32 year old Michael E. Johnson of Sparta, charged in the fatal shooting of another Sparta man in January, appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court Friday and was set to enter a guilty plea under a negotiated settlement with state prosecutors.
However when Judge Lillie Ann Sells learned that Johnson had previously been treated for a mental condition and was no longer under a doctor’s care or taking medication, she refused to accept a plea and instead ordered Johnson to undergo a mental evaluation at Plateau Mental Health Center in Cookeville to determine his competency to stand trial or enter a plea in the case.
Johnson and a co-defendant, 26 year old Tina Rose Bain, were each indicted by a DeKalb County Grand Jury in April on charges of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, felony murder, and theft over $1,000.
The two are charged in the shooting death of 21 year old David Anthony Welch of Sparta and the wounding of 23 year old Heather Trapp of Smithville. Both Welch and Trapp were shot at Trapp’s home during the pre-dawn hours of January 6th on Webb Lane.
The indictments allege that the defendants did unlawfully, intentionally and with premeditation kill Welch during the perpetration of or an attempt to perpetrate theft and that they unlawfully and knowingly obtained or exercised control over property including, but not limited to, a necklace and ring valued at over $1,000 belonging to Trapp.
After the shooting, Johnson and Bain left the scene in their car but were arrested later that day in White County. They were brought to the DeKalb County Jail and after several hours of questioning, were charged in the shooting. Their car was also impounded.
Judge Sells, during Friday’s proceedings, asked Johnson to elaborate on his past mental health record. Johnson told her that he had been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and a manic depressant with a bi-polar disorder but that he is currently not under the care of a mental health expert and is not taking medication for his condition
Judge Sells then asked Johnson if he had any prior convictions. He told her that had been convicted in White and Putnam County on charges of aggravated assault, escape, being a fugitive from justice, and reckless endangerment with a vehicle among others.
In refusing to accept Johnson’s guilty plea, Judge Sells said that ” the court has a very serious obligation in taking a guilty plea to make sure that the defendant clearly understands what he’s doing in giving up all his rights to a jury trial and all these other rights we’ve talked about. But also very important is that we have to be sure that the person before the court is competent to enter a guilty plea and I am not at all convinced of that today based on your mental health record. We’re going to have to look at that mental health record very seriously. I’m going to order that you be re-evaluated so see whether or not you are competent to go to trial or enter this guilty plea. If I took a guilty plea in a first degree murder case from someone with the serious diagnoses you have who is supposed to be on medication ordered by a mental health expert but who quit taking his medicine, it wouldn’t be worth a flip. It (sentence) would probably be set aside. If after the evaluation, they say you’re competent we’ll take your plea and go about our way. But we have to have that on the record before I can go forward.”
Johnson and Bain will be back in court on August 21st.
Bain’s case has been set for trial later this year.
Johnson is represented by attorney J. Hilton Conger. John Pryor is Bain’s lawyer.
Author Archive: Dwayne Page
Cleta Cantrell
90 year old Cleta Cantrell of Smithville died Wednesday night at the Quality Health Care Center in Lebanon. The body is at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Arrangements are incomplete.
Cleta Edna Cantrell
90 year old Cleta Edna Cantrell of Smithville died Wednesday at Quality Care Nursing Home in Lebanon. She was a retired Textile Worker and a Baptist. The funeral will be Saturday at 1:00p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in Dekalb Memorial Gardens. She was preceded in death by her husband Teman Cantrell, parents James and Martha Ann Buck Turner, one daughter Barbara Page and sixteen brothers and sisters. She is survived by two sons Larry D. and his wife Linda Cantrell of Brentwood, Bernard Cantrell of Pennsylvania, and one son-in-law W.J. Page of Alexandria. One sister Leafie Weaver of Jamestown. Nine grandchildren Denise Jenkins, Daryl, Darrin, and Jamie Page, David, Linda, Bryan, Rusty, and Lori Cantrell. Two step-grandchildren Jay and Laura Sumner, and fifteen great-grandchildren survive. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:00a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00p.m. Dekalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Jessie Mai Baines
87 year old Jessie Mai Baines of the Statesville Community of Watertown died Thursday morning at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboso. She was a native of Gassaway, a homemaker, and a member of the Statesville United Methodist Church. The funeral will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Randy Stevenson will officiate and burial will be in the Jennings Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny Bullard and Estelle Lee Melton Bullard.; a brother, Edward Bullard; and a step grandson, Arnie Bush. Survivors include her husband of 76 years, Linsley Baines of Statesville. Three children, Harold and his wife Lou Baines of Murfreesboro, Robert C. and his wife Dorothy Baines of Smithville, and Louise and her husband Robert O’Brien of Murfreesboro. Grandchildren, Harold Wayne and his wife Sarah Baines of Gordonsville, Jimmie and his wife Terri Baines of Orange Beach, Alabama, Gary Baines of Smithville, Ronald and his wife Gail Baines of Smithville, Michael L and his wife Pam Baines of Smithville, Karen “Sissy” and her husband Daniel Mann O’Brien of Murfreesboro, and Kim and her husband Kendall Carter of Lascassas. Step grandchildren, Dallas Bush of Murfreesboro and Larry Wayne Bush of Lascassas. Great grandchildren, Bobby O’Brien, Kenny, Kurtis, Kyler, and Kooper Carter, Kristy Elmore, Michael Baines, Jason and Caleb Baines, and Ava Grace Baines. Step great grandchildren, Emily Ann and Michael Paul White, Ana and Cody Bush, Garrett and Sarah Elizabeth Bush. One great great grandson. One sister, Thelma and her husband Neal Bryant of Woodbury, One brother, Howard and his wife Oleta Bullard of Murfreesboro. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.
Ruby Crook Skinner
83 year old Ruby Crook Skinner of Alexandria died Tuesday at her home. She was the daughter of the late Ewing and Jenny Alta Pitman Crook. She was a homemaker and a Messianic Believer. She was preceded in death by her husband Shelton Russell Skinner and a sister Frances Jennings. She is survived by six children James and his wife Rose Skinner of Richardson Texas, Larry and his wife Carroll Skinner of Dixon Springs, Danny and his wife Teresa Skinner of Nashville, Carol and her husband Bernie Washer of Alexandria, Cathy and her husband Mike Styer of Burns, and Cindy and her husband Larry Washer of Alexandria. One brother W.C. Crook of Smithville. Fifteen grandchildren Christy Thompson, Julie Jackson, James A., Terry, Monroe, and Chris Skinner, Greta Davis, Alice Wills, David and Patricia Cantrell, Benjamin Benayce, Kaitlin Styer, Lydia Foote, Alicia Washer, and Julie Rader. Twenty-seven great-grandchildren. The body is at the Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home in Lebanon where the service will be Friday at 1:00 p.m. Paul Bell will officiate and burial will be in the Hillview Cemetery in Alexandria. Visitation will be Thursday from 2:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. and Friday after 10:00a.m. at the funeral home. Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home in Lebanon is in charge of the arrangements. This information was provided as a courtesy of DeKalb Funeral Chapel.
Lester Layne Griffin
94 year old Lester Layne Griffin of Smithville died Wednesday. He was a native of Wilson County but lived most of his life in DeKalb County. He was a self employed businessman, a Shriner for more than 50 years and an active member of the First Baptist Church in Smithville. A graveside service will be held Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Milton Cemetery. David Turner will officiate. He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Hancock Griffin and his parents, Ballard and Mettie Cunningham Griffin. He is survived by his daughter, Lillian Griffin Knight of Murfreesboro. A brother, John Doyle Griffin of Watertown. A sister, Dara Griffin Shaver of Woodbridge, Virginia. Grandchildren, Ronnie and his wife Rosaline Knight, Randy and his wife Debbie Knight, and Ricky and his wife Phyllis Knight. Four great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren survive. Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home in Murfreesboro is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that memorials be made to Stones River Manor in lieu of flowers.
Police Chief Wants Officers To Take Patrol Cars Home…City Council Defers Action
Smithville Police Chief Gus Clemente wants the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to adopt a vehicle take-home policy for officers of the police department.
Under the proposal, each officer, who is already assigned a patrol car to drive while on duty, would get to take that cruiser home after work.
Some members of the city council have reservations about that proposal since most of the city police officers reside outside the city.
Under the proposed policy, only officers living within a 25 mile radius of the corporate city limits of the City of Smithville would be allowed to drive the police vehicles home. All other officers would park the vehicles at the police department headquarters.
Chief Clemente says the goals of this policy would be to promote the security of the citizens of Smithville by greater visibility and presence of vehicles on the streets and highways; provide quicker response time to certain types of calls and therefore increase the opportunity to apprehend criminals; reduce the yearly mileage on each vehicle, therefore increasing vehicle life; reduce maintenance cost on each vehicle in the fleet; provide quicker response of off-duty personnel when called back to duty because of an emergency; provide increased incentive and morale of officers participating in the program; and maintain vehicles in top condition through preventive maintenance and personalized assignment.
Members of the council agree that the policy could provide for quicker response time by some officers in the event of an emergency, but others argue that it will add to the city’s fuel cost and potentially increase liability.
Some also question how that there could be greater visibility and presence of patrol cars on city streets, when most of the city patrol cars would be outside the city, when driven home by officers who live outside the city.
The city board voted unanimously Monday night to defer action on the proposed policy until the next meeting on Monday, July 17th at 7:00 p.m. at city hall.
In other business Monday night, Mayor Taft Hendrixson appointed himself as the city’s representative and re-appointed Clay Farler as a citizen member to the City Planning Commission.
Steve Hays was reappointed to the City Beer Board and Lloyd Black was named as a new member of the board. Beer Board terms are for five years.
Wade Smith and Jimmy Ervin were reappointed as members of the Smithville Board of Zoning Appeals.
Mayor Hendrixson appointed himself as the city representative on the Industrial Development Board. Hendrixson, who was already on the board as a citizen member, appointed Richard Judkins to fill that position. Alan Webb was also named to the Industrial Board to fill the vacancy created by the death of his father Norval Webb.
Man Injured In Monday Night Wreck
A 25 year old man was injured in a one car crash Monday night on Blue Springs Road.
Trooper Brian Raymond of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Terry Reeder of Bethel Road, Smithville was driving a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire when he failed to negotiate a curve, went off the road, and hit a guardrail near a bridge.
Reeder was ejected from the car.
He was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital.
Officers of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Blue Springs Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Child Recovering From Snake Bite
A three year old girl, Autumn Hendrixson, is recovering at Vanderbilt Hospital after being bitten by a copperhead snake Saturday evening.
A call was placed to 911 from a Sparta Highway residence around 8:00 p.m. Saturday. The child, who had been bitten on her foot, was transported to DeKalb Community Hospital by EMS and later flown from the hospital to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The child is the daughter of Jayme Billotto.
Friday Session Of Fiddler’s Jamboree Runs Smoothly
Except for about an hour and a half delay because of threatening weather, the first day of the 35th annual Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree and Crafts Festival ran non-stop from about 9:00 a.m. to 11:10 p.m. Friday.
Preliminaries were held in fifteen categories of music and dance competition followed by the finals featuring the top three acts in each event.
The following are the winners in each category:
Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo/Duet): First Place- The Greens of Ripley Mississippi. Second Place- Emily Dean of Springfield, Tennessee. Third Place- Jack Horner of Nashville..
Flat Top Guitar: First Place-Will McMeans of Lester, Alabama. Second Place- Brian Blaylock of Hixson, Tennessee. Third Place- Dr. Rob Pearcy of Smyrna, Tennessee.
Junior Clogging (Ages 13-39): First Place- Amanda Herron of Cookeville. Second Place- Lauryn Boss of Bloomington Springs. Third Place- Chris Stewart of Lebanon.
Junior Buck Dancing (Ages 13-39): First Place- Jacob Campbell of Murfreesboro. Second Place- Chris Stewart of Lebanon. Third Place- Amanda Herron of Cookeville.
Dobro Guitar: First Place-Earl Grubbs of Murfreesboro. Second Place- Tyler Collins of Allons, Tennessee. Third Place- Brian Blaylock of Hixson.
Mountain Dulcimer: First Place-Bobby Nobley of LaGrange, Georgia. Second Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna. Third Place- Lisa Patton of Murfreesboro.
Hammer Dulcimer: First Place- Amber Burks of Greenbrier. Second Place- Howard Friedman of Knoxville. Third Place- Beth James of Newport.
Novelty Event: First Place-Pa Fields and the Wham Bangers of Crossville. Second Place- Lucille Graham of Bryant, Alabama. Third Place- Backwards Bluegrass of Dyersburg.
Old Time Fiddle Band: First Place-DeKalb County Hilltoppers of Danville, Virginia. Second Place- Blue Creek Ramblers of Murfreesboro. Third Place- Slim Chance of Allover Tennessee.
Autoharp: First Place-Bobby Nobley of LaGrange, Georgia. Second Place- Jeremy Stephens of Danville, Virginia. Third Place- Bill Rothe of Estill Springs.
Gospel Singing (Solo): First Place- Molly Green of Ripley, Mississippi. Second Place- Amber Burks of Greenbrier. Third Place- Anna Noe of Nashville.
Country Harmonica: First Place-Isaac Vick of Lyles, Tennessee. Second Place- Ken Tenpenny of Murfreesboro. Third Place- Lewis Taylor of Ringgold, Georgia.
Old Time Banjo: First Place-Jeremy Stephens of Danville, Virginia. Second Place- Eric Vick of Lyles, Tennessee. Third Place- Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.
Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio, & Quartet): First Place- The Greens of Ripley, Mississippi. Second Place- Tomlin & Chunn of Greenbrier. Third Place- Emily & Ty of Springfield.
Mandolin: First Place- Solly Burton of Sullivan, Indiana; Second Place-Jesse Daniel of Fort Payne, Alabama. Third Place- Will McMeans of Lester, Alabama.
State Senator Mae Beavers presented a United States flag to a member of the audience from Australia and a Tennessee State flag to a visitor from Alaska.
The flags go to the persons who travel the greatest distances, both from inside and outside the country, to get here.