedule III controlled substance (Hydrocodone) for sale and delivery and possession of a schedule IV controlled substance (Valium) for sale and delivery.
Two other unrelated sealed indictments were served by the Sheriff’s Department Friday.
Angela Tubbs was indicted on charges of driving under the influence, DUI per se, and violation of the open container law.
Johnnie Mitchell was indicted on two counts of statutory rape of a child sixteen years of age.
Sheriff Ray says fighting the drug problem will remain the top priority in his administration because the use, sale and distribution of drugs affects so many other aspects of criminal behavior such as theft and violence.” This operation is my administration’s way of showing DeKalb County that we are serious about dealing with the drug problem. We realize that this effort is only the beginning of what we must do to get control of drug use and sales in our communities and we are committed to continuing our efforts, As a matter of fact, my administration is already working on cases that will be scheduled for a future Grand Jury”.